Mattias Ekström is leaving DTM, Robin Frijns as a replacement

After seventeen seasons and two championship titles in the Deutsche Tourrenwagen Masters (DTM), Mattias Ekström is leaving this premier touring car series to focus on leading his team EKS RX in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The 39-year-old Swedish driver, who made 215 DTM starts between 2001 and 2017, winning 25 races and scoring 83 podiums, announced his decision today at Red Bull’s facility in Austria. Red Bull is his main sponsor for years and it would remain with Ekström in his future racing adventures.

Mattias Ekström will continue to compete in the World Rallycross Championship

“This was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make. However, I’ve also invested a lot of time and energy in my rallycross team in recent years. Without the dual program, I’m now able to fully concentrate on one series again and have more freedom again for my family and my children. I’ll continue to compete with my own team and clear the way in the DTM for a promising youngster,” said Ekström. His plan for the 2018 World RX season is yet to be fully announced.

The 26-year-old Dutch racer Robin Frijns will replace Ekström in the 2018 DTM season, joining the existing Audi line up of Rene Rast, Mike Rockenfeller, Jamie Green, Nico Müller and Loïc Duval.