BMW tightened its stranglehold on the DTM series with a commanding one-two-three at this weekend’s Spielberg round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Starting from pole position, Spengler controlled the race to the chequered flag, but Timo Glock, who started from 11th on the grid, was looking good after storming his way through the field following a switch to option tyres. The ex-Formula One driver got within a second of Spengler, but a problematic wheel change during his second pitstop saw him slip back to third position behind team-mate Marco Wittmann, who had started alongside Spengler.
Mike Rockenfeller was the best of the rest, with fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom securing fifth after pushing his way past the BMW of Augusto Farfus just two laps from the end. It was a pretty bleak weekend for Mercedes too, who could do no better than 7th thanks to Christian Vietoris
“That is a historic triumph for BMW. It is the first time since our DTM comeback we have had three BMW drivers on the podium. I am very proud of the entire team. Bruno Spengler produced a flawless display, leading from start to finish to move to the top of the overall standings,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
DTM Spielberg Results
1. B Spengler Schnitzer BMW 1h08m35.249s
2. M Wittmann MTEK BMW + 1.550s
3. T Glock MTEK BMW + 6.504s
4. M Rockenfeller Phoenix Audi + 9.183s
5. M Ekstrom Abt Audi + 10.260s
6. A Farfus RBM BMW + 14.299s
7. C Vietoris HWA Mercedes + 14.884s
8. D Werner Schnitzer BMW + 15.548s
9. G Paffett HWA Mercedes + 16.207s
10. P Wehrlein Mucke Mercedes + 17.462s
11. A Tambay Abt Audi + 21.550s
12. R Wickens HWA Mercedes + 26.499s
13. D Juncadella Mucke Mercedes + 26.927s
14. M Molina Phoenix Audi + 27.704s
15. E Mortara Rosberg Audi + 29.113s
16. T Scheider Abt Audi + 29.470s
17. F Albuquerque Rosberg Audi + 31.834s
18. J Green Abt Audi + 32.854s
19. A Priaulx RMG BMW + 1m10.907s
20. R Merhi HWA Mercedes + 1m19.828s
[Source: BMW Motorsport]