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Mattias Ekstrom faces a fresh challenge when he embarks on his Bathurst debut in a couple of weeks in what is the middle leg of the three-event Pirtek Enduro Cup.
The Swede has been called up to compete in the “Great Race” for Triple Eight’s Xbox One wild card entry along with fellow DTM driver Andy Priaulx.
The Bathurst 1000 will mark Ekstrom’s maiden trip to Australia after compiling a decorated career that has netted two DTM Championships (2004, 2007) as well as his Race of Champions appearances, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Spa and Nurburgring 24 Hours.
The 35-year-old explains to Speedcafe.com’s Tom Howard how he intends to tackle the most revered touring car race in the world.
Speedcafe: How excited are you about making your Bathurst and V8 Supercar debut with Triple Eight?
Mattias Ekstrom: I’m the type of guy who has been trying a few different things in motorsport career. I’ve done some NASCAR and WRC and DTM so going to Australia for the first time and racing a V8 Supercar at Bathurst is probably as good as it gets.
It’s something I’ve wanted to do for some time. I’ve known some of the Triple Eight guys since the late 1990’s and I got to know Roland. Since they went Down Under to do V8’s I’ve always been following it however being in Europe the time difference does make it difficult.
I have been in contact with the team since January when they became the Red Bull team. I sent them an email earlier in the year as I knew Ludo Lucroix from DTM and the opportunity came when they revealed plans to enter a third car. I’m really pleased they got back to me to ask if I was interested.
Speedcafe: Where does Bathurst rank in world motorsport for you?
Mattias Ekstrom: I’ve raced the 24 hours of the Nordschleife and Spa endurance races so for me Bathurst belongs on the same list as these events. It is one of the top five races in the world. Everyone knows how cool the Bathurst event is but I’m really looking forward to seeing it for myself.
Speedcafe: How tough a challenge will it be, turning your first competitive laps in a V8 Supercar at Bathurst?
Ekstrom: I think coming over to Australia, experiencing a V8 Supercar for the first time and racing at Bathurst is as difficult as it gets for a race driver.
I think the biggest challenge will be to get familiar with the car and being 100 percent confident with it. That for me will be the number one challenge.
The number two challenge will be to master the Bathurst track especially all those quick corners. I have got all the DVDs and films of the race so on the flight (to Australia) I will be watching those a hundred times so it won’t be such a shock when I arrive at Bathurst.
Speedcafe: What are your targets for the race?
Ekstrom: I have always had the same target since I started racing which is, I’m in it to win it. But everybody has been saying, ‘yeah you cannot go to Bathurst for the first time and say you are going to win it’. I say, ‘sure I think I am going to win’.
If it was realistic I would tell you afterwards but at the moment I really don’t know. I’m not going to enter a race and say I would be happy finishing in 15th position and this isn’t going to change for Bathurst. I know the task is huge but the team is the best one out there so its in my hands to deliver.
I have always said if you go home with a trophy then that is something to be pleased about. I will say if I were to win Bathurst it would be in the top three of my career achievements.
Speedcafe: Are you looking forward to having Andy Priaulx as your team-mate?
Ekstrom: If you look at Andy’s CV he has been very good everywhere he has been. He isn’t having the run of his life in DTM at the moment but it is a lot different to WTCC. I’m pretty sure he will be a great guy to have as a team-mate as he has experienced this before and it will be nice to work with him.
Speedcafe: Would you ever consider following in the footsteps of close friends Alexandre Premat and Maro Engel and join V8 Supercars on a full time basis?
Ekstrom: In Europe there is one bunch of guys who are very European minded but there is another group who is worldwide minded.
People are becoming more and more aware with what is happening in Australia in V8 Supercars. It’s a very competitive championship with a lot of good drivers and teams. I think any of the top five V8 Supercar drivers could come to Europe jump in a DTM car and be successful. That is very impressive.
For the moment I am happy in the DTM but I would say that V8 Supercars is one of the most attractive championships to be a part of.
In America you have NASCAR, in Europe you have DTM and in Australia you have V8 Supercars. For me they are three of the biggest championships in the world.
For the moment I have a good drive at Audi so its not an option but you never know what will happen in the future.
