DTM: Mike Rockenfeller rules at Brands Hatch
Posted 19th May, 2013 in Motorsport | Leave a comment
Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller dominated this weekend’s DTM round at Brands Hatch and now leads the drivers’ standings with 29 points.
Following the relegation of Martin Tomczyk’s BMW M3 DTM to 22nd on the grid due to it being 0.5 kilograms below the tolerance limit, Rockenfeller started from the front in his RS 5 DTM and controlled the pace, crossing the finish line ahead of title defender Bruno Spengler. BMW’s Augusto Farfus had an unfortunate weekend, having started from second on the grid, he was within a few seconds of Rockenfeller at one point until technical problems saw him retire on lap 65. He now lies third in the standings just three points behind Spengler’s 28.
Mercedes’ Robert Wickens ran an impressive race, starting from 13th on the grid, he was looking at fourth place, when team-mate Gary Paffett was given a 5s penalty for carrying too much speed whilst under a yellow flag, thus handing Wickens his first ever podium.
Paffett had to make do with 6th on his home circuit, finishing behind the BMWs of rookie Marco Wittmann and American Joey Hand.
“Of course I’m happy and relieved that we put the things we’d been planning for on track. In the DTM, in the race, all sorts of things can happen. Obviously, we had a superb foundation with the great qualifying session yesterday,” said a jubilant Mike Rockenfeller.
DTM Brands Hatch Results – 98 laps:
1. M Rockenfeller Phoenix Audi 1h11m28.719s
2. B Spengler Schnitzer BMW + 7.641s
3. R Wickens HWA Mercedes + 24.368s
4. M Wittmann MTEK BMW + 24.964s
5. J Hand RBM BMW + 26.076s
6. G Paffett HWA Mercedes + 25.071s
7. M Ekstrom Abt Audi + 36.523s
8. C Vietoris HWA Mercedes + 38.940s
9. T Scheider Abt Audi + 39.519s
10. P Wehrlein Mucke Mercedes + 40.290s
11. M Molina Phoenix Audi + 40.853s
12. D Werner Schnitzer BMW + 1 lap
13. M Tomczyk RMG BMW + 1 lap
14. T Glock MTEK BMW + 1 lap
15. J Green Abt Audi + 1 lap
16. R Merhi HWA Mercedes + 1 lap
17. F Albuquerque Rosberg Audi + 1 lap
18. A Tambay Abt Audi + 1 lap
19. A Priaulx RMG BMW + 2 laps
20. D Juncadella Mucke Mercedes + 2 laps
[Source: DTM]
