Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Mattias Ekström displayed the form that has seen him secure podiums and race wins throughout his 16-year DTM tenure, as the Swede fought back from qualifying 11th, having been blocked by Mercedes’ Esteban Ocon.
“To be around tenth position twice in qualifying is not good enough to win races in the DTM,” said the 37-year-old, who is dovetailing his DTM efforts with the FIA World Rallycross championship, which he currently leads.
With the format being so much more demanding for all the drivers on the grid, qualifying does have a definitive impact on how the races work out, when it comes to the difference to being up in third place or thirteenth.
With the entire field being separated by less than eight tenths of a second, it shows just how competitive the drivers have become under the new format. Ekström scored his best starting position at the first qualifying session of the year at Hockenheim in ninth, being one of six Audis that made it into the top ten.
“Sometimes second place can feel like a win. Today is such a day,” explained the two-time champion, who now moves up to tenth overall in the drivers’ standings with 20 points.
“The race was mega. Just a shame that we weren’t so good in qualifying here, otherwise a dream weekend with my friends from Red Bull could have been possible.
“Even so, it was fantastic racing today and I’m delighted for my team that worked so hard after the accident at the start yesterday, in order to prepare the car perfectly again for me.”