Audi’s Mattias Ekström has been stripped of his Norisring win for infringing the parc fermé rules, handing a maiden DTM victory to Mercedes-Benz’s Robert Wickens.
Swede Ekström was excluded from the race for having illegally poured water into the pockets of his race suits, allowing him additional hydration in the heat of the Nürnberg race.
The decision means that Canadian Wickens scores his first-ever win in the DTM and Mercedes’ eleventh consecutive victory on the Norisring city circuit.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline immediately announced that they will appeal the decision to exclude Ekström, with the team now having two days to put their appeal in writing to the DMSB (Deutscher Motor Sport Bund e.V). Therefore the race results remain provision following the outcome of the appeal on Tuesday.
In addition Ekström, who is 35 today, was also handed a €1,000 fine for not placing his steering wheel back on his car in parc fermé.
Mercedes’ Gary Paffett and Audi’s Edoardo Mortara were also handed suspended five-place grid penalties for their contact at the end of the race which forced both men to retire from the race.