8.7.2019. Superior victory on Saturday, a double podium on Sunday, a new track record and leadership in all three ratings of the DTM expanded: Audi is the strongest presence is managed at the home race on the norisring.
The 2.3 kilometres long street circuit between the dutzendteich lake and the Max-Morlock-Stadion was in the past a difficult patch for the brand with the Four rings. This has changed with the new Audi RS 5 DTM: The 610-HP Class 1 race car broke at the first use on the norisring all the records. Audi what is in the two free practice sessions at the front, repeated on both days, the Pole-Position, four of the six possible podium finishes and the most points. So new track records in Qualifying (René Rast), and in the race (Nico Müller) go to the account of the new Turbo race car.
In the race on the Sunday side used Audi RS 5 DTM were all six in the Top Eight and thereby score points. The four time Norisring winner Jamie Green celebrated only four weeks after his operation for appendicitis with place a successful Comeback. “Unfortunately, I had to let Philipp Eng after a slight touch-and-over again,” said the Briton from Audi Sport Team Rosberg. “As a result, I lost a lot of time and the connection to the contingent winner Bruno Spengler. Still, it was a good race for me.“
Mike Rockenfeller from Audi Sport Team Phoenix fought his way from the eleventh starting position on court three to the front. For the DTM Champion of the year 2013 it was the first DTM Podium at the norisring. “It’s cool to be up here,” said “Rocky” after the Prince Albert of Monaco, the Minister-President of Bavaria, Markus Söder, and Skistar Thomas Dreßen, conducted the awards ceremony. “My car was really good. I was able to overtake many opponents, and had in the race a lot of fun. After we have done here in the past, usually quite hard, we can all be in the Audi is very proud of this result. We were this weekend to be extremely strong.“
Robin Frijns from the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline missed after his failure on Saturday with fourth place, just shy of the Podium. Loïc Duval came to a daring strategy with a pit stop in the first round to sixth place to the finish.
René Rast and Nico Müller had to make on Sunday for the places seven and eight, although both of them were gone from the first row of the grid for the race. The two Audi drivers were in contact, in the first round unfortunately. Grid fur back by the following driver to the last place, Müller received a drive-through penalty.
“The victory we’ve given away today, but as a team, it was a very strong performance,” said Bram Schot. The Chairman of the Board of management of AUDI AG, the Sunday followed the race together with his colleagues on the management Board Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler (Technical development) and Peter Kössler (production and logistics) to the Audi Box. On Saturday, Hildegard Wortmann, the new Board member for sales and Marketing, the Audi squad at the norisring had pressed the thumb.
“After we had got in the Qualifying round, the three best places we wanted to win today,” said head of Audi Motorsport boss Dieter Gass. “After a good Start we have done then, unfortunately, the first curve correctly, which Bruno Spengler took the lead inherited. René and Nico fought it out with strong lap times to the front again. So, we have occupied positions two, three, four, six, seven and eight. We can be with our overall strong performance at the norisring very satisfied and are already looking forward to the DTM Premiere in aces in 14 days.“
René Rast claimed at the norisring his lead in the drivers ‘ standings of the DTM. Nico Müller improved to second in the standings. In the manufacturers ‘ standings, Audi has now 119 points ahead of BMW. In the team standings, Audi Sport Team Rosberg and Audi Sport Team lie Abt Sportsline continue on the first two places.
Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM #53 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg), Jamie Green (photo: Audi Communications Motorsport / Malte Christians)
