Edoardo Mortara wins at Norisring as leading trio clash
Audi’s Edoardo Mortara scored a dramatic victory in the opening DTM race at the Norisring after leading trio Christian Vietoris, Robert Wickens and Mattias Ekström were all eliminated in a clash on lap 20.
Team Abt Sportsline’s Mortara was the first to benefit when his team-mate Ekström attempted to pass Mercedes Team HWA’s Robert Wickens at Grundig-Kehre, only to outbrake himself and collect both the Canadian and polesitter Christian Vietoris in the Team Mücke Mercedes.
Wickens retired at the side of the circuit as Ekström retired in the pits with severe front end damage, while Vietoris limped home 10th with a damaged car.
All this meant Mortara leapt from fourth to first, and was able to hold off Audi stable-mate Jamie Green to take the flag by little over half a second. The Italian now moves into the championship lead, and is the first driver to win at the Norisring for Audi since Laurent Aiello in 2002.
Team HWA’s Paul di Resta kept his nose clean to give Mercedes some cheer in third, while Team RMG’s Marco Wittman drove a very smart race to elevate himself from 13th to fourth at the flag for BMW.
Bruno Spengler was the second BMW home in fifth ahead of fellow M4 driver Maxime Martin, with Adrien Tambay, Maximillian Götz, Antonio Felix Da Costa and the hobbled Vietoris completing the top 10.
The makeup of the race had looked very different at the start. Vietoris made a fine start, with Wickens passing Green for third and Mortara passing the Englishman too – a move which would later prove crucial.
Ekström tried to pass Vietoris around the outside of the Schöller-S but the German repelled him, and Wickens demoted the Swede further on lap eight when he snuck up the inside into Grundig-Kehre.
Vietoris couldn’t break away from the cars behind him and the leading pack circulated in close company until the decisive clash on lap 20.
After a safety car period to clear up Wickens’s car, Mortara had enough in the tank to keep Green at bay for the remainder of the race, which was not without other drama.
Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller was unceremoniously removed from proceedings by Nico Muller at Grundig-Kehre on lap six, a move which landed the Swiss a drive-through penalty.
It was one of many close midfield battles, with the likes of Augusto Farfus, Maximillian Götz and Adrien Tambay all engaging in some spectacular wheel-to-wheel action.
The DTM drivers will return to the track for their next free practice session at 9:00 CET tomorrow.
