Oschersleben preview: Mike Rockenfeller takes the title?
After another four week break, the DTM heads to Oschersleben in eastern Germany.
Located approximately 30 kilometers from Magdeberg, the smooth 3.6 kilometer circuit is one of the quicker circuits on the DTM calendar and is characterised by a sharp 90-degree first corner; the scene of frequent first lap accidents.
In addition to the tricky first corner, the notorious tough kerbs often see suspension breakages and subsequent retirements to give the drivers more headaches.
However, despite the track’s rapid and car-breaking nature, it’s not exactly a driver favourite.
Going into this weekend, the characteristics of the circuit are not the most important aspect of the race weekend; that accolade can go to potential crowning of a new DTM champion, Phoenix Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller.
The championship leader heads into the race with a 35 point advantage over Christian Vietoris, who is second in the title race.
However, Rockenfeller’s championship lead is so slim, that just 49 points separate him from Gary Paffett, who despite dropping to sixth in the drivers’ standings after a difficult outing at the Nürburgring, still has a mathematical chance of a second DTM title.
Should Rockenfeller take his third victory of the season, and none of his drivers’ championship rivals score, then the 29-year-old will be Audi’s sixth DTM champion; the Ingolstadt manufacturer’s first since Martin Tomczyk in 2011.
In spite of the pressure going into the Phoenix Audi outfit going into the weekend, the team appears to be focussed on once again performing as the best of the Audi teams, rather than outright title glory.
“The title is more likely to happen at Zandvoort or Hockenheim.” an Audi employee told TouringCarTimes. “If Rocky goes off at the first corner, and any of his championship rivals win, then his advantage is eroded to just 10-points.
“It’s not going to be that easy then, is it?”
The Phoenix Audi team principal, Ernst Moser, has taken an equally pragmatic approach, stating: “Thinking of Oschersleben primarily brings back positive memories of this track.
“Mike [Rockenfeller] has mounted the podium there before and Miguel [Molina] has been on pole there once as well.
“I’m confident that we’ll be in contention in the race again.”
Another driver who has reason to celebrate over the Oschersleben weekend is Paffett, who will celebrate 100 race starts.
Subsequently, the Briton believes this is a good platform to lay the foundations for a potential third victory around the circuit.
“Hopefully, the Nürburgring used up the rest of my bad luck quota for this season, and maybe fortune will smile on me again,” said Paffett.
“I’ve already won on two occasions at Oschersleben and would be very happy if I could celebrate my 100th DTM race with a third win there.
“That would be a perfect way to round off the anniversary and a great start to a hopefully successful run-in to the season finale.”
That’s that then. A potential new DTM champion; one of the most popular drivers on the grid celebrating 100 starts…
… there’s a race somewhere in there, too.
Oschersleben facts:
Track length: 3.6 kilometers
Laps: 51
Lap Record: Roberto Merhi, Mercedes-Benz, 1m22.752s (2012)
Weather: Unpredictable
Previous winners:
2001: Marcel Fässler (Mercedes-Benz)
2004: Tom Kristensen (Audi)
2005: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2006: Tom Kristensen (Audi)
2007: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2008: Timo Scheider (Audi)
2009: Timo Scheider (Audi)
2010: Paul di Resta (Mercedes-Benz)
2011: Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2012: Bruno Spengler (BMW)
