187 DTM races, 22 victories, 75 podium finishes, a 88% finish record and two DTM titles. Mattias Ekström, who is also the current DTM points’ leader, has a track record that can be considered as quite impressive. The Swede has won the Zandvoort race four times already and also scored his maiden DTM race win on the Dutch North Sea coast in 2002. DTM.com is looking back with ‘Eki’ upon his 16 years in the DTM and also asks him about the secret of his success.
In 2002, you scored your first DTM race win at Zandvoort. What memories do you have from this special moment?
I don’t remember the race itself at all, but I can recall the evening that followed. Of course, it was a great feeling. It was a special chapter in my DTM career.
You are already in your 16th season in the DTM. You won the title twice, you had three second places and three third places, you were never lower than eighth in the final standings. How do you do that?
A good question. Always fight, no matter if things are going well or badly, always try to improve. That is the key.
‘Go hard or go home,’ it says on your helmet. Is that also your secret?
For a large part, yes. It is my way of life, the only thing I know. Why should I do it differently?
16 years in a race series is a long time. During this spell, have you changed in any way, as a person and/or as a driver?
Probably quite a lot. But the biggest changes, it seems, are happening away from the track. As far as my driving style is concerned, not much happened there.
Is there another driver who impressed you during these years?
I try to learn from all the drivers. I think that that is my biggest advantage. After all, it is making me better as well. There are many who have impressed me with certain performances, but there is nobody I would mention in particular.
How would you describe your driving style? Controlled, risky, or a mix of both?
I am not somebody to take many risks. My driving style is rather controlled. For safety, this is a good thing. Sometimes, I would wish to be a little bit wilder. You can’t be both black and white at the same time.
While you are known to have the occasional on-track battle with your fellow drivers…
That has nothing to do with my driving style. These are position fights in the races.
Your mother Agneta taught you how to drive at a young age already. You were drifting through the forests in Krylbo…
I have always enjoyed this free education in the car. I have fond memories of this, it helped me a lot later on.
According to you, which Ekström is faster, the one from 2002 or the one from 2017?
The one from 2002. He was more harmless. He didn’t have so high requirements about the perfect set-up. Shut up and drive, no matter what kind of car, that was his attitude. Today, my requirements to the car are relatively high. My mental attitude is different. Experience brings a lot, but not everything.
In Sweden, your home country, you are known as ‘Mr Nice Guy’. Would you agree?
As a private person, I would say: ‘yes’. In general, I probably won’t be remembered as ‘Mr Nice Guy’. But I think that people who know me better will agree.
Your father Bengt once compared you to Emil from Lönneberga. A bit of a naughty boy, but fun as well. Is that correct?
In fact, dad hasn’t said that very often. But he has said to me frequently that I am a bit wild. For instance, I have never hit anyone in my life, and I would never do that. But I pulled some tricks on people, probably above average.
You have your feet firmly on the ground. A penthouse or a yacht in Monaco never appealed to you?
Not really. I think that somebody who has learned to be happy with less has more from life.
Have you ever thought about the end of your career? What are your plans?
Sometimes, my thoughts go this way and the next time, they go that way. I don’t have any substantial plans. Currently, I am very focussed. I would really like to win my third title this year and then we will see what will happen next year.
What about your chances for this weekend, isn’t it about time for the first win of the season?
AGenerally, I like Zandvoort. Because of the new safety car regulations, so many things can happen that are beyond one’s own control. Chances are definitely there. At the end of the day, you always need luck, too. ‘If’ doesn’t count, but we were ion the lead in Moscow and in Budapest. Performance-wise, we were good enough to win both races.
Currently, there are three title candidates. You as the old hand, Lucas Auer as the wild youngster and René Rast, the quick rookie. Who will come out on top?
It is still much too early to say something about that. My list is longer. Prior to this weekend, I have ten names on it, the first ten in the drivers’ standings. After Zandvoort, we go down from ten to eight. From now on, you can delete two drivers after every weekend.
Source : dtm.com
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