DTM: BMW and Audi share the glory at Hockenheimring
BMW and Audi shared the glory at Hockenheimring in the season-opening round of the 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season. Marco Wittmann (BMW) has won the first race on Saturday while Rene Rast (Audi) triumphed in the second race on Sunday.
However, Audi’s boss Dieter Gass has more reasons to be satisfied because his drivers took five out of six podiums places. On Saturday, Wittmann won the race ahead of Mike Rockenfeller and Robin Frijns. On Sunday, Rene Rast, Nico Muller and Robin Frijns secured a 1-2-3 triumph for Audi.
On Saturday, Marco Wittmann scored his 12th DTM victory in a career
The former double DTM champion Marco Wittmann started Saturday’s race from pole position and converted his advantage into his 12th DTM victory in a career.
Another former champion Rene Rast was his closest rival until a mechanical problem sidelined him from the race. Another Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller inherited the second place following Rast’s retirement. Robin Frijns gave a double podium to Audi with a third-place finish. Timo Glock (BMW) recovered from an early spin at the first corner to finish fourth, also setting the fastest lap.
Aston Martin/R-Motorsport made a DTM debut at Hockenheimring with four cars. Their best driver was Daniel Juncadella who finished the race in the ninth place. His teammate Paul di Resta, who had qualified a highly impressive third, retired from the race. The best of five rookies was Sheldon van der Linde (BMW) in the sixth place. Pietro Fittipaldi (Audi) also earned one point with a tenth-place finish.
Audi drivers Nico Muller, Rene Rast and Robin Frijns
On Sunday, Rene Rast performed one of the best races of his career, progressing from 16th on the grid to his 11th DTM victory. The decisive move was to enter the pitstop during the Safety Car period. After that, the fresh tyres pushed Rast through the field.
Rast shared a podium with Nico Muller and Robin Frijns, who passed polesitter Philipp Eng (BMW) in the closing laps to take his second podium in two races. Eng finished the race in the fourth place, ahead of two more BMW drivers Bruno Spengler and Timo Glock. Paul di Resta was the best Aston Martin driver in the seventh place. Saturday’s winner Marco Wittmann finished eighth.
The pitstop under the Safety Car was decisive for Rene Rast’s victory
After two races at Hockenheimring, Marco Wittmann tops the Drivers’ classification with 34 points on his account, three more than Robin Frijns. Rene Rast is third with 25 points. Nico Muller (22) and Mike Rockenfeller (20) rounds the top 5.
The next DTM round is scheduled for May 18-19 at Zolder.
Check the full results of DTM races at Hockenheimring
Photos: DTM, Audi Sport,
