2020 DTM Trophy Nürburgring GP;
Start, Tim Heinemann (GER), HP Racing, Mercedes AMG[/caption]
Tim Heinemann is dominating proceedings in the new DTM Trophy: the Mercedes driver from the HP Racing International team shone in the first race of the DTM Trophy at the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit on Saturday. And not only that: in the fifth race of the season, Heinemann pulled off the proverbial ‘hattrick’ in motorsport with pole position, victory and the fastest race lap. For the 22-year-old, it was already his third win in the DTM Trophy, the DTM’s new second-tier series. British driver Ben Green (BMW, FK Performance Motorsport) started from second on the grid and defended his position throughout the race. His compatriot Ben Tuck (BMW, Walkenhorst Motorsport) rounded out the podium.
For the first time, spectators were admitted to a race of the DTM Trophy and they got to see an action-packed race from the production-based GT sports cars, marked by position fights, hard overtaking manoeuvres and a safety car intervention. At the rolling start, pole sitter Heinemann was in control while stalwart Peter Terting (GER, Porsche, PROsport Racing) attempted in vain to overtake Green on the outside. Soon after that, Terting lost another position to Tuck and dropped back to fourth.
Kisiel hard-charging, bad luck for Terting
Later on in the race, there was a safety car intervention after Felix von der Laden (GER, Audi, Superdrink by Bremotion) had slid off into the gravel trap. His damaged Audi R8 LMS had to be towed away. At the restart, Heinemann made no mistakes at the front of the field and pulled clear. In the final stage of the race, there was more exciting action as a charging Jan Kisiel (POL, Mercedes-AMG, Leipert Motorsport) attacked Terting, who was in front of him. The German initially was able to defend, but had to park his Porsche Cayman in the pits with a technical failure soon after that, so that Kisiel inherited fourth place.
Prior to Sunday’s sixth DTM Trophy race (start: 15.15 hrs, live at grid.dtm.com), Heinemann remains clearly in the lead of the drivers’ standings at 122 points from Tuck (77). Kisiel maintained third place in the DTM Trophy Standings at 68 points.
» Quotes – race 1, Nürburgring Grand Prix
Tim Heinemann (GER), Mercedes-AMG, HP Racing International : « A perfect race. We were lucky to be able to stay away from traffic and drive clear laps. That was the key to success today. After the safety-car, I was also in control and was able to maintain my gap. Pole position gave me additional confidence, I hope that some more will follow. »
Ben Green (GBR), BMW, FK Performance Motorsport : « I think we got the best out of the situation today. I was very happy with my qualifying lap. The pace was good, although it showed that it wasn’t good enough to win the race. We have to keep working on that. The restart after the safety car intervention was the only chance to attack Tim, but it wasn’t enough. »
Ben Tuck (GBR), BMW, Walkenhorst Motorsport : « That was quite a bit of hard work today. From fifth on the grid, I was able to make up one position in the first corner right away. That already was a success. After that, I had a nice duel with Peter Terting in which I came out on top. Unfortunately, I was unable to close the gap to the two out in front. The car handled well. We will be attacking again on Sunday. »
Press release DTM Trophy
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