par Race 2
Rast remporte son troisième titre de champion en DTM après la victoire lors de la finale à Hockenheim.
La magnifique série du DTM dans sa version tourisme a tiré sa révérence à l’issue de l’ultime course de la saison à Hockenheim. L’allemand René Rast s’est imposé pour fêter en apothéose son troisième titre en DTM, en seulement quatre ans, dans la discipline.
Le pilote Audi, longtemps dans l’ombre du Suisse Nico Müller en début de saison, a gagné cinq des six dernières courses pour aller chercher le titre pour la troisième fois.
Dominant les qualifications, il a fois réalisé la course parfaite dans cette deuxième manche du weekend. Mike Rockenfeller a pourtant pris la tête au départ devant Rast. Le leader du championnat a repris son bien grâce à une manœuvre musclée, Rockenfeller a évité le pire et les deux pilotes ont pu continuer, ils sont passés près de l’accident.
Ensuite, le dauphin du championnat, Nico Müller pris la tête grâce à un undercut parfait.
Privé de push to pass, le Suisse a été dominé dans la deuxième partie de course par le champion en titre et futur champion 2020, il n’a pas pu résister à Rast qui s’impose avec plus de dix secondes d’avance. La performance est exceptionnelle sur un circuit où les DRS et Push to pass permettent de rester au contact des adversaires
Jamie Green complète le podium suivi de Mike Rockenfeller, Robin Frijns et le Français Loïc Duval, ces pilotes offrent un sextuplé à Audi, ce qui concrétise la débâcle de BMW cette saison. Robert Kubica termine son unique saison en DTM par une quinzième place.
HighLights Race 2
Information in english
The champion remains the champion: René Rast seals his third DTM drivers’ title
In just four years: three titles, one runner-up spot and 24 race wins
René Rast with 24 wins most successful Audi works driver in DTM history
Swiss Nico Müller runner-up in 2020 DTM – Timo Glock best BMW driver of the season
The third title, the 24th race win and therefore the most successful Audi works driver in DTM history: René Rast has pulled it off! In the final race of the DTM season at Hockenheim, the German Audi driver scored a commanding victory and is the new and the old DTM champion. With his third title in only his fourth DTM season, Rast draws level with Klaus Ludwig in the all-time list of DTM champions. Only Bernd Schneider has more titles, five of them. His main rival Nico Müller (SUI, Audi), who still had title hopes after his victory on Saturday, had to make do with second place in the race and, with 330 points, was just beaten by Rast (353) in the final drivers’ standings. Rast’s teammate Jamie Green (GBR) showed another strong performance at Hockenheim on Sunday and rounded out the podium in third place. Next up were the other Audi works drivers Mike Rockenfeller (GER), Robin Frijns (NED), who ended up third in the drivers’ standings with 279 points, as well as Loïc Duval (FRA). Thus, all the six Audi works drivers locked out the first six places. Classified seventh, South African Jonathan Aberdein was the best-placed BMW driver like already on Saturday. Audi had already won the constructors’ title early, just like the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline had already secured the 2020 DTM teams’ title.
Rast’s seventh pole position
In the final qualifying session of the season, René Rast posted the fastest time like on six previous occasions this season already. The 34-year-old German’s qualifying record is impressive: seven pole positions, three second and five third places on the grid. From this season’s 18 qualifying sessions, Rast was among the fastest three 15 times and therefore was able to add 32 additional points to his championship tally just by his qualifying results alone. Nico Müller scored 23 points in this discipline, Robin Frijns 29.
For Rast, the start of the race wasn’t perfect: initially, he had to let Mike Rockenfeller, who had a rocket start from second on the grid, pull away. Jamie Green, third on the grid, didn’t have the best of getaways either and had to surrender a place to Nico Müller. On lap three already, Rast then made his way past Rockenfeller thanks to additional power from push-to-pass and took the lead until coming in for his mandatory pit stop. Müller also managed to overtake Rockenfeller and was now in the hunter’s role, but was unable to overtake Rast at the track.
Tactical games: Müller’s undercut attempt initially works out
In the pits, however, he succeeded: like on Saturday, Müller’s Abt crew attempted an undercut to beat Rast with already warm tyres once the latter had also made his stop. The plan worked out: Rast, who made his pit stop three laps later, rejoined the race behind Müller. It took Rast five laps to close the gap to Müller again and eventually overtake him on lap 24. After that, Müller was no longer able to follow Rast as the latter drove a commanding victory home. Behind Rast and Müller, a thrilling battle for third place unfolded, in which Green first overtook Frijns and then also Rockenfeller.
