René Rast heads Audi 1-2-3 in Lausitzring Race 1
Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver René Rast claimed his second victory of the season in Race 1 at the Lausitzring, host for the third round of the 2020 DTM season.
Rast beat the changing weather conditions, with Team Abt Sportsline drivers Nico Müller and Robin Frijns completing the podium.
The drivers started the race on wet weather tyres but with the forecast of no further rain during the race.
Rast was slow off the grid at the start, with Müller taking the lead followed by team-mate Frijns. BMW Team RBM driver Philipp Eng claimed third, ahead of Rast and BMW Team RMG driver Marco Wittmann.
Rast was able to recover third position before the end of the first lap, with Wittmann also getting ahead of Eng.
The reigning champion continued his progression, closing the gap to Frijns and coming under the Dutch’s rear bumper within three laps.
A drying line started to form early in the race as Rast made a mistake on lap six that allowed Wittmann to overtake for third place. The reigning champion regained his position two laps later, overtaking on the outside at Turn 1.
Wittmann was unable to keep up with Rast, as Eng overtook him for fourth place on lap ten.
Frijns started having serious problems with his tyres as Rast quickly reduced the gap to the Dutchman.
Müller mounted slicks on lap 14, with Frijns overtaking for the lead on the back straight as the Swiss’ tyres were cold. But the real threat was Eng, who also overtook Müller and set his sights on Frijns.
Wittmann attacked Müller, overtaking for third place on lap 16, as Rast also closed the gap to the Swiss.
Two laps later, the Team RMG driver overtook Eng for second place.
Rast got past Eng on lap 20 and, three laps later, took second place from Wittmann. Müller also overtook the Team RMG driver for third place on lap 25.
Rast tried to overtake Frijns at Turn 1 on lap 27, with the Dutch defending his position. The reigning champion took the inside at Turn 2, going side-by-side with Frijns. Rast took the lead of the race on the following corner and quickly opened a gap.
Further behind, Glock continued his recovery after starting from the back of the grid, overtaking Wittmann for fourth place on lap 28. Müller got by Frijns a lap later.
Rast took his second consecutive victory this season at the finishing line, with Müller and Frijns completing the podium.
Glock was the best-placed BMW driver in fourth place, followed by Wittmann, Rockenfeller and Team Phoenix’s Loïc Duval.
Team RBM driver Eng and Sheldon van der Linde dropped back in the latter part of the race due to their early stops, finishing eighth and ninth, with Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green completing the top ten.
Next up is the second qualifying session at 10:45 CEST tomorrow.
