Photo: DTM Media

Bruno Spengler scores big to keep BMW in the drivers’ title hunt

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BMW leave the Nürburgring with a 51 point lead over Mercedes-Benz in the manufacturers’ title fight, while third for Bruno Spengler means the 2012 champion is now the only BMW driver left in contention for the drivers’ title this year, and says he’ll fight to the end.

Spengler was running in second position in the first race on Saturday but was eliminated from the race following damage sustained after contact with Edoardo Mortara’s Audi as the Abt driver made his way up the order. The Canadian qualified fifth on Sunday and converted that to third position, benefitting from Jamie Green’s failed start in the Rosberg Audi RS 5 and after overtaking BMW colleague Tom Blomqvist on lap ten.

“I’m very happy about today,” said Spengler to TouringCarTimes. “On one side, I’m frustrated as yesterday I could have got some big points for the championship, I could have finished second or maybe win you never know, so it was disappointing as if you score two podiums on the weekend that’s a good weekend.

“I’m very happy to bring the result home as my mechanics worked late last night as my car was really damaged, and they did a great job, the car was great today in qualifying and in the races today, so some great points, and it was great to score a podium.”

Spengler has moved to fourth place in the drivers’ championship over the course of the weekend, but is now 46 points behind Mercedes driver Pascal Wehrlein with just 50 available from the final weekend in Hockenheim.

“If I have a mathematical chance, I’ll still go for it and still give everything I have to win it,” said Spengler. “But 46 points you have to be realistic, as I have to win both races and (Wehrlein) has to be out of both races, so there is a lot to do to achieve that.”

With Mercedes placing their drivers in the best position on Sunday, with both Daniel Juncadella and Maximilian Götz asked to sacrifice their positions for Wehrlein’s championship aspirations, Spengler added that BMW are unlikely to employ the same approach in Hockenheim.

“We don’t play these kind of games,” he said. “I was second in Oschersleben behind Timo Glock and I could have had the victory from team orders, but we’re not doing this, we’re staying on the sporting side. Yesterday was the same, I was second behind Maxime Martin, and I stayed second, so we want to play fair and win fair, so this won’t be the case.”