Robert Wickens scores sensational win in Norisring
Mercedes AMG driver Robert Wickens transformed this morning’s disappointment after qualifying into a solid victory in Race 2 at the Norisring, host of the third round of the 2015 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season, scoring Mercedes’ second win this year.
The race took place under clear and sunny skies, and a warm temperature. All drivers started the race with used slicks, and one of the main issues would be how long they could last before having to complete their mandatory pit stop.
At the green lights, Bruno Spengler took the lead. Robert Wickens started like a rocket and got ahead of his team mate Christian Vietoris. Lucas Auer was in fourth position, although the Stewards, almost immediately, started an investigation because of the Austrian’s incorrect position on the grid.
At the first corner, Mike Rockenfeller braked into the back of Augusto Farfus, with the man from Audi sustaining important damage. They both had to retire.
On the second lap, Timo Glock was pushed by Mercedes’ Maximilian Götz, launching into the back of Adrian Tambay. The BMW had damage, resulting in losing the bonnet on the track. The Safety Car was called into action, whilst Glock had to retire.
When the race was launched again, Lucas Auer got handed a 5-second penalty for his grid infringement. Bruno Spengler was on the lead, but under close attack from Robert Wickens.
A couple of laps later, Robert Wickens went on the inside at Turn 1, taking the lead. Bruno Spengler had a difficult moment, and was overtaken by Christian Vietoris, Lucas Auer and Mattias Ekström. The Canadian from BMW was then fifth.
Further back, Jamie Green was fighting with Maxime Martin for ninth position. After a few laps behind the BMW, the man from Audi Team Rosberg nudged the Belgian, gaining the position. Mercedes’ Daniel Juncadella was right behind, and took advantage to gain a position on Martin, to be tenth.
Daniel Juncadella and Adrien Tambay were the first to pit, as Robert Wickens and Christian Vietoris maintained a close battle for the lead. Gary Paffett and António Félix Da Costa had slow tyre changes, losing positions, whilst Jamie Green lost time on track, being overtaken by Juncadella after his stop.
After the round of pit stops, Robert Wickens kept the lead, with a margin over Christian Vietoris. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Pascal Wehrlein and Paul Di Resta where fighting for fifth place, with the Scot overtaking the German.
The final part of the race was spiced by the fight between Mattias Ekström and Bruno Spengler for third place. The Canadian had been recovering since mounting fresh tyres, closing into the Swede. In the penultimate lap, Spengler went on the inside at turn 1, and both drivers were side by side arriving to the chicane, with the BMW prevailing and gaining the position.
In the final moments, Lucas Auer managed to overtake Maxime Martin for ninth place, scoring his first ever DTM points.
At the line, Robert Wickens won the race with more than seven seconds over Christian Vietoris, with Bruno Spengler finishing third and scoring BMW’s first podium this year.
Mattias Ekström was fourth, with Pascal Wehrlein retaking fifth place from Paul Di Resta, who classified in sixth place. Gary Paffett was seventh in another solid race from the Briton, with Daniel Juncadella, Lucas Auer and Maxime Martin completing the points’ positions.
Next round of the DTM takes place in the Dutch track of Zandvoort, from the 10th to the 12th of July.
