Schubert BMW driver Marco Wittmann put on an impressive show in the Zandvoort dunes earlier today, taking a win from 14th on the grid in the second DTM race of the weekend.
After making steady progress in the first half of the race, the 34-year-old took the lead after a perfectly timed pit stop, and had extended his advantage to 7.239 seconds by the time he crossed the finish line to take victory.
“I never thought I would come from so far back to win. After the contact with Mirko Bortolotti, my heart sank to the soles of my feet. There was so much smoke in the cockpit that I could hardly see anything at times. I am just overjoyed that I was able to bring home the win,” said Wittmann after claiming his 19th victory in DTM.
SSR Performance’s Mirko Bortolotti finished second. That was enough to move him into second place in the overall standings. Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde from Abt Sportsline came home third and stretched his lead at the top of the table to eight points.
The start was perfect from Bortolotti. After qualifying second, the Italian passed pole-sitter and fellow Lamborghini driver Maximilian Paul from Paul Motorsport to take the lead at Turn 2. Not long after that, the safety car made its first appearance following crashes involving Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer and Clemens Schmid’s McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.
After the restart, local favourite Thierry Vermeulen from Emil Frey Racing and championship leader Kelvin van der Linde slotted in behind the leading duo.
A further outing from the safety car on lap 11 did not change the order. However, there was a significant shake up after the mandatory pit stops.
Bortolotti initially held onto the lead, while a slow tyre change saw second-placed Paul drop back through the field.
Wittmann meanwhile, who had already made up several positions, was the last driver in for a new set of Pirellis, and rejoined the race at the front of the field.
Despite initially being on cold tyres, the two-time champion was still able to hold off the charging Italian, who hit the rear left of Wittmann’s car during an attempted overtake.
Despite smoke coming from the rear of his car, Wittmann was able to steadily extend his lead and took the chequered flag in the lead. Bortolotti finished runner-up after fending off several attacks from Kelvin van der Linde. Dutchman Vermeulen came home fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium at his home event.
Luca Stolz took fifth place in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Mercedes-AMG Team HRT.
Arjun Maini ended Sunday’s race in sixth place in the second HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3, and René Rast, after a similar fightback to his team-mate Wittmann drove from 20th to seventh.
Pole-sitter Paul had to settle for ninth place behind Sheldon van der Linde. Reigning champion Thomas Preining ended up 10th in his Manthey Porsche.
As for Race 1 winner Jack Aitken, it was a tough outing, the Briton finishing 16th and last of the classified finishers.
Aitken is one of six drivers from the DTM who took part in the Le Mans Test Day prior to the DTM race, and will head back to Franch for race week at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Wittmann, Rast, Bortolotti and both van der Linde brothers were also on the plane.
Image courtesy of BMW
