Marco Wittmann and Daniel Juncadella taken out of the classification after the second race in Hungary Hankook, DTM, pneu | Constructors F1 Constructors F1

Marco Wittmann could have taken a big step towards the DTM title at the Hungaroring on Sunday. After 36 laps, the BMW driver crossed the finish line in fourth place in the Sunday race, and thereby extended his lead over Edoardo Mortara (Audi) in the overall standings to 26 points since Mortara did not pick up any points. But the 2014 DTM Champion only had about four hours to celebrate his good starting basis for the finale in Hockenheim. Then the stewards decided that the positions of Wittmann and Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz), who finished third and secured the first podium position of his DTM career, were to be excluded.

Budapest/Hungary, 26th September 2016

The technical delegate determined that, according to article 3.22.4 of the technical regulations, the skid pad on both cars was too low. As a result, Juncadella and Wittmann were retroactively taken out of the classification, and all of the drivers behind them moved up two positions. Behind Mattias Ekström (Audi), who celebrated his 22nd win in the most popular international touring car series, and his brand mate Adrien Tambay, the two BMW drivers António Félix da Costa and Tom Blomqvist moved up into third and fourth place. As the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver, Robert Wickens moved up into tenth place, thereby picking up a point. 

Marco Wittmann remains in the lead in the overall standings, ahead of Edoardo Mortara (Audi) by 14 points, who was unable to finish the race after a collision with Wittmann and his fellow Audi driver Jamie Green at the start. Even Green, who retired after the crash, is now still in with a chance of winning the title with a deficit of 39 points to the leader. 

However, Mercedes-AMG DTM Team HWA and BMW Team RMG are going to appeal against the stewards' decision. Wittmann and Juncadella remain removed from the results until the court of appeal reaches a decision. This means that the results of the 16th DTM race of the 2016 season, as well as the drivers', team and manufacturers' standings remain provisional.