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DTM - Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
England - Brands Hatch - Race Report - 19/5/13

By MJP Media | 19 May 2013

Audi's Mike Rockenfeller leads from start to finish, totally dominating the second round of the DTM from Brands Hatch.

After the late drama following the disqualification of pole-sitter Martin Tomczyk and his relegation to the back of the grid, it was Audi's Mike Rockenfeller who had the pole advantage for round 2 of the 2013 DTM championship at a surprisingly sunny Brands Hatch in Kent. After invited guests had been treated to passenger rides in DTM cars driven by F1 stars Jenson Button and Paul di Resta we were ready for action.

Off the line it was pole-sitter Mike Rockenfeller in the Audi Sport Team Phoenix Schaeffler RS 5 who led, closely followed by Augusto Farfus in the BMW Team RBM Castrol Edge M3 and Bruno Spengler in the BMW Team Schnitzer BMW Bank M3. At the back of the grid, Martin Tomczyk was looking to make some rapid progress through the field in what was undoubtedly a very quick car.

Mike Rockenfeller in his victorious Audi Sport Team Phoenix RS 5 DTM

Tomczyk's progress was astonishing and by lap 24 he was up to 9th from a starting point of 22nd. As we started to see the pit stops occurring, Britain's Andy Priaulx was one of the first in after a spin which had dropped him to the back of the grid. Up at the front the top 3 were maintaining position and building a slight cushion over the rest of the field. Marco Wittmann was endeavouring to join this group but by lap 30 the top 3 had a 2 second advantage over the 4th placed man.

Tomczyk pitted from 8th position on lap 32 along with a number of the top drivers whilst Rockenfeller opted to stay out longer on his first set of tyres. Rockenfeller finally came in on lap 36 and rejoined some 12 seconds behind the new leader Edoardo Mortara in the Audi Sport Team Rosberg Playboy RS 5 who hadn't pitted yet.

Rockenfeller celebrates with Bruno Spengler and Robert Wickens

At half distance it was Miguel Molina in the Audi Sport Team Phoenix RS 5 in the lead ahead of the flying Rockenfeller with Bruno Spengler 3rd and Timo Scheider 4th in the Audi Sport Team Abt RS5. Martin Tomczyk's charge had disintegrated after a second pit stop. Mike Rockenfeller however was soon back in the lead as Molina pitted. The action hotted up on lap 69 as Augusto Farfus retired his BMW and the man on a charge was Mercedes' Gary Paffett who was up to 3rd in the Euronics AMG. At this point it was Audi 1st, BMW 2nd and Mercedes in 3rd.

As the race came to an end it was Mike Rockenfeller in the Audi ahead of Bruno Spengler in the BMW and Gary Paffett the highest place Briton in 3rd and also the highest placed Mercedes driver. Drama immediately followed the chequered flag as Paffett, whilst waiting to go up to collect his trophy, was disqualified for a fastest sector 3 under yellow flags, promoting Canadian Robert Wickens in the STIHL Mercedes AMG C-Coupe to 3rd place. With drama from start to finish in the British round of the DTM, we look forward to their visit here again next year.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media