DTM: one-two for Audi in Moscow
Posted 4th August, 2013 in Motorsport | Leave a comment
Audi took control of Russia’s maiden DTM race with Mike Rockenfeller and Mattias Ekstrom coming home first and second place at Moscow Raceway.
Rockenfeller dominated the race before coming in to change from option to standard tyres on lap 44, at which point Ekstrom took the lead and was looking good for the victory until his pace started to dip during the closing stages leaving Rockenfeller to take advantage of the situation. The third step of the podium was occupied by BMW’s Augusto Farfus, spoiling Audi’s chances of a clean sweep when he narrowly pipped Adrien Tambay, who started from twelfth on the grid and also recorded the fastest lap of the race. Britain’s Gary Paffett rounded out the top five giving Mercedes its best result of the weekend.
Rockenfeller now enjoys a 27 point lead in the championship over his main title rival Bruno Spengler, who had been running in eighth place when he collided with Audi’s Miguel Molina on lap 4. Molina retired while Spengler slipped down the field eventually finishing a miserable 19th.
“Obviously, this was a really big step in the Championship today. It’s great having won here at the DTM’s premiere in Russia. It was a similarly perfect race as at Brands Hatch: starting from the pole position and finishing in first place. My Audi RS 5 DTM was fantastic and Team Phoenix did a superb job,” said a jubilant Rockenfeller.
DTM Moscow results after 74 laps
1. M Rockenfeller Phoenix Audi 1h14m38.512s
2. M Ekstrom Abt Audi +1.303s
3. A Farfus RBM BMW +11.393s
4. A Tambay Abt Audi +12.275s
5. G Paffett HWA Mercedes +17.495s
6. J Green Abt Audi +18.704s
7. J Hand RBM BMW +19.363s
8. D Werner Schnitzer BMW +26.117s
9. T Scheider Abt Audi +34.184s
10. C Vietoris HWA Mercedes +41.331s
11. P Wehrlein Mucke Mercedes +42.029s
12. R Wickens HWA Mercedes +43.782s
13. F Albuquerque Rosberg Audi +44.443s
14. R Merhi HWA Mercedes +51.576s
15. M Wittmann MTEK BMW +52.941s
16. T Glock MTEK BMW +54.421s
17. M Tomczyk RMG BMW +58.460s
18. D Juncadella Mucke Mercedes +1 lap
19. B Spengler Schnitzer BMW +1 lap
20. A Priaulx RMG BMW +1 lap
[Source: Audi Motorsport]
