Wickens grabs first DTM victory in challenging Nürburgring conditions

Robert Wickens scored the maiden victory of his DTM career in difficult wet and drying conditions at the Nürburgring. The Mercedes-Benz driver coped best with the changeable conditions, moving from seventh on the grid to the front of the field. The race was stopped after 47 of the scheduled 49 laps, because the maximum duration of 75 minutes had been reached. Tyre supplier Hankook provided the wet, base-line slick and faster option tyres to help the teams adapt to different conditions and to use flexible race tactics.

Augusto Farfus (BMW), who started the race from first place, finished second. In the rain during the early stages, the Brazilian lost a lot of time that he couldn’t make up any more as the track dried out. Christian Vietoris secured the second podium finish for the car manufacturer from Stuttgart by finishing third with his DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé and thus moved up to second place in the drivers’ standings.

The real winner in the Eifel classic was Mike Rockenfeller, who secured fourth place. The Audi driver had dropped back to 20th place, having innocently become turned around on the opening lap, but used the subsequent safety-car phase and was the first driver to change to rain tyres. Thus, the 29-year old even moved up into the lead, which he lost after his two mandatory pit stops. Still, Rockenfeller extended his lead in the drivers’ standings to 35 points after Bruno Spengler again had bad luck at the Nürburgring. 

After a collision, the car of the BMW driver was heavily damaged, so that the Canadian had no chance of a position among the front runners and failed to score points after finishing 14th. Thus, he dropped back to fourth in the drivers’ standings behind Wickens. Gary Paffett didn’t have a chance either. In the rain, the Mercedes-Benz driver stayed out with slick tyres too long and only finished 17th. Thus, the Brit’s title chances have been significantly reduced as he is now 49 points down. 

Wickens said: “It was an incredibly crazy race. I am overjoyed with my maiden DTM victory. The pit stops and the tyre choice were perfect. I thank my team for this great strategy.”

Rockenfeller added: “The rain tyres worked great and also lasted long as the track dried out. That was the key to success, to still finish fourth after that terrible first corner.”