Marco Wittmann has regained the lead in the DTM. The BMW driver won Sunday’s second race at the Moscow Raceway to return to the top of the Drivers’ Championship in what is probably the most popular international touring car series with 130 points. While the wet tyres provided by exclusive DTM partner Hankook performed brilliantly under extremely difficult conditions on Saturday, the premium tyre maker’s slick tyre impressed on Sunday with an excellent level of grip and consistency at the 3.931-kilometre circuit to the northwest of Moscow.Moscow/Russia, 21st August 2016
Marco Wittmann started Sunday’s race from pole position, having clocked the fastest time in qualifying. The BMW driver led from start to finish to claim a dominant victory after 40 laps of racing – the seventh of his DTM career. The new championship leader was followed over the finish line by fellow BMW drivers Tom Blomqvist, Bruno Spengler and Augusto Farfus in places two to four.
The championship leader coming into the race, Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz), who won Saturday’s opening race at the Moscow Raceway, was unable to match the pace of the BMWs and came home fifth. As such, the Canadian lost top spot in the overall standings and now trails Wittmann by twelve points in second place. Edoardo Mortara produced a spirited performance. The Audi driver, who started the race from 17th on the grid, fought his way through to sixth place. He now lies fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, behind fellow Audi man Jamie Green.
The performance of the race tyre provided by premium tyre maker Hankook was typically impressive on the dry track, whilst at the same time offering maximum consistency. The Ventus Race produced a lot of traction, particularly in the narrow and winding middle sector of the Moscow Raceway, meaning the drivers were also able to pull off overtaking manoeuvres in these slower sections. “Yesterday it was Mercedes-Benz celebrating, today BMW were out in front. The DTM is so evenly matched because tiny details make all the difference in the quest for victory and good results. The Hankook race tyre showed its full potential this weekend at the Moscow Raceway. The wet tyre worked fantastically in the most difficult of conditions on Saturday, while the slick showed its class on a dry track today and offered all the drivers a consistently high level of grip,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline clocked the fastest pit stop at the Moscow Raceway in a time of 33.812 seconds to score 25 points towards the Hankook Best Pit Stop Award. The exclusive tyre partner of the DTM will present the top scoring, and therefore the fastest, team with a coveted trophy at the end of the season.
Marco Wittmann (BMW): “Today was a mega day for me, both in qualifying and the race. I got on really well with the Hankook race tyre, was always able to push in both my first and second stints, and did not have to worry about looking after the tyres at all. The package was spot on, the balance was outstanding, and I am absolutely delighted.”
Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz): “The Hankook race tyre was phenomenal all race weekend. However, I struggled with my car out on the track, as my power steering failed on lap ten. Given the circumstances, I am very happy with my fifth place.”
Edoardo Mortara (Audi): “It is difficult on this track, because of the smooth asphalt which offers a very low level of grip. The set-up of the car must be exactly right, as must the tyre pressure. That is a real challenge, but everything worked out well for us in the end.”
