DTM gearing up for a thrilling finale at Norisring: Lawson is leading title quartet again - Auer wins second Sunday race in a row at Hockenheim
DTM is gearing up for a thrilling finale at Norisring next weekend (8-10 October): prior to the final two races of the season, four drivers are still in contention for the title.
While Austrian Lucas Auer won again win with the Team WINWARD Mercedes-AMG at Hockenheim on Sunday, scoring his second win of the season, the only 19 years old New Zealander Liam Lawson finished second with the Red Bull Ferrari and got himself a 14-point margin in the drivers’ standings, in which he is now leading with 206 points. Third place at Hockenheim went to German Maximilian Götz with the HRT Mercedes, who also kept his championship hopes alive and now has 180 points.
South African Kelvin van der Linde, who had claimed back the lead in the drivers’ standings by virtue of his fourth win of the season with the ABT Audi on Saturday, had to make do with tenth place and only one point after two five-second penalties on Sunday. With 192 points, van der Linde is second in the standings behind Lawson and ahead of Götz. Marco Wittmann (GER) finished outside of the point-scoring positions with the Walkenhorst BMW, but with 165 points, he theoretically still has the chance to secure his third title at his home track. Meanwhile, the manufacturers’ title in the 2021 DTM has already been secured as Mercedes-AMG has decided the competition in its favour. Sadly, an incident occurred during Mike Rockenfeller’s mandatory pit stop, during which a Team ABT Sportsline mechanic got injured on the left hand.
Nuremberg street circuit uncharted territory for points’ leader Liam Lawson
“I was able to quickly overtake Kelvin van der Linde and slightly pull a gap straight away. That was the key to success today. Once you are in front, everything is a bit easier, of course,” Lucas Auer reported in the winners’ press conference. “After the collision on Saturday, the team had to work into the night again to repair the car. Thanks for that, it paid off. I am very happy with my second win and the manufacturers’ title for Mercedes-AMG.” Liam Lawson was more involved in the racing action: “It was quite an intense race! Kelvin van der Linde ran into the back of my car once after which the exhaust was bent and burnt a hole in the bodywork,” the New Zealander told. “I had the advantage of not having any success ballast, unlike Kelvin. Therefore, it was quite clear to me that he would be having a hard time getting past. I am absolutely satisfied with the outcome of this weekend. I don’t know the Norisring, but I will prepare in the best possible way.”
Maximilian Götz also had a key moment in the race: “We knew that we had to do something differently after Saturday. The very strong pit stop was key. After the stop, I was able to overtake Kelvin on his out lap and then make it onto the podium. I am happy with the title for Mercedes-AMG and I can only thank everyone at Mercedes-AMG for the huge commitment in this series.” For Götz, the Norisring round is a race like no other: “I am now looking forward to my home round. Surely, the title will be difficult, but anything is possible in DTM. I will be taking on it without pressure.”
Behind Auer, intense position battles provide excellent entertainment
Other than on Saturday when there was a collision on the opening lap, the first lap of the race on Sunday was completed without any incidents. Kelvin van der Linde having secured pole position with the ABT Audi like on the previous day, he was unable to maintain the advantage of this grid position beyond the first lap. Lucas Auer overtook him with a clean move in the WINWARD Mercedes and was already able to pull a slight gap until the end of the opening lap. Behind him, several intense duels throughout the field unfolded. The battle between van der Linde and Lawson in particular was a spirited one. In the process, the ABT Audi once ran into the rear of the Red Bull Ferrari that Lawson only could control with a huge effort. Van der Linde incurred a five-second time penalty for the situation, but as he didn’t serve it during his next pit stop, a second five-second penalty was imposed. Instead of sixth, he only ended up in tenth place, scoring only one point. Things were even worse for the fourth title candidate, Marco Wittmann, who had only been able to secure 13th place in qualifying with his BMW, also incurred a five-second penalty and eventually finished outside of the point-scoring positions at the end of an entertaining race. His chances of winning his third title now are only rather theoretical.
