In front of 123,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) Audi defended its lead of the DTM standings. Jamie Green from Audi Sport Team Rosberg remains the front runner in spite of a setback in the race. He has an eleven-point advantage over Mattias Ekström from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, who finished in fourth place after an impressive race.
As expected, high performance weight following four consecutive victories meant that in Nuremberg the brand with the four rings had to tackle a task as ‘heavy’ as never before this year. Still, Audi came close to clinching a podium place in the city street race. Only on the penultimate lap, Mattias Ekström had to admit defeat to Bruno Spengler’s BMW that was 32.5 kilograms lighter, after both had been fighting a gripping duel throughout the race. “I could feel that he was faster,” said Ekström. “I simply didn’t have a chance across the distance with my performance weight. But it was a great battle.”
Jamie Green, in ninth place, was running in a points-position for a long time as well. However, a hard attack by BMW driver Maxime Martin slashed the left front tire of the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM. As a result, the leader of the standings had to make an additional pit stop on lap 61 and dropped to 19th place.
“In view of the high weight, Mattias made the best of what was possible,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “This is a tremendous result for him. That we’re able to reduce maximum weight before the next race weekend is another positive. However, I don’t agree with how the Championship leader was dealt with today. Attacking Jamie Green so hard that he had to pit due to a puncture was not okay. Bruno Spengler’s overtaking maneuver against Mattias Ekström was hard as well, but fair throughout. That’s the kind of racing the fans would like to see.”
Jamie Green now leads the standings with an eleven-point advantage over his brand colleague Mattias Ekström, who is three points ahead of the third-placed driver. After the first third of the season, Audi maintains the top spot in the manufacturers’ classification as well. The brand with the four rings has an advantage of 48 points over Mercedes-Benz.
The other Audi drivers had no racing luck. Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM/Audi Sport Team Phoenix) retired after contact on lap one, Nico Müller (Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM) shortly before the end of the race after touching a wall. Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM), Edoardo Mortara (Castrol EDGE Audi RS 5 DTM), Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM), Miguel Molina (Teufel Audi RS 5 DTM) and Jamie Green finished in positions 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19.
In just two weeks from now, DTM rounds seven and eight are coming up at Zandvoort (the Netherlands) where Audi will be on the grid with clearly less weight and better chances.
Source: Audi