BMW on cloud nine after best result in the DTM since 1992
BMW had a perfect weekend in Spielberg, Austria, by taking the first four spots as well as getting to the top of the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ standings. Today’s results effectively mean BMW Team RMG’s Marco Wittmann extends his lead to 39 points over Audi’s Mattias Ekström, while both RMG and BMW have the edge over opposition from Audi, courtesy of two high points-scoring weekends in Russia and Austria.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt celebrated BMW’s first 1-2-3-4 in the series since 1992 in Hockenheim, by calling the race a ‘historic success’.
“It was a sensational race from Marco Wittmann, Augusto Farfus, Timo Glock and Martin Tomczyk – one driver from each of the four teams in the BMW M4 DTM,” he said. “Today we can quite literally talk about ‘Four in a row’. A huge compliment goes to the entire team, who produced an absolutely top-class performance. The race was very intense and close at the front, particularly just after the start. After Marco fell back through the field a bit at the start, he did a great job working his way back into the race. It then all calmed down at the front of the field towards the end of the race.”
“Today is a day of superlatives for us,” he added. “We are particularly delighted to have achieved this result against such a great backdrop and in front of so many spectators. We will celebrate today, and tomorrow we will start to focus on the next race at the Nürburgring, where the situation with the performance weight means we are bound to face a real challenge.”
Championship leader Marco Wittmann admitted his first stint on option tyres was not as good as the second.
“To be honest, I made a pretty poor start, I lost a few positions and dropped back down the field,” said the BMW Team RMG driver. “However, it was important to keep calm, hold my nerve and avoid contact. I tried to move back up through the field, but the leading group was very evenly matched up until the pit stop. It was a good race, and I knew that everything was still possible. For this reason, I tried to look after my tyres and not push too hard, while the others were battling against each other quite a lot. The car had a very good balance after the pit stop and I was able to work my way forward again. To have four BMWs in the first four places is a great result for us all.”
Next up for the DTM is the Nürburgring, which marks the seventh event of the season, in two weeks’ time.
