Fantastic start to the 2013 DTM season for BMW Motorsport: at the end of the 42 laps, Augusto Farfus (BR) won the opening race in Hockenheim (DE) at the wheel of the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM. This was the BMW Team RBM driver’s second DTM victory, following his triumph in Valencia (ES) in 2012. A wonderful drive and a strategic tour de force saw BMW Team Schnitzer’s Dirk Werner (DE) fight back brilliantly from 20th on the grid to finish runner-up in the SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM. In doing so, he completed the first one-two for BMW since the Bavarian manufacturer returned to the DTM in 2012. This is the 16th time in the history of the DTM that two BMW drivers have followed each other over the finish line in first and second.

In a tumultuous race with many spectacular overtaking manoeuvres, reigning champion Bruno Spengler (CA) crossed the finish line fifth in the BMW Bank M3 DTM. Joey Hand (US, BMW M3 DTM) and Marco Wittmann (DE, Ice-Watch BMW M3 DTM) also finished in the points, coming home seventh and ninth respectively. Therefore, five BMW M3 DTM drivers ended the race in the top ten. Martin Tomczyk (DE, BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) and Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) finished 13th and 17th.

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Timo Glock’s (DE) DTM debut came to a premature end. Prior to his retirement, the BMW Team MTEK driver had produced a strong performance. Starting from 15th on the grid, Glock worked his way towards the front of the field and was at one stage second. However, following his first pit stop, the rear-right wheel of his DEUTSCHE POST BMW M3 DTM came off, giving the debutant no choice but to retire from the race.

(More 2013 DTM news)

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“That was a really awesome start to the season. I must pay a huge compliment to everyone in the team – particularly to Augusto Farfus and Dirk Werner, of course, who presented us with our first one-two since we returned to the DTM. Augusto did not make a single mistake, and BMW Team RBM got its strategy spot on. The same can be said of BMW Team Schnitzer, who helped Dirk climb from 20th to a remarkable second. His fightback was simply fantastic. I hope the first race of the years was as thrilling and exciting for the fans as it was for us. I feel sorry for Timo Glock. He was looking very good at the start and did a great job of cutting through the field. However, any new team is always on a learning curve, and that unfortunately includes set-backs. That makes me even more delighted that his team-mate Marco Wittmann finished in the points in his first race, having started from right at the back.”

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Facts and figures Hockenheim:    

Circuit / Date  Hockenheimring, 5th May 2013
Laps / Distance42 laps, 4.574 km
2013 Pole positionTimo Scheider (DE), 1:35.918 minutes
2013 WinnersAugusto Farfus (BR)
2013 Fastest lapAugusto Farfus (BR),1:34.504 minutes

 

DriverSPEWERFARHANTOMPRIWITGLO
CountryCADEBRUSDEGBDEDE
Car number127815162122
TeamBMW Team SchnitzerBMW Team SchnitzerBMW Team RBMBMW Team RBMBMW Team RMGBMW Team RMGBMW Team MTEKBMW Team MTEK
Free Practice12th22nd3rd11th5th15th18th13th
Qualifying7th22nd2nd9th11th17th21st15th
Race5th2nd1st7th13th17th9thDNF
2013 points10182560020
Current position5th2nd1st7th9th

 

Standings after 1 out of 10 races.  

Drivers’ standings.

1. Augusto Farfus (25 points) 2. Dirk Werner (18), 3. Christian Vietoris (15) 4. Gary Paffett (12), 5. Bruno Spengler (10), 6. Timo Scheider (8), 7. Joey Hand (6), 8. Mike Rockenfeller (4), 9. Marco Wittmann (2), 10. Roberto Merhi (1). 

Team standings.

1. BMW Team RBM (31 points), 2. BMW Team Schnitzer (28), 3. STIHL / AMG Mercedes (15), 4. EURONICS / THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG (13), 5. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline (8), 6. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline (4), BMW Team MTEK (2). 

Manufacturer standings.

1. BMW (61 Punkte), 2. Mercedes-Benz (28), 3. Audi (12).

2013 calendar:

5th May – Hockenheim (DE), 19th May – Brands Hatch (GB), 2nd June – Spielberg (AT),
16th June – Lausitzring (DE), 14th July – Norisring (DE), 4th August – Moscow (RU),
18th August – Nürburgring (DE), 15th September – Oschersleben (DE), 29th September – Zandvoort (NL), 20th October – Hockenheim (DE).