Bruno Spengler – third in drivers’ standings “a great comeback”

BMW’s Bruno Spengler has described securing third in the 2013 DTM drivers’ championship as a “great comeback” following his third place finish at the DTM season finale at Hockenheim.

Spengler, who took the title with BMW in its 2012 comeback year with the Schnitzer team, has had a mixed 2013.

The Canadian won at Spielberg, but failed to score a point between Moscow and Zandvoort.

Spengler came into Hockenheim lying fifth in the championship on 67 points, four adrift of third place man Christian Vietoris.

With Vietoris scoring six points to Spengler’s 15 at Hockenheim, he was able to jump from fifth to third in the drivers’ standings come the end of the season.

“It was a great comeback after four races without points, and being third without scoring anything in four races is still a good result,” Spengler told TouringCarTimes. “I can be happy about this, considering the four times I didn’t score were not my fault.”

Despite being pleased with his top-three finish in the championship, Spengler feels the biggest achievement at Hockenheim was BMW’s securing of a second consecutive manufacturers’ title.

“It’s still good for me being third, but the most amazing thing is for BMW to win the manufacturer’s championship in the last race.

“It means so much, especially because this year has been a little more difficult for us compared to last year, most of all in the middle of the season where we struggled at some tracks.

“Anyway, it really means a lot, especially for the guys at the teams because they work day and night whether we are fast or not; they’re always working hard, so they really deserve to have at least the manufacturer’s championship.

“We would have liked to have given the drivers’ too, but the manufacturer’s championship is something which is very important and I’m very happy we brought it to them.”