Mike Rockenfeller, driving a Schaeffler sponsored Audi, was crowned DTM

2013 champion last month, after a hugely exciting series of races around Europe. DTM has become the world's most popular touring car series, with high profile drivers competing in super quick adapted Audis, BMWs and Mercedes.

The German based series holds events at many other European circuits and this year’s ten race series attracted almost 800,000 spectators. Millions more watched on TV, not least a growing band of supporters in Ireland and the UK tuned into live coverage on ESPN.

The familiar yellow and green Schaeffler colour scheme featuring the INA, LuK and FAG brands became a familiar sight, as the Audi Sport Team Phoenix car driven by Rockenfeller headed the field. Across Europe, DTM attracts almost as much attention as Formula 1, but away from the glitz and glamour, it also has a very serious technological side.

Schaeffler has been a true innovator in the automotive parts field since the 1950’s and its partnership with Audi is about much more than just sponsorship. Schaeffler is an important development partner to Audi motorsport, working closely in the same way as it does with Audi as a vehicle manufacturer. The company develops and makes available numerous special components for the teams and of course benefits from feedback and analysis of how these parts perform, in one of the toughest motor sport arenas. This forms an important element of a multi-million euro investment programme in R&D, that sees thousands of innovative new product patents filed with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office each year. This innovation not only helps the world’s car manufacturers reach their goals on issues such as weight reduction and emissions, but is also technology that is quickly made available through Schaeffler aftermarket via the INA, LuK and FAG brands.