Audi completes triple crown

Audi Sport has cemented a perfect result in this year’s DTM Championship with a full round of racing still to come. Building on the brand’s Manufacturers’ title secured last month at the Lausitzring round, René Rast has clinched the drivers’ title over the weekend at the Nürburgring. Indeed, the result puts beyond any doubt that an Audi team will also take the teams’ title with Audi Sport Team Rosberg and Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline going head to head for it in the finale at Hockenheim early next month.

The drivers’ title is Rast’s second, the 32-year-old German having previously been crowned DTM champion in 2017 in what was his rookie DTM year.

His performance in 2019 has been impressive since the start, and the fact that he was able to wrap up this year’s title in the second last round demonstrates just how far in front he was.

“What a year!” Rast said after learning that the title was his. “We were extremely strong nearly everywhere. Clinching the title even before the last race weekend is incredible. Team Rosberg, which did a fantastic job, has a really big part in this. And Audi of course – the Audi RS 5 DTM has been the best car this year with the best turbo engine.” 

His closet rival in the championship, fellow Audi driver, Nico Müller, started the race back in 14th position thanks to sensor defect, created a gargantuan task for the Swiss driver to continue the fight for the title. His ultimate sixth position and Rast’s third in the race were enough to put Rast on the top step of the championship podium once again.

“After qualifying, it was clear that it would be a difficult race for us. Sixth place was the maximum. Unfortunately, the title race has now been decided. I’m happy for René and Audi, who did a great job and deserve the title. But of course I’d have liked postponing the title decision to the finale at Hockenheim.”

The Audi dominance saw British Audi driver, Jamie Green, take his first DTM win since 2017, with Robin Frijns and Rast rounding out the top three, but with Audis also occupying fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

With Loïc Duval, Jonathan Aberdein, Nico Müller and Mike Rockenfeller in positions four, five, six and seven, Audi celebrated a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 success on Sunday, making it beyond a doubt the best result of a manufacturer in the new turbo era of the DTM.

“We didn’t expect to win the championship so early and, above all, not in such a dominant way,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass, after Audi had taken the top seven spots in Sunday’s race. 

“René (Rast) is now a two-time DTM Champion – and deservedly so in every respect. He’s shown an impressive season. Congratulations to him, to his team, but also to the whole Audi family. ‘Thank you’ to all who made this outstanding success possible. It’s fantastic to work with such a great team! Today, we’re going to have a big party. And afterwards, we’ll look forward to the finale at Hockenheim together with the cars from the Japanese Super GT. That’s going to be another absolute highlight.” 

The 2019 DTM season will officially finish next month with the last round and final two races at Hockenheim on October 5th and 6th. Although the drivers and manufacturers’ titles have been decided, it still remains to be seen which of two Audi teams – Audi Sport Team Rosberg (René Rast) and Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline (Nico Müller) will lay claim to the Teams’ title. Regardless, 2019 will stand as a triple crown for the brand with the four rings.