Rain helps Marco Wittmann to his first victory of the DTM season at the Hungaroring Hankook, DTM,2018

Rain helps Marco Wittmann to his first victory of the DTM season at the Hungaroring

Anna Pasternak/Hankook tire | 5.6.18 | Pneumatiky Hankook

Hankook DTM 2018

Rain helps Marco Wittmann to his first victory of the DTM season at the Hungaroring

Marco Wittmann won a dramatic and eventful Sunday race at the Hungaroring. The BMW driver benefitted from a shower at the start of the race, which resulted in race number six of the 2018 DTM season being suspended following a number of accidents in the pit lane. Unlike his rivals from Mercedes-Benz and Audi, who had been ahead of Wittmann prior to the suspension, the two-time DTM champion had already completed his mandatory pit stop when the race re-started. After 26 laps of racing, Wittmann was first across the finish line, followed by fellow BMW drivers Timo Glock and Philipp Eng. The Hankook wet tyre made its first appearance of the season – albeit a short one – and impressed with the same high level of grip as the drivers have become accustomed to from the Hankook slick.

Budapest/Hungary, 3rd June 2018

Spectators at the Hungaroring witnessed a spectacular race on Sunday, with the rain that started to fall on lap three initially playing the main role and resulting in dramatic events. Coming into the pit lane on slicks to switch onto wet tyres, three drivers lost control of their cars on the wet and consequently slippery concrete in front of the garages, and collided with crew members and a marshal. Three people had to be taken to hospital following these accidents. All three are doing well, under the circumstances.

After a 35-minute suspension, the re-start took place on a dry track behind the safety car. Mercedes-Benz drivers Pascal Wehrlein and Daniel Juncadella initially led the race in front of Nico Müller and Jamie Green (both Audi). However, the leading quartet still had to come in for their mandatory tyre change. Marco Wittmann and fellow BMW drivers Timo Glock and Philipp Eng had already completed their stops before the race was suspended. They took full advantage of the situation and went on to present BMW with a one-two-three at the end of the 26-lap race.

Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) was fourth, ahead of the best-placed Mercedes-Benz of Paul Di Resta, who won Saturday’s race, in fifth place. Second place for Timo Glock was enough to see him regain top spot in the Drivers’ Championship, with a lead of eleven points over Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz).

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “First and foremost, the entire Hankook team would like to wish the injured mechanics and marshal all the best and a speedy recovery. We obviously don’t want to see scenes like those, but you cannot blame the drivers at all. They had no chance of keeping their cars under control on slicks on that wet concrete in the pit lane. BMW claimed this one-two-three on the back of a perfect strategy and that little bit of luck that you need in motorsport. The standard in the DTM is so high that small details can make the difference between victory and defeat.”

Audi Sport Team Phoenix completed the fastest pit stop of the Hungaroring weekend in a time of 30.746 seconds. They were rewarded for their efforts with 25 points towards the Hankook Best Pit Stop Award.

Marco Wittmann (BMW): “The conditions were really difficult, particularly in the early stages of the race, as some parts of the track were dry but others were very wet. The team opted for the right strategy, but we were a little fortunate with our mandatory pit stop. I had good pace on the Hankook slicks after the re-start, and was able to open up a lead. I am delighted with my first win of the season.”

Timo Glock (BMW): “It was difficult to keep the heat in the Hankook slicks at the start, with the rain starting to fall. However, I was surprised how good the speed was on them in the rain. In the end, everything was fine in the dry and there were no issues.”

Philipp Eng (BMW): “We were a bit lucky with our mandatory pit stop today, but our pace was very good and far better than on Saturday. For me, it was incredible how well you were able to drive on the Hankook slick in the rain. That was great fun.”

Mike Rockenfeller (Audi): “The Hankook wet tyre was very consistent and offered good grip, as always. We were just lacking a little performance this weekend.”