American Joey Hand posted the fastest time in the third day of DTM testing at the Hockenheimring, beating Italian Edoardo Mortara to the best time on a day of heavy rain and continued wet running.
Click here for the full day 3 test times.
BMW’s Hand posted a lap of 1:33.284 – an impressive 1.105 seconds faster than the next closest driver, Mortara. However Hand’s impressive time was in part due to a drying track late in the day, allowing him to get a quick lap in by running later into the session.
The morning session was particularly wet, with lap times around 15 seconds slower than they would be in the dry. The quickest driver during the morning session was BMW’s Timo Glock, who posted a 1:48.135. Glock would end the day in eighth.
The session ended with Hand as the fastest driver, ahead of Audi drivers Mortara and Jamie Green. Canadians Bruno Spengler and Robert Wickens were fourth and fifth for BMW and Mercedes-Benz respectively, with Wickens the fastest driver for the three-pointed star.
“The test day today was very interesting,” said reigning champion Spengler. “However it was quite difficult to find a good set-up due to the changeable weather conditions. But the conditions were the same for all drivers so I’m still pleased and I believe that we have made good progress.”
Mortara ended the day pleased with his progress as second fastest, despite losing control of his car at the end of the session on a damp part of the track.
“In spite of the wet conditions it was a good day – unfortunately without a happy ending. I went off the road at the end of the test, having caught a wet patch on a drying track, and lost control of the vehicle. Until then we did a great deal of work and the car has left me with a good impression.”
In action for the first time today were Mercedes’ Pascal Wehrlein (7th), BMW’s Timo Glock (8th), Mercedes’ Christian Vietoris (9th) and BMW’s Andy Priaulx (11th).