Since making his début in the Deutsch Tournwagen Masters back in 2012, BMW Team RMG’s Marco Wittmann has been looking to hit the podium at the Norisring.
The 28-year-old would be in contention for the race win, along with eventual winner Edoardo Mortara and Gary Paffett, but would have to settle for the final step on the rostrum.
Wittmann had secured his best finish of fourth place over the past two years, but was ecstatic about his performance around the 2.3-km circuit, where he had a chance to retake second from Paffett in the dying stages of the race.
“The podium finish at my home race is just a sensational feeling. I started well and I was able to pass Philipp Eng,” explained the 28-year-old, who admitted that he had to let Paffett pass, due to the strength of the Mercedes cars at Norisring.
Wittmann would also show that BMW Motorsport’s consistency under the new regulations has shown that they have performed better at tracks, which have not necessarily favoured them since the initial phase of the brand’s return in 2012.
The two-time champion, who admitted that he enjoyed the battles with both Mercedes drivers, is looking to be on the offensive in the second race of the weekend.
“I bet that there will be even more action tomorrow. Experience shows that everybody is just that little bit more cautious in the races at the Norisring on Saturdays.
“A race without a safety car intervention here is a rare thing. Tomorrow, the action will be spiced up. I still have two steps to climb, after all.”
Wittmann now moves up into fifth in the drivers’ standings on 67 points, 8 adrift of race one winner Mortara.