Mercedes-Benz’s Christian Vietoris is looking to end a poor run of form at this weekend’s DTM finale at the Hockenheimring, after the German failed to finish in the points for the past two races.
Vietoris saw his championship challenge for 2013 ended at Oschersleben after he finished in 18th. The young German also struggled at the previous round at Zandvoort, where he finished in 15th.
Despite his previous lack of form, Vietoris, 24, has enjoyed his most successful year in the DTM to-date, in only his second season racing touring cars. The Mercedes pilot has scored a total of four podiums in 2013, and is currently battling to hold on to third in the championship.
“The season started very well for me in Hockenheim with my first podium finish in the DTM and my objective is to finish the DTM year this weekend just as successfully as I began it,” said Vietoris. “I’m currently third in the overall standings and have thus fulfilled this year’s goal, which was to finish among the top five in the championship. Now, of course, I aim to defend my third place in the finale, which will certainly not be easy, given the way drivers are tightly bunched together in the rankings.”
Vietoris added that he expects this weekend to be a little different to previous DTM weekends this season, as the DTM teams head to Hockenheim for the second visit of the year with circuit-specific data from the new-for-2013 option tyres for the first time.
“Unfortunately, our recent results have not met expectations and were not what we required, but I’m confident that we can fight our way back to the top at Hockenheim,” added Vietoris.
“It will be particularly interesting this weekend to observe the strategies of the different teams, because, for the first time at a track, race data for the new option tyres will be available to us. That could lead to some interesting takes on race strategy.”