In a turbulent rain race under floodlights, the title defender René Rast from the Audi Sport Team Rosberg brought home another DTM podium result for Audi on Sunday evening in Misano, Italy. For the first time this season, all six Audi RS 5 DTM finished in the points. Earning a total of 92 points, Audi was the strongest manufacturer in Misano.
Audi strongest manufacturer at the DTM in Italy
In a repeat of the previous evening, changeable weather conditions played a decisive role on Sunday evening. After another rainy qualifying session, at which the Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Loïc Duval scored the first pole position in his DTM career, the race started on a damp track. However, unlike at Saturday’s race, the track did not dry up this time. This was due to a heavy downpour early on in the race, just after almost all competitors had switched from wet tires to slicks.
When the race director deployed the safety car after Lucas Auer slid from the track in his Mercedes-Benz, the weather gamble ultimately proved advantageous for the five drivers who at this stage had not yet come in to the pits: Joel Eriksson (BMW), Edoardo Mortara (Mercedes-Benz), the two Audi pilots René Rast and Robin Frijns as well as guest driver Alessandro Zanardi (BMW). Thanks to the safety car phase, they gained a lap and concluded the race in the first five positions.
“What a crazy race,” said René Rast. “I got away well at the start from fifth on the grid and was immediately in third before almost being shunted into a spin in turn 2. I thought that would be the end of my race, but somehow I managed to control the car. When the safety car came out and I hadn’t yet taken my pit stop, I thought we’d lost the race. Instead, we managed to score third place.”
After securing his first podium result on Saturday, DTM newcomer Robin Frijns from the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline followed up with another strong result clinching fourth place on Sunday. Holding 55 points, the Dutchman is now the second-best Audi driver in the points after defending champion René Rast.
In the early phase of the race, Loïc Duval was running in third place, but finished his pit stop just as it started to rain. One lap later, the Frenchman had to return to the pits to have wet tires fitted. Duval achieved seventh place as the second-best of the lapped drivers. Scoring positions eight, nine, and ten respectively, Jamie Green, Mike Rockenfeller and Nico Müller ensured that all six Audi drivers finished in the points. With 50 points, the Audi crew eclipsed the best result of 2018 set the previous day (42 points).
“That was an unbelievable race,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “We managed to earn points with all six cars under extremely difficult conditions. This means that we did a very good job and didn’t make any mistakes – especially the drivers, obviously, but also those involved in the strategy. We had expected the conditions to dry up. Instead, we had a brief rain shower before the start and another one during the race. That made things very complicated and led to an incredible race.
In just 14 days, the next DTM doubleheader will be contested at the Nürburgring. The Eifel is also famous for its wild weather conditions.
Dieter Gass (Head of Audi Motorsport)
“The first two night races in DTM history will remain in our memories for a long time. The race on Saturday evening was spectacular. And it was hard to imagine that the race on Sunday could be even more turbulent – but this was caused by rain. We’re thrilled, of course, that we achieved our two best results so far this season and earned the most points. Robin (Frijns) drove a fantastic race on Saturday. On Sunday, René (Rast) brought home another podium result for us. I’m also delighted about Loïc’s (Duval) pole position. All in all, this was a successful debut for the DTM in Misano. The images we saw at night here were fascinating and the concert by Gianna Nannini added to the entire experience – as did the guest performance from Alessandro Zanardi, for whom we can only have the greatest respect.”
Robin Frijns (Aral Ultimate Audi RS 5 DTM #4) 2nd / 4th
“The weekend was really good. I earned a lot of points, I scored my first podium result on Saturday and finished Sunday’s race on fourth. The pace in the first race was fast, and I didn’t feel so great on Sunday. Luck was on my side, in this case, particularly when it came to tire choice when rain set in – unlike the previous race at Brands Hatch, where we were fast but went home empty-handed.”
René Rast (Audi Sport RS 5 DTM #33) Retired / 3rd
“That was a great debut for the DTM in Misano. We witnessed a lot of action on both days. That speaks in favor of night races and this circuit. As far as I’m concerned, we can race here more often. Sunday’s race was completely crazy – I think it was the craziest race I’ve ever contested in the DTM. It actually started out well. I got off to a good start and had already moved into third place by Turn 2. Then I was spun almost 90 degrees and ended up facing the wrong way. Another shunt pushed me back in the right direction and I continued. Luckily we then stayed out for a long time. When the safety car was deployed and I hadn’t yet come in for my pit stop, I again thought we’d lost the race. I didn’t realize that we had gained a lap and did quite a bit of grumbling over the radio. I’d like to apologize for this. We’ve earned decent points for third place. It’s a shame that the chaos after the first restart in race on Saturday left us without points.”
Loïc Duval (Audi Sport RS 5 DTM #28) 4th / 7th
“This was my best DTM race weekend so far. Still, I’m disappointed with how both races went. There was a collision on Saturday, which cost us a podium spot. On Sunday we had bad luck when it rained just after we’d switched to slicks. But on a positive note, we had one of the fastest cars over the entire weekend. Pole position on Sunday also underlined this.”
Nico Müller (Castrol EDGE Audi RS 5 DTM #51) 5th / 10th
“Chaotic doesn’t even begin to describe this weekend. Unfortunately, things just didn’t quite come together. It’s somewhat frustrating, because in fact anything could have been possible on such a weekend. On Saturday, I was within striking distance of the podium, but I wasn’t in the right position at the restart. On Sunday I fought for the pole, but when the track began to dry up my tire pressure was too high. In the race I came into the pits twice, which was one time too many. Still, I earned decent points, but at the moment the frustration outweighs the lost chance.”
Jamie Green (Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM #53) Retired / 8th
“What a frustrating weekend. I wasn’t fast enough in the two wet qualifying sessions. On Saturday I worked my way up to tenth place when I got caught up in another competitor’s crash at the Indy restart and was thrown out of the race. On Sunday, the track dried up and I changed to slicks, only to have to switch to wets two laps later due to the rain. Two pit stops are not ideal, but still I finished eighth. When you start from 17th on the grid, that’s not a bad result, but it could have gone better.”
Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #99) 10th place / 9th
“That was a cool event. It was something different to drive in the dark. The weather was chaotic, but that often makes races exciting. We saw a lot of action. I made two mistakes during the races. After setting seventh and fourth in qualifying I’d expected a different outcome. Finishing the races then on tenth and ninth is simply disappointing.”
Thomas Biermaier (Team Principal Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
“We can be very satisfied. As far as the points go, this was our best weekend so far this season. Robin (Frijns) was rewarded for his strong pace in the race with a podium and fourth place. Nico (Müller) also did a great job. We’re now preparing for the Nürburgring and hope that things continue like this.”
Ernst Moser (Team Principal Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
“We would have preferred to turn Loïc’s (Duval) pole position on Sunday into a win for Audi, of course. But the rain and safety car phases threw a spanner in the works. The night races in Misano were something new for us all, but I think the teams quickly found their rhythm – it’d be good to do this again. In terms of our performance this weekend, I’m very pleased. Both of our drivers scored points in the races. And Loïc’s (Duval) pole position on Sunday evening put the icing on the cake.”
Arno Zensen (Team Principal Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
“After the disastrous Saturday with both drivers retiring, we experienced a positive ending to the weekend. When the safety car came out I almost died at the gantry because I didn’t quite know what was going on for a moment. René (Rast) did a sensational job and came third. Jamie (Green) started from the 17th grid spot and moved up to eighth. This is a good result for the team. I raise my hat to Alessandro Zanardi, who finished fifth as a guest driver. That’s sensational. I’m thrilled for him.”
Press release DTM
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