Mike Rockenfeller: “I’m incredibly sorry” for Tambay clash
The 2013 DTM champion Mike Rockenfeller has said he is “incredibly sorry” for the collision which saw him eliminate himself and Audi stablemate Adrien Tambay from the fifth round of the 2014 DTM season.
Rockenfeller started the second DTM race held at the Moscow Raceway on the option tyre, and was expected to challenge Maxime Martin for the victory in second-half of the race following a change to the softer Hankook rubber.
On lap 23, the after the safety car which was brought out after the Phoenix Audi RS 5 DTM of Rockenfeller’s team-mate, Timo Scheider, rolled to a halt on the start/finish line.
When the race resumed on lap 29, Rockenfeller tagged Tambay going into turn 1 and both cars were forced to retire.
The 2013 title winner, and the winner of the first Russian DTM round, was then seen with his head in his hands at the side of the track.
“I can only say one thing,” said Rockenfeller after the race. “That is that I’m incredibly sorry for Adrien (Tambay), Audi and my Phoenix team, but it was clearly my mistake and not intentional.
“After the re-start, I just wanted to drive behind him, because a lap later I would have had to pit for a tire change anyhow.
“Maybe my front wheels weren’t warm enough. In any event, I’m surprised that they locked and I slipped into the rear end of Adrien’s car. Just slightly – but that’s enough to make somebody spin.
“To make things worse, we touched and the race was over for both of us. I can only apologize to everybody involved in this.”
Tambay was philosophical about the incident, and summed it up to DTM International with “shit happens” when asked about it.
“I don’t want to put the blame on anybody. Mike is sorry about the incident, but two Audis colliding is something that shouldn’t happen,” said Tambay. “But things like this do happen.”
Tambay added he felt without the incident a top-three finish would have been possible.
“We lost a podium result today – we could have easily finished in third place.
“That was a shame and I’m hoping for Germany to win the World Cup.”
