Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green executed the perfect Sunday at the Nürburgring, scoring his second DTM pole of the season and taking his first victory since the penultimate race of 2017.
The British driver found himself ahead of teammate René Rast after the stops, and held off a ferocious late charge from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Robin Frijns with three laps to go.
Despite taking his first win in over 30 races, Green confessed he was more emotional about taking pole at the Nürburgring after a similar race two pole at the Lausitzring the previous round.
“I would say I was more emotional about putting the car on pole than I have been in the race,” admitted Green, “Yesterday I qualified ninth, so today to get pole was a bit more of a surprise.
“It’s been really difficult for me in qualifying and thats been my biggest problem especially last season.
“It’s really nice to see that the pace is coming back.”
At the start Rast got the jump on Green, and lead the opening stint. However, this was not without being hurried by his British teammate who looked, and felt, like he had the better pace.
“I was just sort of keeping my powder dry,” revealed Green, “I didn’t really use DRS and I felt i could follow closely, which is normally a sign you’re faster.
“The main thing i was focusing on was that we both pulled away from Mike [Rockenfeller]. I didn’t really want to get into a fight, it was a bit too early in the race for that.”
The Team Rosberg drivers have lifted their team above the Team Abt Sportsline squad in the teams’ championship, and Green thinks the title is still all to play for.
“It’s not over yet,” he explained, “today we showed our strength and we need to do that again at Hockenheim and then we can have a beer.”