[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Augusto Farfus Wins Second DTM Race in a Row - Zandvoort DTM

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Zandvoort (NL), 28th September 2013. Augusto Farfus (BR) won his second DTM race in a row at the wheel of the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM. The BMW Team RBM driver dominated the penultimate race of the year in Zandvoort (NL) to claim his third win of the season. Starting from second on the grid, the 30-year-old immediately pulled ahead of BMW Team MTEK driver Marco Wittmann (DE), who was lining up on pole position for the first time in his fledgling DTM career, and was leading by the first corner. Despite another impressive display in Zandvoort, Farfus can no longer win the Drivers’ title at the final race of the season in Hockenheim. Mike Rockenfeller (DE), on the other hand, was able to celebrate his title win. The Audi driver finished runner-up, meaning he can no longer be caught in the Drivers’ Championship.

This was a momentous victory for the BMW M3: the most successful touring car in the world has now carried a BMW driver to victory in the DTM on 50 occasions. It all started with Harald Grohs (DE) in Hockenheim (DE) on 29th March 1987. The German triumphed on the very first appearance of the new BMW M3, while eventual champion Eric van de Poele (BE) followed him over the line second to complete a one-two. After that, success came thick and fast – achieved by drivers like Steve Soper (GB), Fabien Giroix (FR), Johnny Cecotto (VE), Joachim Winkelhock (DE), Christian Danner (DE) and Roberto Ravaglia (IT), who claimed the second Drivers’ title for the BMW M3 in 1989. Since BMW returned to the DTM in 2012, BMW drivers have added a further nine victories with the BMW M3 DTM.

Second best BMW driver was Wittmann, who crossed the line in fifth place at the wheel of the Ice-Watch BMW M3 DTM. Joey Hand (US) also scored valuable points for BMW Team RBM, coming home seventh in the BMW M3 DTM. Despite an impressive comeback, Martin Tomczyk (DE) narrowly missed out on the points in the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM, finishing 11th. Dirk Werner (DE) from BMW Team Schnitzer was forced to retire in the SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM when hit by a rival car shortly before the end of the race. His team-mate Bruno Spengler (CA, BMW Bank M3 DTM) came home 20th, behind Timo Glock (DE, DEUTSCHE POST BMW M3 DTM, 18th) and Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM, 19th).

In the Drivers’ Championship, Farfus is now assured of second place with 116 points. BMW Team RBM (148 points) is now only three points behind the leaders Audi Sport Team Phoenix in the team competition. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, BMW now has 317 points and trails Audi by just eight points, meaning the Manufacturers’ title is still well within reach going into the season finale.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“Augusto Farfus produced another sensational race. That was his third victory of the season, his fourth podium in a row, and the 50th win by a BMW M3 in the DTM: these figures speak for themselves. At the same time, however, we would like to congratulate Mike Rockenfeller and Audi. That was another very impressive race from ‘Rocky’ and he is a very worthy champion. He has been incredibly consistent throughout the entire season and deserves to be on top. We would obviously have liked to pick up one or two points more in the race. However, the way the race panned out towards the end did not play into our hands at all. Although the Drivers’ Championship is now out of reach, we still want to put on a great show for the fans at the season finale in Hockenheim, and to come out on top in both the Manufacturers’ and Team competitions.”

[M3_WC]

So Mike Rockenfeller locked up the championship. Since he has a 26 point lead going into the final race.

Congrats to Audi and Rockenfeller.

[Matski]

Yep, so Audi lead all 3 championships, drivers, teams, and manufacturers. Okay, so there's still a chance that we may win one of the other two since Rocky took the drivers, but I'm not hopeful.

Not good enough BMW.

[cs4444]

BMW can still win the team and constructors title, and considering hockenhiem the final race is a strong track I think for BMW it's very likely. Also BMW has 4 wins this season, MB and Audi only have 2 a piece.

[Matski]

Originally Posted by cs4444

BMW can still win the team and constructors title, and considering hockenhiem the final race is a strong track I think for BMW it's very likely. Also BMW has 4 wins this season, MB and Audi only have 2 a piece.

We've not been consistently good across the board, the teams title is Audi's for sure, the manufacturers maybe is doable, but we're underperforming at the moment. I would not take a single point foregranted at the moment.

[cs4444]

Originally Posted by Matski

We've not been consistently good across the board, the teams title is Audi's for sure, the manufacturers maybe is doable, but we're underperforming at the moment. I would not take a single point foregranted at the moment.

"Teams tital is Audis for sure"?? BMW RBM has out scored Phoenix racing in the last 3 races to the point were RBM is only 3 points behind, and considering Farfus (from RBM) has won the last two races it is VERY possible to win the teams title, and constructors title in Hockenhiem.

I also wouldn't go as far as to say BMW is under performing. Lets not forget BMW has 4 victories this season while MB and Audi have 2 each. Over the course of a season a lot of it comes down to luck. While Audi has been consistent/strong, so has BMW, but BMW hasn't had the best luck. Farfus retired from 2nd at Brands hatch due to a transmission failure...if he finished that race the drivers championship would be far from over. Whittman retired 3 weeks ago, by sliding off track in the rain from while fighting for 1st/2nd. And Bruno has been taken out by rivals or crashed out of 3 or 4 races...Im not taking anything away from Audi, but clearly if BMW didn't suffer from some crucial DNFs, it would be a very different story.

[Matski]

Originally Posted by cs4444

"Teams tital is Audis for sure"?? BMW RBM has out scored Phoenix racing in the last 3 races to the point were RBM is only 3 points behind, and considering Farfus (from RBM) has won the last two races it is VERY possible to win the teams title, and constructors title in Hockenhiem.

I also wouldn't go as far as to say BMW is under performing. Lets not forget BMW has 4 victories this season while MB and Audi have 2 each. Over the course of a season a lot of it comes down to luck. While Audi has been consistent/strong, so has BMW, but BMW hasn't had the best luck. Farfus retired from 2nd at Brands hatch due to a transmission failure...if he finished that race the drivers championship would be far from over. Whittman retired 3 weeks ago, by sliding off track in the rain from while fighting for 1st/2nd. And Bruno has been taken out by rivals or crashed out of 3 or 4 races...Im not taking anything away from Audi, but clearly if BMW didn't suffer from some crucial DNFs, it would be a very different story.

I'm not ragging that much on BMW, and I hate Audi, but the fact is, the results from the BMW teams have been erratic, other than farfus we've not acheived that much... Audi had 8 cars in the Top 10 -- that's ALL their cars in the points at Oscherslaben... what ever the reasons for the points gap, the fact is that Audi are ahead at the moment, and the "bad-luck" that has beset BMW can still strike in the last race.

Don't get me wrong, I pray it doesn't... but for BMW, this year is not great.

[ToyotaBMW]

The last race will be very interesting between Farfus and Rocky as they would have nothing to lose. The last two races Rocky has been racing not to lose the championship.

[vladberca]

Great result for Augusto!
The last race is very important for BMW, they can recover some points and win at least one title