Mit voller Motivation Richtung DTM-Meisterschaft

DTM Hockenheim (D)

Nach wenigen aber erfolgreichen Testtagen mit den neuen, super schnellen DTM Turbo-Boliden (über 600 PS), stand traditionell, am 1. Mai Wochenende, der Saisonauftakt in Hockenheim vor der Tür. Samstags machten uns Temperatur um die 5 Grad und Regen das Leben schwer, zudem kämpften wir mit einem Problem an unserem Auto. Mit einem 8. Platz konnten wir den Schaden jedoch in Grenzen halten und die Saison trotzdem mit Punkten eröffnen. Sonntags blieb der Regen fern und wir konnten die ersten richtig schnellen Rundenzeiten verbuchen. Die 4-Zylinder Turbo Generation der DTM ist sogar an die 3 Sekunden schneller als im Vorjahr! Auch für mich persönlich lief der 2. Renntag deutlich besser. Von P4 aus gestartet kämpfte ich mich direkt vor auf Rang 2 und verfolgte den Führenden. Leider kam es zu einem ungünstigen Zeitpunkt zum Safety Car Einsatz, welcher unsere Strategie und die damit verbundene Chance auf einen Sieg vernichtete. Mit einem starken 2. Platz war unsere Saison definitiv lanciert.

MotoGP Star Andrea Dovizioso

In der kurzen Pause zwischen den ersten Rennen hatte ich die Ehre, unseren Mega-Gaststarter und MotoGP Star Andrea Dovizioso in die Welt der DTM einzuführen. Ich begleitete ihn bei seinen Simulator-Sessions und ersten Testfahrten im Audi RS5 DTM.

DTM Zolder (B)

We continued with the second DTM race in Zolder (Belgium). This was new territory for me and also the return of the DTM to its birthplace. I quickly found my way around the new track and, on the Saturday, secured 3rd place for us on the next podium as well as important points. On the Sunday, unfortunately, little went according to plan. We performed badly in the qualifier and only just made it to 12th place. During the race, while gaining ground to get into the top five, I was pushed off the track and eventually had to settle for 8th.

DTM Misano (I)

Next stop Misano. On the Saturday we couldn‘t quite get our car up to its peak performance potential, so 5th place was the maximum we could salvage. For the Sunday we found the correct adjusting screws and the right race set-up, especially for the long runs, in the scorching Italian heat. From a starting position in 4th I moved immediately into 2nd place and later, during the obligatory pit stop, took the lead. After that we used our top speed, enabling me to pull away with every lap from the chasers behind me. I eventually secured this long-awaited second DTM victory (the previous victory was Norisring 2016) with almost 8 seconds advantage. W ith this, our challenge for the DTM championship was finally launched.

FC Bayern Star Thomas Müller

Immediately afterwards, I welcomed a very special guest to the Audi Driving Experience Centre in Neuburg. FC Bayern star Thomas Müller ventured behind the wheel for a photoshoot for his new YouTube series „Da Schau Hi“. Getting to know, and coaching, the likeable footballer was not only good fun but also gave us a good exposure on his social media channels and in his next YouTube series (137,000 views).

DTM Norisring (D)

It was all the more gratifying to at last let lap times speak for themselves again and to fight for important points at the climax of the DTM season at the Norisring. On the city course in the middle of Nuremberg I felt really comfortable and my Audi drove faultlessly, enabling me to gain superiority and secure pole position for Saturday’s race. The race got off to a perfect start. I maintained the lead and immediately left the others behind. That is, until disaster struck in the form of the safety car, which tore our strategy to shreds. We were already assuming that all the podium opportunities were gone, but we didn’t give up. Having the fastest car in the field, I fought my way back to 3rd and even overtook the second placed car at the last corner of the final lap. A cause for great celebration!

On Sunday, I again started the race from the first row and was about to take the lead at the first corner when, unfortunately, I got stuck in second gear. So I came out of the bend very badly, lost one place and went neck-and-neck with Rast into the second corner. He was already assuming that he was passing me and so unexpectedly moved inside. He got a small touch, which sent him into a half spin, while I incurred a heavy drive-through penalty that pushed me way down the whole field. But, having by far the fastest car in the field, I fought my way back in to secure 8th place and four important points for us in the battle for the championship.

DTM Assen (NL)

The next stop was new territory for the DTM. The high-speed track in Assen (Holland) awaited us at the halfway point of the season. In the first race, which started in the pouring rain, I began in position 6. I quickly fought my way back to 3rd. Then after recording a number of the fastest laps one after the other I started to chase the leaders Wittmann and Rast. It looked for a long time as if we could still win this race, but a poorly-timed pit stop pushed us down to 2nd behind Wittmann. We nonetheless scored some important additional points. On the Sunday, the track stayed dry and I qualified for starting position 4. In a race marked by extreme tyre wear I crossed the finishing line in 3rd and was back on the podium. So, by mid-season (after five races) I was in 2nd place in the table on 22 points, behind the leader Rast.

Brands Hatch (GB)

Returning to DTM mode we were welcomed back to the British Isles and the old-established track at Brands Hatch. Again, I was able to produce two strong races and a podium double – 3rd place on the Saturday and 2nd place on the Sunday.

Summary

This means we are currently 2nd in the table, and still in with a chance to win the 2019 DTM title. René Rast, who tops the current leader-board, will certainly be anything but easy to beat, but we will give it everything we’ve got in the remaining two race weekends at the Nürburgring and Hockenheim!