Marco Wittmann: “I don’t feel any extra pressure”

Reigning champion Marco Wittmann hasn’t had the start of season that would have been expected from a man who won 40% of the races last year. Fifth place on the second race was his best result of the season start, as BMW struggled for pace.

BMW Motorsport had a difficult first weekend of 2015 in which it was never with the leaders, and had to play catch up during the races. Despite their efforts, the Bavarian manufacturer wasn’t able to get a car on the podium.

Marco Wittmann has a similar opinion to that of team mate Bruno Spengler about what the new racing format for the Series means: “It was definitely a good weekend, with lots of action and track time. This is a very positive step for us drivers and the spectators, because we all get to enjoy more,” Wittmann said to TouringCarTimes.

The first race at Hockenheim was a reminder of why Wittmann is the champion. His first laps were very competitive, as the young German managed to climb places and get to the lead: “First lap was nice, I had a good start, overtook Rockenfeller on the outside. Then I went for Ekström and I managed to surprised him in the inside and it was a good move to take the lead. In the wet I was defending, Mike gave me some pressure, and Robert Wickes was closing in, but I still managed to defend the position.”

With so much on-track time, and less off-track opportunities, the work methodologies have changed. Wittmann isn’t thinking about these possibilities: “After qualifying you aren’t allowed to change cars. Meetings are short, we think about the possible scenarios before the weekend arrives, so we go to the track with a view of what can happen.”

Wittmann is unfazed bout carrying number one on his car, as racing remains the same for him: “I don’t feel any pressure. Last year I was trying to catch the others, and the others tried to catch me. I’m used to both situations, so I have no extra pressure, so I just try to make the best of the car and if it happens.”

Asked what is necessary to catch Audi and Mercedes: “I don’t know, we gained lot of positions during the races, we have to analyse the data and see. In the wet we had too low tyre pressures because we didn’t expect the rain. We fought a lot and fifth was the maximum we could get. We have to analyse what happened and try to catch our rivals in four weeks’ time.”

After the first round of the championship, Marco Wittmann is ninth of the drivers’ table on 12 points.