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DTM: Marco Wittmann dominates DTM comeback in Hungary (+photos)

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Khatir Soltani
From press release

In a commanding way, Marco Wittmann decided the third DTM season round at the Hungaroring in his favour.

Marco Wittmann, BMW M4 DTM Hungaroring
Marco Wittmann, BMW M4 DTM (Photo: DTM.com)

Driving his BMW M4 DTM, Wittmann, who had started from pole position, crossed the finish line as the winner after 41 laps with a margin of 6.615 seconds. Following his success in the Hockenheim season opener, this was the second DTM race win for the Franconian, who will now come to his home race at the Norisring (June 27-29) as the championship leader.

“This is a great success, because in the closing stages, you never know whether the drivers with option tires can still close up. However, our strategy worked out. I built up a huge advantage and then held on to it without making any mistakes. I am not wasting any thoughts on the title, we are just working from one race to another,” Wittmann commented.

Bruno Spengler, BMW M4 DTM Hungaroring
Bruno Spengler, BMW M4 DTM (Photo: DTM.com)

Miguel Molina (Audi) and Bruno Spengler (BMW) finished second and third respectively.

Spengler raced with an aggressive strategy. In the second half, he used the faster option tire and thus overtook one opponent after another on his way to third place. “Something like that doesn’t happen very often,” the Canadian said. For him, only Wittmann and Molina were beyond reach.

Robert Wickens, Mercedes C-Coupe Hungaroring
Robert Wickens, Mercedes C-Coupe (Photo: DTM.com)

His countryman Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) had his eyes set on his first championship points of the season at Hungaroring. Having started 17th, he moved up as high as seventh with his DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, but then dropped back again to eleventh on the final laps.

“I had a good start and ran all on my own for a long time. Having to race on your own is always difficult. At the end of the day, it is a pity that we missed out on scoring points, but we have made a step forward,” the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver said.

Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes C-Coupe Hungaroring
Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes C-Coupe (Photo: DTM.com)

In total, 33,000 spectators came to watch the first DTM race weekend in Hungary after 26 years.

Race results* – Hungaroring (round 3 of 10)
1 - Marco Wittmann (BMW M4) - RMG - 41 laps in 1.08'35"291
2 - Miguel Molina (Audi RS5) - Abt - 6"615
3 - Bruno Spengler (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 21"842
4 - Edoardo Mortara (Audi RS5) - Abt - 29"960
5 - Adrien Tambay (Audi RS5) - Abt - 30"112
6 - Maxime Martin (BMW M4) - RMG - 30"357
7 - Jamie Green (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 34"403
8 - Antonio Felix Da Costa (BMW M4) - MTEK - 34"560
9 - Mattias Ekstrom (Audi RS5) - Abt - 34"826
10 - Mike Rockenfeller (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 36"017
11 - Robert Wickens (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 38"732
12 - Nico Muller (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 41"105
13 - Martin Tomczyk (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'00"014
14 - Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'00"170
15 - Joey Hand (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'04"407
16 - Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'04"809
17 - Vitaly Petrov (Mercedes C-Coupe) - Mucke - 1'19"739
18 - Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"635
19 - Timo Glock (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'28"687

Retirements
Christian Vietoris
Augusto Farfus
Timo Scheider
Gary Paffett

Championship
1.Wittmann 50 points; 2.Rockenfeller 31; 3.Mortara 27; 4.Molina e Tambay 26; 6.Vietoris 25; 7.Spengler 23; 8.Ekstrom 20; 9.Farfus 14; 10.Di Resta 12.

*Unofficial results

Hungaroring DTM
(Photo: DTM.com)


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada