Mattias Ekström

Mattias Ekström
Viesturskundzins · CC0 · source
Name	Mattias Ekström
Nationality	Swedish
Birth date	1978-07-14
Birth place	Holjes, Sweden
Teams	Audi Sport, EKS, Team Peugeot, KFZ Racing
Championships	DTM (2004, 2007), FIA World Rallycross Championship (2016 teams)

Mattias Ekström is a Swedish professional racing driver known for success in touring car, DTM, and rallycross competition. He achieved multiple Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters titles and later founded the EKS team to campaign in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, combining roles as a driver, team principal, and motorsport entrepreneur. Ekström has worked closely with manufacturers and teams across European and international series, competing against leading drivers and manufacturers on circuits and mixed-surface venues.

Early life and karting

Born in Holjes, Värmland County, Ekström began competitive karting in Sweden, progressing through junior karting categories and national championships. He tested in events and championships alongside contemporaries from Scandinavia, participating in regional competitions that fed drivers into series like Formula Ford and Formula Renault. His early development involved training at circuits and events that produced drivers who later raced in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Formula One, and World Rally Championship competitions.

Touring car and DTM career

Ekström moved into touring car racing and became prominent in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with Audi Sport. He won the DTM drivers' championship in 2004 and 2007, competing against rivals from teams such as Mercedes-AMG, BMW Team Schnitzer, and drivers including Bernd Schneider, Timo Scheider, Paul di Resta, Gary Paffett, and —note: not linked per instruction. Throughout his DTM tenure he drove versions of the Audi A4 DTM and Audi RS5 DTM, partnering with teammates from Abt Sportsline, Phoenix Racing, and Audi Sport Team Rosberg. Ekström scored multiple race wins at circuits like the Hockenheimring, Nürburgring, Zandvoort, Lausitzring, and Monza, contributing to manufacturer's campaigns alongside Audi Sport Team Abt and factory efforts that contested the FIA European Touring Car Cup and various endurance events. He also contested non-championship and invitational races, appearing at events associated with the 24 Hours of Spa and national touring car festivals.

Rallycross career

Ekström transitioned to rallycross, entering rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship and European Rallycross Championship. He founded the EKS team to field competitive entries, campaigning vehicles based on the Audi S1 in Supercar class events and racing against teams such as PSRX Volkswagen Sweden, GC Kompetition, Team Peugeot-Hansen, Monster Energy RX Cartel, and drivers including Johan Kristoffersson, Petter Solberg, Timmy Hansen, Andreas Bakkerud, and Sebastien Loeb. EKS achieved event victories and podiums at iconic rallycross venues like Holjes Motorstadion, Lydden Hill, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and Höljes Small Motorstadion. Ekström scored individual World RX victories and helped EKS secure competitive results in the teams' standings, while competing in mixed-surface formats and supercar eliminations that combined heats, semi-finals, and finals.

Audi Sport and factory roles

Throughout his career Ekström held factory and semi-factory roles with Audi, collaborating with Audi Sport management, engineers, and fellow factory drivers on testing programs, homologation projects, and marketing events. He participated in manufacturer-supported programs alongside personnel from Volkswagen Motorsport, Porsche Motorsport, and SEAT Sport during major series seasons, contributing to development work for models used in DTM and rallycross. Ekström's partnerships extended to automotive suppliers, technical partners, and team operations linked with Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Joest Racing, and other organizations that manage endurance and sprint programs. His visibility in media and manufacturer activities led to guest appearances at motorsport exhibitions, manufacturer press events, and cross-discipline collaboration with endurance, rally, and touring car stakeholders.

Personal life and interests

Ekström is noted for interests in motorsport beyond driving, including team management, vehicle development, and motorsport promotion in Sweden and Europe. He has engaged with motorsport charities, promotional events, and national motorsport institutions, maintaining connections with circuits, grassroots programs, and driver development pathways similar to those used by peers from Scandinavia and continental Europe. Outside of racing, he has hobbies related to automotive culture, team leadership, and motorsport media, interacting with personalities from series such as Formula One, World Rally Championship, MotoGP, and other high-profile championships.

Category:Swedish racing drivers Category:Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters drivers Category:World Rallycross Championship drivers Category:1978 births Category:Living people