DTM: René Rast Secures First Victory as BMW M Works Driver, Sheldon van der Linde Takes Second Place
BMW

DTM: René Rast Secures First Victory as BMW M Works Driver, Sheldon van der Linde Takes Second Place

DTM: René Rast Secures First Victory as BMW M Works Driver, Sheldon van der Linde Takes Second Place

In the penultimate race weekend of the DTM season at the Red Bull Ring, René Rast celebrated his first victory as a BMW M works driver. He finished in first place in Sunday’s race, breaking the DTM record for pole positions in the process. Sheldon van der Linde secured second place, resulting in a 1-2 finish for Team Schubert Motorsport. Marco Wittmann narrowly missed out on a podium finish, coming in fourth.

After a mixed performance on Saturday, the BMW M works drivers bounced back on Sunday. Rast claimed pole position, while van der Linde started in second place. The two drivers held on to their positions throughout the race, with Wittmann also battling for a podium spot but ultimately settling for fourth place. Sandro Holzem retired on Sunday, after finishing 24th on Saturday.

As the season finale approaches at Hockenheim, van der Linde and Rast are currently in fourth and fifth place in the driver’s standings. Schubert Motorsport holds fourth place in the team standings.

Here are some reactions from the DTM weekend at the Red Bull Ring:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): Congratulated Rast, Schubert Motorsport, and everyone involved with BMW M Motorsport on their fantastic performances. He praised Rast for his first win as a BMW M works driver and for breaking the pole position record. Roos also commended van der Linde for his second-place finish and Wittmann for his fourth-place finish.

René Rast: Expressed his joy and described his first win with BMW M Motorsport as a special moment. He credited his team for their excellent work and expressed his hopes for continued success. Rast also mentioned the upcoming birth of his second child.

Sheldon van der Linde: Said he was proud of his performance on Sunday, especially after a weak race on Saturday. He attempted to overtake Rast early on but was unsuccessful. Van der Linde congratulated Rast on his victory and acknowledged that defending his DTM title is unlikely. He now aims to challenge for third place in the driver’s standings at Hockenheim.

Marco Wittmann: Described his eighth and fourth-place finishes as good results. He admitted that he had hoped for better considering the strength of the BMW M4 GT3 at the Red Bull Ring. Wittmann acknowledged the impressive performance of Schubert Motorsport, but mentioned that a longer pit stop prevented him from securing a podium finish. He remains determined to make a strong push at Hockenheim.