Audi locked out the podium at a wet Brands Hatch, UK, as Germany’s Martin Tomczyk's third win of the year put him back on top of the championship race.
It may sound inconceivable to anyone familiar with British weather but this was the first time the DTM had been run in the wet at Brands Hatch. But heavy rain turned the mini Nürburgring into a challenge to rival its big brother in Germany’s Eifel mountains.
Canada’s Mike Rockenfeller lead from pole position, his first in the series, closely followed by two-time champion Mattias Ekström, who put in a daring pass on another ex-DTM champ, Gary Paffett, on the tricky Paddock Hill Bend.
Martin Tomczyk and Gary Paffett battle in the rain © Mercedes Motorsport
By lap two, despite some muscular blocking, Paffett found himself behind Tomczyk and Edoardo Mortara as well as the Audis set the pace.
Then there was no stopping Tomczyk as he passed Ekström and Rockenfeller to take the lead on lap 11. Once in front, Tomczyk barely put a foot wrong and took the chequered flag for the third time this season.
Here’s the race from the driver’s point of view:
"A fantastic race! The start was tricky. Gary Paffett in the early stages… blocked and wasn’t able to drive the times that I could. But then I found my pace. From then on things were going really well. Very fast, very consistent. It’s been a perfect weekend.”
Martin Tomczyk (Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM), Winner
Winner last time out at the Nürburgring, Ekström clinched second place to keep his championship hopes alive.
"I’m really happy. Second place feels like a victory because I achieved the maximum. I saw Martin (Tomczyk) behind me, he’s in the title race and I let him run. After that, both of us were driving flat-out. It was a fantastic race.”
Mattias Ekström, (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM), second
Tomczyk and Ekstrom at Brands Hatch © Audi Motorsport
Mortara finished third to score his first podium in DTM and underline his status as rookie of the year.
"A perfect race and a fantastic start – a start of the kind you may only manage once in your career. I was able to overtake some rivals early on. In the last stint I had Gary (Paffett) behind me but was able to keep him at bay. A tremendous weekend!”
Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi A4 DTM), third
“A decent result. It was a tough race in the wet. I dropped down a couple of places at the start and after that, couldn’t initially keep up with the pace of the leaders.”
Gary Paffett (AMG Mercedes C THOMAS SABO-Class), Fourth
Ralf Schumacher took a controversial fifth after he touched the back of Rockenfeller’s car, pushing the pole man into a spin.
“Although the rain made conditions tricky, this was a good race for me – I’m more than satisfied with fifth place.”
Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), Fifth
Rockenfeller was less satisfied…
"I don’t understand why there was no penalty for that [the incident with Ralf Schumacher]. I’ve got to watch the scene again, but from my perspective the matter was clear.”
Mike Rockenfeller (E-POSTBRIEF Audi A4 DTM), sixth
A tough day at the office for championship challenger Bruno Spengler, who struggled to get to grips with the conditions....
“The heavy rain really didn’t suit me – starting eighth on the grid, the spray meant I had very poor visibility. Many thanks to my team for their quick work in the pits, which enabled me to move up a place – that won me two valuable points.”
Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class), Seventh
Rounding out the points-scoring places was Briton’s Jamie Green who also struggled after qualifying in P4.
“It was an eventful race for me – on the first stint I went into the gravel, then I spun: both incidents cost me a lot of time. Still, I fought my way back into the points and I overtook Oliver Jarvis just before the finish.”
Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class), Eighth
“I moved up four places during the race, but all in all I had a poor day. Racing in the wet is certainly more entertaining for the spectators, but I always prefer dry conditions.”
David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class), Twelfth
Couthard in the thick of it at Brands Hatch © Mercedes Motorsport
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