Audi content with near podium finish
Audi Sport had a difficult day, as they had expected, at the Norisring today. Mattias Ekström was their only driver in the points, finishing in fourth place. The manufacturer still holds the lead in the standings, but by a significantly reduced margin.
The Ingolstadt manufacturer faced their home race with a significant amount of extra performance weight, correctly applied because of their domineering start of the season, where they had locked all pole positions and race victories so far.
Ekström started the race from the fourth position on the grid. During the initial stages, he was overtaken by the Mercedes, but he managed to fight back, especially after the compulsory stop for new tyres. In the closing laps, Bruno Spengler attacked the Swede, prevailing in the fight for the podium step. In the end, Ekström could only manage to be fourth.
Jamie Green was also in points’ positions, but a close fight with Maxime Martin left the Briton with a puncture with only three laps to go, having to change his tyres and falling to the 19th position.
After this race, Audi still leads the Manufacturers’ standings with 283 points, 48 more than Mercedes. Likewise, Jamie Green maintains the lead in the Drivers’ table with 81 points, but his margin has been reduced to just 11 over Ekström.
Dieter Gass, Head of DTM for the four-ring manufacturer, was happy that the RS 5 DTM will lose weight for Zandvoort, although he had strong words for Maxime Martin: “In view of the high weight, Mattias made the best of what was possible, said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. This is a tremendous result for him. That we’re able to reduce maximum weight before the next race weekend is another positive. However, I don’t agree with how the Championship leader was dealt with today. Attacking Jamie Green so hard that he had to pit due to a puncture was not okay. Bruno Spengler’s overtaking manoeuvre against Mattias Ekström was hard as well, but fair throughout.
Next for Audi Sport is the fourth round of the season, taking place in Zandvoort from the 10th to the 12th of July.
