Intense combats for the title guaranted – Rast vs. Müller in DTM finale at Hockenheim

The final two rounds in the battle for the title are imminent: this weekend (6-8 November), Hockenheim serves as the stage for the ultimate showdown for the DTM and the title antagonists. In the red-and-white corner: René Rast (GER, Audi), the defending champion and the points’ leader. In the green-and-white corner: Nico Müller (SUI, Audi), the challenger and currently second in the standings. And then there is also Robin Frijns (NED, Audi), who, mathematically, can become champion as well. Making any predictions? Possible, but pointless, because certainly there has been no lack of surprising twists in the 2020 DTM season. And therefore, TV viewers can look forward to sporting outstanding final races, spectacular duels and thrilling action (live on Saturday and Sunday from 13.00 on TV partner SAT.1).

If in doubt … – for Müller and Frijns, going flat-out and achieving top results are the only things that matter

Two who have nothing to lose: for the two teammates in the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Nico Müller and Robin Frijns, the strategy is one of motorsport’s age-old adages: if in doubt, flat out. Their situation, after all, is clear: both have to make up many points on René Rast in order to be in a position to turn the tables on the home straight of the season. Müller is 19 points down, Frijns 41. There are still two times 25 points for the two race wins at stake, plus three additional points for each of the two pole positions. None of the two candidates is in a position to make up sufficient points by their own means: the maximum possibility is 16 points in case of a maximum score at Hockenheim against the driver who theoretically comes second. As a duo, however, they could well be in a position to turn the tables, for instance when the Abt drivers secure the two top positions in the qualifying sessions and the races with Nico Müller coming out on top on every occasion.

To finish first … – calculated risk is the strategy of choice for René Rast

Conversely, this also means: René Rast can achieve the successful title defence by himself. To do so, he ‘just’ has to come at least second in both qualifying sessions and both races. If that is the case, there is no way somebody else can keep him from securing the large trophy, irrespective of what his opponents achieve. In the process, the following things are absolutely forbidden: mistakes, setbacks, retirements. For Rast, the golden racing rule applies: to finish first, first you have to finish. René Rast, after all, has something to lose. A ‘worst case’ happening, however, seemed highly unlikely in recent times: with two compelling race weekends at Zolder, Rast converted a 47-points’ deficit into a 19-points’ lead – the most important ‘Route 66’ towards the title defence, to say so. Rast is heading to Hockenheim with boosted self-confidence. In case he manages to defend his title, it would be his third DTM crown, drawing level with legend Klaus Ludwig. Only Bernd Schneider is still ahead with five title wins.

Turning the scales – the rising stars of the season are keen to shine once more

They are the latest ‘newbies’ on the DTM podium: Robert Kubica (POL, BMW) and Ferdinand Habsburg (AUT, Audi). Earlier in the 2020 season, Sheldon van der Linde (RSA, BMW) first entered the circle of the top 3 drivers and then went on to add his name to the winners’ list. They are the primary candidates to make the aforementioned mathematical and theoretical championship scenarios obsolete: Sheldon van der Linde is in contention for fourth place in the final championship standings and is keen to conclude the season as ‘best of the rest’. For Kubica and Habsburg, the aim is to confirm their upward trend of the 2020 DTM season after their recent strong achievements and podium results at Zolder. At the same time – typical for the DTM – there are also plenty of other candidates for surprises and remarkable achievements.

Race venue Hockenheim: a large strategic playing field for drivers and engineers

Two factors are providing the drivers and engineers with a huge strategic playing field in terms of possible combinations at Hockenheim. In the cooler temperatures, the Hankook control tyres will degrade less during the race, so that the mandatory pit stop could become a creative tool to make up ground in the race and to catch out the opposition by surprise. For instance with radical strategies that lead to so-called over- or undercuts, so either particularly late or early stops to avoid the dense traffic, depending on the position of the driver in the race.

Another aspect enabling strategic freedom is the characteristic of the Hockenheim race track itself. Basically, it allows for two different approaches in terms of set-up. Either you opt for high top speed by means of less downforce, or for higher cornering speed with considerably more aerodynamic downforce. Moreover, the plain asphalt surface and the flat kerbstones at the Hockenheimring allow to run the vehicles with little ground clearance. Experts expect a flat-out rate of around 74 percent. The concerted use of overtaking and catch-up aids DRS (drag reduction system) and PTP (push-to-pass) is estimated to provide an advantage of around seven tenths of a second per lap during the race.

» Quotes – preview, Hockenheim

Sheldon van der Linde, BMW Team RBM : « So far, it has been a good season for us. Particularly so because of my personal highlight that was victory at Assen. We have shown our class and were consistently in the top five or six. My goal at Hockenheim clearly is fourth place in the final drivers’ standings, something that is still within reach with a good weekend at Hockenheim. In the battle for the title, I am seeing René Rast at an advantage, he is coming to Hockenheim on the back of four outstanding races at Zolder, that is speaking for itself. And as self-confidence is extremely important for a race driver, René will be hard to beat. But: may the best man win. »

Robert Kubica, Orlen Team ART : « Of course, being on the podium for the first time like at Zolder recently is always great. Many fans and supporters were happy together with us. Especially as my last big success was quite a while ago. But that, now, is history already, too. At Hockenheim, we want to be competitive again and that is not an easy task. Concerning the championship, I regret that no BMW driver is in contention for the title anymore. However, all three remaining candidates would deserve the big trophy. I would be happy to see first-class racing again and, of course, when I would be in the middle of it. If somebody asks me whom I would put my money on, it would definitely be René Rast. »

Ferdinand Habsburg, WRT Team Audi Sport : « At Zolder, I managed achieve many goals already: my maiden pole position, my maiden podium finish. Of course, there is still a box that can be ticked. After his victory at Assen, Sheldon van der Linde told me how it was like a load coming off his shoulders and how everything is easier after that. I felt a little bit of that after my maiden podium finish at Zolder, too. For Hockenheim, the entire team is even more motivated than usual to build on that. My title favourite would be Robin Frijns. After my switch to the Audi camp, I have got to know all three candidates a little bit better. All three are top-notch drivers and would deserve the title, all three are really friendly, extremely fair. In the course of the year, I have become friends with Robin, I am keeping my fingers crossed for him. »