Ralf Schumacher to DTM?
The German touring car series' boss Hans-Werner Aufrecht this week admitted that he would like the 32-year-old, whose Toyota contract runs out at the end of the season, to rescue his embattled career in DTM.
But Audi's Motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich told the German news agency Sport-Informations-Dienst on Wednesday that the link between his outfit and Schumacher has no basis in truth.
"These speculations have been plucked completely from the sky," Ullrich said.
He insisted: "Audi has had no contact with Ralf Schumacher, nor any interest in signing him. We do not need Ralf Schumacher."
09/04/07 (GMM) Embattled formula one veteran Ralf Schumacher has been invited to take refuge next year in the premier German touring car series DTM.
Hans-Werner Aufrecht, who is chairman of the category's organizing body ITR, envisages an on-track duel next year between former grand prix rivals Schumacher, 32, and twice world champion Mika Hakkinen.
"DTM does need names such as those," he told the German news agency Sport-Informations-Dienst (sid).
Aufrecht said that with Hakkinen already with Mercedes-Benz, Schumacher – whose Toyota contract runs out at the end of the year – should therefore link up with Audi.
He added: "I am convinced that, with a competitive car at his disposal, Ralf Schumacher could play an important role in the DTM.
"No doubt, he would be a good fit with us."
Motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich stopped short of confirming a link between Audi and Ralf, including rumors of a (US) $3.4m offer for 2008, but he admits that, "without a doubt, (Schumacher) is a popular German F1 driver.
"If he comes and fully supports the series, he can be an asset for DTM."
For now, Schumacher's manager Hans Mahr says he is focusing completely on prolonging his charge's grand prix career.
But he added: "We will definitely not be so arrogant as to say that the DTM is uninteresting to us."