Only few days are remaining for the teams in preparation for the decisive finale. For the first time in its long history, the only 2.3 kilometres long street circuit in Nuremberg is serving as the venue for the conclusion of the season. On Saturday and Sunday, the 15thand 16th race of the 2021 DTM are held at the spectacular circuit. Tickets are available from the DTM Ticket Shop (tickets.dtm.com) and the DTM Ticket Hotline (+49 1806 991166). In Nuremberg, spectators will again be admitted into the paddock as well, including pit walkabout, autograph session and fan village.
South African Kelvin van der Linde, who had claimed back the lead in the drivers’ standings by virtue of his fourth win of the season with the ABT Audi on Saturday, had to make do with tenth place and only one point after two five-second penalties on Sunday. With 192 points, van der Linde is second in the standings behind Lawson and ahead of Götz. Marco Wittmann (GER) finished outside of the point-scoring positions with the Walkenhorst BMW, but with 165 points, he theoretically still has the chance to secure his third title at his home track. Meanwhile, the manufacturers’ title in the 2021 DTM has already been secured as Mercedes-AMG has decided the competition in its favour. Sadly, an incident occurred during Mike Rockenfeller’s mandatory pit stop, during which a Team ABT Sportsline mechanic got injured on the left hand.
Nuremberg street circuit uncharted territory for points’ leader Liam Lawson
“I was able to quickly overtake Kelvin van der Linde and slightly pull a gap straight away. That was the key to success today. Once you are in front, everything is a bit easier, of course,” Lucas Auer reported in the winners’ press conference. “After the collision on Saturday, the team had to work into the night again to repair the car. Thanks for that, it paid off. I am very happy with my second win and the manufacturers’ title for Mercedes-AMG.” Liam Lawson was more involved in the racing action: “It was quite an intense race! Kelvin van der Linde ran into the back of my car once after which the exhaust was bent and burnt a hole in the bodywork,” the New Zealander told. “I had the advantage of not having any success ballast, unlike Kelvin. Therefore, it was quite clear to me that he would be having a hard time getting past. I am absolutely satisfied with the outcome of this weekend. I don’t know the Norisring, but I will prepare in the best possible way.”
Maximilian Götz also had a key moment in the race: “We knew that we had to do something differently after Saturday. The very strong pit stop was key. After the stop, I was able to overtake Kelvin on his out lap and then make it onto the podium. I am happy with the title for Mercedes-AMG and I can only thank everyone at Mercedes-AMG for the huge commitment in this series.” For Götz, the Norisring round is a race like no other: “I am now looking forward to my home round. Surely, the title will be difficult, but anything is possible in DTM. I will be taking on it without pressure.”
Behind Auer, intense position battles provide excellent entertainment
Other than on Saturday when there was a collision on the opening lap, the first lap of the race on Sunday was completed without any incidents. Kelvin van der Linde having secured pole position with the ABT Audi like on the previous day, he was unable to maintain the advantage of this grid position beyond the first lap. Lucas Auer overtook him with a clean move in the WINWARD Mercedes and was already able to pull a slight gap until the end of the opening lap. Behind him, several intense duels throughout the field unfolded. The battle between van der Linde and Lawson in particular was a spirited one. In the process, the ABT Audi once ran into the rear of the Red Bull Ferrari that Lawson only could control with a huge effort. Van der Linde incurred a five-second time penalty for the situation, but as he didn’t serve it during his next pit stop, a second five-second penalty was imposed. Instead of sixth, he only ended up in tenth place, scoring only one point. Things were even worse for the fourth title candidate, Marco Wittmann, who had only been able to secure 13th place in qualifying with his BMW, also incurred a five-second penalty and eventually finished outside of the point-scoring positions at the end of an entertaining race. His chances of winning his third title now are only rather theoretical.
Only few days are remaining for the teams in preparation for the decisive finale. For the first time in its long history, the only 2.3 kilometres long street circuit in Nuremberg is serving as the venue for the conclusion of the season. On Saturday and Sunday, the 15thand 16th race of the 2021 DTM are held at the spectacular circuit. Tickets are available from the DTM Ticket Shop (tickets.dtm.com) and the DTM Ticket Hotline (+49 1806 991166). In Nuremberg, spectators will again be admitted into the paddock as well, including pit walkabout, autograph session and fan village.
