Photo: Audi Sport

Consistency takes Mattias Ekström to championship lead after Moscow

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Audi Sport driver Mattias Ekström has returned to the lead of the DTM drivers’ championship after finishing second in this afternoon’s Race 2 at Moscow Raceway, despite not having won a race all season.

The Swede started the race from the front row, eventually taking the lead from BMW’s Bruno Spengler. However, a safety car intervention on lap seven played into the hands of the early stoppers. Ekström did his best to fight for the victory, crossing the line in second place just under four-tenths behind the winner, Mercedes’ Maro Engel.

“After Budapest, this is the second time a safety car cost me victory. In the beginning, I was battling for the lead with Bruno (Spengler). On the long run, I was faster and able to overtake him. As a result of the safety car, the cards were reshuffled. From then on, it was a highly entertaining race,” said the Team Abt Sportsline driver.

Ekström has scored points in all races held but one, counting 113 points, a positive result for the double champion: “I’m very happy with second place today, 20 points from qualifying and the races, plus the lead of the standings.”

Audi driver René Rast finished fourth and leaves Moscow in second place of the standings, just one point behind Ekström. Mercedes AMG’s Lucas Auer is third, 14 points adrift, with Audi’s Jamie Green in fourth after a strong fight in today’s race. Maxime Martin is the best-placed BMW driver in fifth, with 78 points.

Audi Sport was the top scoring manufacturer in Moscow, finishing the fifth round of the season with 421 points, extending their lead to 80 points over Mercedes AMG and 113 over BMW Motorsport.

Audi Sport Team Rosberg leads the teams’ standings with 199 points, 50 ahead of Team Abt Sportsline. BWT is the best placed Mercedes team in third, 59 points adrift, with BMW Team RMG in fourth, a further point behind.