Marco Wittmann sets the pace in first free practice
BMW Motorsport driver Marco Wittmann started off the weekend on the right foot in his challenge for his second DTM title at Hockenheim, leading the time sheets during the first free practice session.
The Team RMG driver set a best lap of 1:33.909 in his M4 DTM, 0.027 seconds ahead of Mercedes AMG’s Lucas Auer. BMW’s António Félix Da Costa started his farewell weekend to the series in third position, with Team Mücke’s Christian Vietoris in fourth.
René Rast, in his second-ever outing in the DTM, was the best-placed driver for Audi Sport in fifth. The Team Phoenix driver, who has effectively replaced Mattias Ekström this weekend, set a best lap just 0.128 seconds off the pace.
Martin Tomczyk and Augusto Farfus were next for BMW Motorsport, with Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller and Nico Müller in eighth and ninth positions respectively. Paul Di Resta completed the top ten for Mercedes, 0.500 seconds off Wittmann’s time.
Audi’s contenders for the title Edoardo Mortara and Jamie Green were 13th and 19th respectively, in a worrying session for the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer.
The session was largely trouble-free, with just Da Costa receiving a warning for track limits.
The DTM resumes tomorrow at 10:50 CET with the second free practice session.
