Photo: DTM Media

Félix Da Costa and Ekström entertain with passless battle at “boring” circuit

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António Félix Da Costa and Mattias Ekström’s battle for sixth in the first race on Saturday at Zandvoort was the main highlight for the spectators at the circuit, but both drivers were critical of the circuit which allowed no opportunity for passing, with Da Costa placing his result in a sluggish BMW wholly due to the circuit’s characteristics.

“I was helped by the track,” said Félix Da Costa to TouringCarTimes. “It is a hard place to overtake and I was pretty slow out there and I was really struggling with my car. I was just trying to have clean exits out of Turn 9 and Turn 13 to stop (Ekström) from making a move into 10 and Turn 1. He was very close a few times, but hats off to him for being very fair. I’m not happy because I’m not quick, and to have Ekström behind you for ten laps of more makes you sweat for sure.”

The Portuguese driver felt his position was relatively safe with the former champion behind him as he had more to lose than the Schnitzer BMW driver.

“Mattias is always on the aggressive side, but he’s in the spotlight,” he added. “He needs the points more than anyone at the moment. I knew he wouldn’t take a stupid risk, P7 for him is better than nothing, and he knows I had nothing to lose.”

Ekström’s view on the race was that after the start there was little else to do and expects much the same from the DTM race on Sunday.

“I had a good start, I got past Esteban Ocon, and then I was just sitting in the train really,” said Ekström to TouringCarTimes. “After a while you can’t do anything but enjoy driving around and eating some dust, it was a very boring race.

“I just kept the pressure on (Félix Da Costa) waiting for a mistake, but none came, there’s nothing more to do at this circuit.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s race with the added element of a mandatory tyre change pit stop, the Swede remarked he didn’t expect the race to be much different.

“Here, it’s one of those tracks that with our cars there’s nothing you can do. There’s no strategy, just pit early get your tyre gain and then it’s back to the traffic jam and you just block. You get just really frustrating, boring races here.”