Antonio Felix da Costa surprised by impressive DTM debut

BMW’s Antonio Felix da Costa is ‘surprised’ by his fourth-place grid slot on his DTM debut at Hockenheim.

da Costa – who also acts as Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team’s test driver – signed to drive for BMW in the DTM over the winter, and qualified an impressive fourth on his DTM debut at Hockenheim, one position ahead of double DTM champion Mattias Ekström.

The Portuguese driver also underlined the impressive start to his DTM debut after threatening the top-10 throughout the qualifying hour.

“I am a bit surprised to have finished fourth in my very first DTM qualifying,” said da Costa. “I’d like to thank my entire team, who did everything in their power to allow me to achieve this superb result – whenever I pull on a helmet I always give 100 per cent [because] thats’s in my genes as a racing driver.

da Costa added that keeping a cool head was pivotal in securing his fourth-place grid slot, as the entire DTM grid was separated by just over two seconds.

“It is important to keep your cool in DTM qualifying. I did that, and I am very happy with the result.

BMW Motorsport head Jens Marquardt was also full of praise of da Costa’s effort on his DTM debut and was pleased with five of the BMW M4 DTM cars making it into the top-10.

“Particularly worthy of mention is Antonio Felix da Costa with a sensational fourth place in his very first DTM qualifying.

“That was an incredibly close first qualifying with our brand-new BMW M4 DTM. We are obviously very happy with the result. Three BMW M4 DTMs in the top four, and five in the top ten – that is a very good result for us, across the board and for all the teams.”

Marco Wittmann was the best placed BMW M4 DTM in second, behind pole-sitter Adrien Tambay.