Audi teams dominate DTM opener

There was a very different feel at the famed Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium for first two of 18 scheduled rounds of the 2020 DTM season. The usually large crowds were absent thanks to the ongoing restrictions as a result of COVID-19, but the racing was no less ferocious for those on the track and those watching from home.

For Audi it was a dream start to what will be the brand’s last year competing in the German Touring Car Masters. On both the Saturday and the Sunday the brand completely dominated, completely owning the podium. In fact, the brand managed to claim the top five positions on both the Saturday and the Sunday, albeit with different drivers taking the flag on each occasion.

On Saturday it was Müller from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline who took top honours, with Jamie Green and Loïc Duval rounding out the podium. 

“Being able to climb onto this special podium with the Swiss flag on the Swiss National Day makes me very proud,” said Müller after his fifth victory in the DTM. “Spa is a magic racetrack. Driving on it with the Audi RS 5 DTM is a lot of fun.”

The Saturday race was not one defending DTM champion, René Rast, will remember too fondly, fighting not only with the competition but also with tyres, seeing him start from 10th on the grid and ultimately finish in fifth.

On Sunday though, Rast was back to his dazzling best, winning a thrilling duel with Saturday’s winner Nico Müller. Rast secured his 14th pole position with a new track record, turning the pole position into his 18th DTM victory in the races were as securing the fastest lap. The podium on Sunday was completed by Robin Frijns. It was the ninth consecutive victory for Audi in the DTM.
“This was an incredible start to the season with two fantastic results for Audi,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass after the latest triumph of the Four Rings. “My feeling is we’ve been even stronger today than yesterday. It’s great that we can continue where we left off last year. Spa is a very special circuit where good tyre management is important. But you also need engine power at Spa. We clearly saw on those two days that we have the best engine.”
After the first two of 18 scheduled races, Audi leads the Manufacturers’ Championship with 152:34 points clearly ahead of BMW, with racing set to continue on August 15th and 16th and 22nd and 23rd with a total of four races at the Lausitzring in Germany. 

Before that though, René Rast will see his first action from Audi in the all-electric FIA Formula E Championship, when he partners Lucas di Grassi in the intensive six race finale to the disrupted 2019/2020 season.