Le Mans 24 Hours winner Mike Rockenfeller will get the chance to drive the latest generation of Audi A4 in the DTM after being promoted to the Abt team.
After four seasons at the wheel of older versions of the car, the German will be replacing Martin Tomczyk at the team, joining Mattias Ekstrom, Timo Scheider and Oliver Jarvis at the wheel of the top-spec machines. Tomczyk, who finished in eighth place in the standings last year with Team Abt, will be driving an older car during the season.
Rockenfeller was seventh with the car prepared by Team Phoenix.
"The last DTM season did not run according to plan for Audi," said Audi boss Wolfgang Ullrich. "Which is why we tried over the winter to improve in every area – this also includes the driving squad. I see it as a chance for Martin Tomczyk that he races in an older car and in a team other than Abt Sportsline for the first time.
"British race drivers Jamie Green and Gary Paffett are examples of the fact that you can certainly win races with a last year's car and give his career new impetus."