Marco Wittmann claims fourth DTM win of the season despite late charge from René Rast

BMW Team RMG’s Marco Wittmann holds off a fast charging René Rast at Brands Hatch to beat the Audi Sport Team Rosberg by 0.3 seconds at the line, claiming his fourth DTM win of the year.

The top three in the championship took to the rostrum as Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Nico Müller crossed the line eight seconds back in third.

As the lights went out, R-Motorsport’s Paul Di Resta appeared to have perfected the typically tricky start from the grid and jumped pole sitter Wittmann and Rast to lead into Paddock Hill Bend.

However, the 2010 DTM champion was deemed to have jumped the start and was handed a five second stop-go penalty. A decision met by audible groans from around the British circuit.

Wittmann, in order to reduce time loss whilst behind the Aston Martin of Di Resta, was the first front runner to hit pit lane on lap 14. The BMW driver rejoined the race and was swiftly passed by Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green who had pitted on lap six, but pulled off a sensational three-wide pass to retake the effective race lead.

The two-time series champion then sought about gapping the chasing pack of Audi’s, as Rast lead Müller and Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s Loïc Duval.

Di Resta then served his five second penalty, and after taking his mandatory stop rejoined in 12th place, behind Duval.

Wittmann retook the lead after Audi Sport Team Abt Sportline’s Robin Frijns made his compulsory visit to pitlane on lap 24.

The BMW driver was then tasked with managing a 5.5 second lead over Rast, who he was able to keep at arms length until the final lap.

Wittmann’s pace had slowed significantly with two laps to go, and Rast was, for the first time in the race, a second off the race lead.

Despite the Audi drivers best efforts, Wittmann claimed his fourth race win of the season, and closes the gap to Rast.

The pair were joined on the podium by fellow championship contender Müller, who was seven seconds ahead of Frijns in fourth.

BMW Team RMR’s Philipp Eng crossed the line in sixth after passing Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s Mike Rockenfeller in the closing laps.

Rookie Sheldon van der Linde came home in eighth, his sixth points finish in his first season with BMW Team RBM, ahead of fellow rookie Audi Sport Team WRT’s Jonathan Aberdein who fought from the back of the grid to score points in ninth.

Early race leader Di Resta retired the car with two laps to go, elevating R-Motorsport teammate Daniel Juncadella to tenth place.

Race result

POS	NO	DRIVER	NAT	ENTRANT	CAR	LAPS	TIME	BEST	GD
1	11	Marco WITTMANN		BMW Team RMG	BMW M4 DTM	42	56:39.275	1:18.120	1
2	33	René RAST		Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi RS5 DTM	42	0.374	1:18.229	2
3	51	Nico MÜLLER		Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi RS5 DTM	42	8.566	1:18.373	8
4	4	Robin FRIJNS		Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi RS5 DTM	42	15.646	1:18.346	5
5	28	Loïc DUVAL		Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi RS5 DTM	42	18.236	1:18.197	3
6	25	Philipp ENG		BMW Team RMR	BMW M4 DTM	42	18.813	1:17.862	11
7	99	Mike ROCKENFELLER		Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi RS5 DTM	42	20.056	1:18.310	12
8	31	Sheldon VAN DER LINDE		BMW Team RBM	BMW M4 DTM	42	29.909	1:18.534	6
9	27	Jonathan ABERDEIN		Audi Sport Team WRT	Audi RS5 DTM	42	37.087	1:18.759	16
10	23	Daniel JUNCADELLA		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	42	37.385	1:18.572	10
11	53	Jamie GREEN		Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi RS5 DTM	42	48.996	1:18.240	13
12	7	Bruno SPENGLER		BMW Team RMG	BMW M4 DTM	42	52.465	1:19.041	14
13	16	Timo GLOCK		BMW Team RMR	BMW M4 DTM	42	1:05.237	1:18.879	9
14	3	Paul DI RESTA		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	39	+ 3 LAPS	1:18.164	4
15	62	Ferdinand VON HABSBURG		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	38	+ 4 LAPS	1:18.361	15
R	76	Jake DENNIS		R-Motorsport	Aston Martin Vantage DTM	0	DNF	N/A	7
NS	47	Joel ERIKSSON		BMW Team RBM	BMW M4 DTM	–	DNS	N/A	17
NS	21	Pietro FITTIPALDI		Audi Sport Team WRT	Audi RS5 DTM	–	DNS	N/A	18