Ralf Schumacher to Audi DTM team?

(GMM) Audi has repeated its denial that Ralf Schumacher may rescue his flagging career with the German manufacturer in DTM this year.

The Ingolstadt-based marque's motor sport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich earlier rubbished reports that he was behind a $3 million bid to woo the 32-year-old German for 2008, after Schumacher's formula one career stalled at Toyota last year.

The rumors, however, surfaced again on Wednesday, as the former six time grand prix winner was quoted as ruling out Le Mans, American oval racing and even the Dakar rally — but not DTM, Germany's premier touring car category.

With twice world champion Mika Hakkinen retiring from DTM, the series' boss Hans-Werner Aufrecht is understood to be keen to attract a new well-known formula one figure to the category.

But Rupert Stadler, Audi chief executive, is quoted as responding to the new speculation about Schumacher: "There is absolutely no need for us to do that.

"It's our goal to get young and ambitious drivers and let them grow within our team.

"Martin Tomczyk, Mattias Ekstrom and even Tom Kristensen came to us as 'nobodies'. And now they are very popular and famous," he said.