René Rast: “Pitting at the right moment was very important”

Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver René Rast achieved an important second successive victory at the Lausitzring today under complicated and changing conditions. The reigning champion reckons pitting at the right moment was key to his victory.

It had been raining over the Lausitzring since Friday night, but it stopped just before the race, with the entire field taking the start on wet weather tyres and knowing that, as the track dried, the compulsory tyre change would be for slicks.

Rast qualified second behind Team Abt Sportsline driver Nico Müller, after making an error in the last sector ruined a last attempt.

The problems for the reigning champion continued at the start: “The start was messy, the car got bogged down. I went to the gravel, but I didn’t give up, because I knew that the track was going to dry up,” said Rast.

The Team Rosberg driver changed to slicks at the end of lap 13, one lap earlier than Müller, a move that proved decisive in gaining and maintaining the lead until the end of the race.

“I waited for the moment we pitted and then I knew I had to risk it,” added Rast. “I made some moves against Marco (Wittmann, BMW), Philipp (Eng, BMW) and then Robin (Frijns, Audi), I used my DRS and push-to-pass at the right moments and I think it just worked out to defend against Nico.

“Pitting at the right moment was very important,” said the reigning champion. “Nico, for instance, returned to the track into traffic, having to manage the tyres in that situation.”

Team-mate Jamie Green, who pitted just one lap later, finishing in tenth place, agreed with Rast’s analysis: “The conditions were very difficult,” the Briton told TouringCarTimes. “It was hard to make such a decision that was key to the race. I pitted late and it cost me five or six positions.”

Rast’s almost perfect day has also allowed the Team Rosberg driver to reduce the points deficit to Müller, who leads the standings on 121 points, 33 more than Rast.