Audi has revealed the first image of its definitive A5 DTM car for the 2012 season. The German series is running to new technical regulations for this season, with Audi and Mercedes producing successors to the A4 and C-class, respectively, while BMW returns to the championship with its M3.
All three manufacturers have been testing in secret in recent weeks as they worked to meet a deadline of March 1 to homologate their cars for the upcoming season. Audi has now given a sneak peak of its car in race ready form, although the A5 remains in a camouflage livery to prevent too much detail being obvious to its rivals.
"More than ever before, even the minutest detail will count this year in the DTM, " said Head of Audi Sport Wolfgang Ullrich. "Obviously, you want to keep the things you've worked out over the past few months under wraps for as long as possible."
Filipe Albuquerque, who will race the A5 for Team Rosberg this year, believes the new car is a big step forward from its predecessor.
"I expected quite a bit of it, but I wouldn't have thought that the step would be so big," said the Portuguese driver. "Particularly in fast turns, the new A5 handles like a formula car. I think I'd have to readjust quite a bit if I switched back to the old A4."
The DTM season kicks off at Hockenheim on April 29.