Paffett uses new Hankook tyre to sprint to first DTM victory of 2013
In the weekend’s DTM action, drivers were able to demonstrate the strategies made possible by exclusive tyre partner Hankook’s new option tyre in front of 65,000 fans at the Lausitzring. Four of the five fastest drivers started the race with the Ventus Race Plus that allows for faster times for a few laps before the intended drop-off sets in. Other drivers started with the base-line slick tyre and later changed to the option to try to make up lost ground in the first stint. Mercedes-Benz driver Gary Paffett scored his first race win of this DTM season and the first success of the Stuttgart car manufacturer.
Starting in second place, the Briton immediately took the lead after the start and controlled the field from first place throughout the race. After recovering some time on the option tyre, Mike Rockenfeller finished second. Starting with Hankook’s Ventus Race baseline slick tyre, the Audi driver soon changed to the Ventus Race Plus option tyre to move up the grid. In third place, Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) achieved his second podium result of this season. The fastest driver from qualifying was lying in fourth, but with three laps remaining he managed to overtake Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz).
Bruno Spengler, leader in the points’ standings prior to the race, didn’t have his best day and finished seventh as the best-placed BMW driver. The Canadian has lost his leading position in the drivers’ standings to Mike Rockenfeller, who has the same number of points, but better overall results. Mattias Ekström (Audi) drove a particularly strong race; after a long stint with the Ventus Race Plus, the Swede worked his way up through the ranks from 18th on the grid to finish eighth, just behind Bruno Spengler.
Paffett said: “With the option tyres, I managed to pull a gap after the start, but I put a huge load on the tyres and had to change to the base-line slick tyres. With these, I managed to keep Mike Rockenfeller at bay, who was racing with the option tyres. The great performance of the car with the base-line slick tyres in qualifying was the key to success.”
Rockenfeller concluded: “After the start, we lost a little bit of time with the base-line slick tyre, but after that, the option tyre worked very well. I would have loved to do a few more laps with them, but after a long stint, we changed back to the base-line slick tyre again for safety reasons. From sixth place on the grid to second at the finish, we got the maximum out of it.”
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