• Maximum points haul on Saturday for defending champion
  • Pole position, victory and fastest race lap
  • Mike Rockenfeller 6th in his 150th DTM race
DTM Nürburgring 2018
Audi Sport RS 5 DTM #33 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg), René Rast

René Rast took the second victory of the season in the DTM for Audi. The defending champion from Audi Sport Team Rosberg won Saturday’s race at the Nürburgring from Bruno Spengler (BMW) and Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz).

Fastest in free practice, pole position, a flawless race and also the fastest race lap: the 31-year old German had a perfect day at the wheel of his Audi RS 5 DTM on Saturday. Even so, the Audi driver was forced to work hard for the fifth victory of his DTM career. After having built up a comfortable lead during the opening third of the race, this shrank drastically after the tire change. From a lead as high as six seconds only 0.862 seconds remained at the flag.

“That was an extremely tough race, especially the final ten minutes,” said Rast. “Bruno (Spengler) got closer and closer and I just couldn’t drive any faster. I was extremely happy when I saw the checkered flag. This result is obviously super for the championship. I hope it continues like this.”

As a result of clinching his second victory of the season and the maximum points haul of 28 for pole position and victory, Rast moved up to fifth place in the overall standings. In the drivers’ championship, he is only one point behind the best placed BMW (Marco Wittmann) with 140 points still up for grabs. Edoardo Mortara (Mercedes-Benz), who is third in the standings, is now only 17 points ahead and has moved within striking distance of the defending champion.

Mike Rockenfeller moved up to sixth place after making a late pit stop in his 150th DTM race. Team mate Loïc Duval used the same strategy from the penultimate start position to take seventh. Audi Sport Team Phoenix thus scored points with both cars in its home race.

Nico Müller from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline fought from 16th on the grid to tenth and in doing so score a point. Only Jamie Green (14th place) and Robin Frijns (17th place) went away empty handed on Saturday.

“That was a fantastic race with a thrilling finish,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “We weren’t exactly sure whether René (Rast) was controlling the pace or if he was in difficulties after his pit stop, because Bruno (Spengler) got closer and closer. Fortunately René brought the race home. His second victory of the season, pole position and three other Audis in the points. On the whole it was an extremely good day for us.”

The second race at the Nürburgring starts on Sunday at 13:30. SAT.1 broadcasts live from the Eifel from 13:00.