Cautious approach pays off spectacularly for Edoardo Mortara

Victorious Team Abt Sportsline Audi driver Edoardo Mortara said a cautious approach to race one at the Norisring paid dividends, as he felt like he had “used up his jokers” in previous races.

The Italian benefited when the leading trio of Christian Vietoris, Mattias Ekström and Robert Wickens were eliminated on lap 20, following an optimistic move on Wickens by Ekström.

He escaped a brush with the wall exiting the Schöller-S and a small error late on to come home just over half a second clear of stable-mate Jamie Green and take the championship lead.

“You always need to be aware of what is happening in front of you, behind you, left and right. I have been very cautious in the last races and today also, as I have the feeling I have used my jokers this year and I didn’t want to have any problems,” said Mortara to TouringCarTimes.

“In race one you’re always a bit more cautious. With the crash in front of me, I was very lucky to escape and to jump three positions.

“I had a good start and overtook [Bruno] Spengler first, and I had a better launch than Jamie so could pass him in the first turn. Then it was a case of staying out of trouble.

“Once I was out in front it was a case of maintaining a good rhythm. I made one mistake near the end and the others had DRS. Until then I had the race in hand.”

Mortara now leads the championship on 69 points, two clear of the Team RMG BMW of Marco Wittman and six ahead of Green. However, he said he was placing no significance on this position at this stage of the season.

“To be leading the championship, to be honest – [it means] nothing. You need to be leading the championship at the end,” said Mortara.