BMW’s Augusto Farfus scored his second win of the season in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters at Oschersleben, as Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller finished in second and moved a step closer to the overall championship.
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Brazilian Farfus started on the front row of the grid and got a strong start to move into the lead before the first turn, as poleman Jamie Green slotted into second. The BMW driver thereafter drove a controlled race, crucially emerging from his first pitstop ahead of main title rival Rockenfeller.
By finishing second, Rockenfeller has moved closer to his first title and now holds a 33 point advantage over second-placed Farfus, who is the only other driver mathematically capable of taking the title. With only 25 points available for a win and two races remaining, Rockenfeller could secure the title at the next round at Zandvoort.
Audi’s Green finished in third, scoring his first podium of the season. Green had led much of the early stages of the race, but lost out to Rockenfeller at his second pitstop and was never likely to push the German too hard.
Filipe Albuquerque socred his strongest result of the season in fourth for Audi Sport Team Rosberg, ahead of Timo Scheider in fifth.
Gary Paffett finished as the top Mercedes-Benz driver in sixth – and the only driver of the three-pointed star inside the top ten. Paffett had a relatively uneventful 200th race in the DTM, having made gradual progress from 12th on the grid after his qualifying penalty.
Mattias Ekström finished in seventh, heading up a quartet of Audi drivers who finished inside the top ten. Indeed all eight Audi’s finished in the points, with Miguel Molina in eighth, Adrien Tambay in ninth and Edoardo Mortara in tenth, only the Italian’s second points finish of the season.
The championship challenge for Canadians Robert Wickens and Bruno Spengler ended on lap 38 when the pair made contact at the Triple bend. Wickens had a few corners previous tapped Spengler as he passed him for 11th position. The reigning champion immediately fought back, with contact being made two turns later. Wickens went off into the gravel and later retired, whilst Spengler was forced out with damage to the front of his BMW.
The championship challenge for Christian Vietoris also ended, with the Mercedes driver struggling for pace all weekend and finishing down in 18th position.
BMW’s Martin Tomczyk was the last of the drivers to cross the finish line, having earlier picked up a drive-through penalty for a jump start.