The last time the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters visited Brands Hatch in 2013, the eventual champion that season, Mike Rockenfeller, took the win around the Indy circuit, but it was a different adventure for him this weekend.
Providing one of the most dramatic overtakes of the year thus far alongside Jamie Green and Timo Glock during race one yesterday going into Hawthorns, he was adamant that the second race was better, in terms of putting on a show for the fans.
“In my opinion, I think my overtaking was way cooler than yesterday,” stated the Team Phoenix driver to TouringCars.Net after the conclusion of the race weekend.
“When I had that fight today with Philipp Eng, I passed him on the inside of the exit at turn 5. We started the fight at turn two and we were close all the way through three and four.
“I was on the outside of turn 5 before I cut across to the inside and he lost some downforce through the corner apex, at a fast turn, and then I passed him.”
The 34-year-old also went on to state that it was not an easy task to learn the Grand Prix layout of the track under the compressed time table, even though he enjoyed the characteristics of the Kent-based circuit.
“Yes, yesterday, it was cool to see cars three wide, on a narrow track on the fastest part. It was very positive to have a really good race pace two races in a row, some good fights. Even with some bad qualifying results, to come through the field was the real positive.
“I hoped to be better, but I do have to admit that it was not so easy to learn the circuit that quickly and some were able to do so a little bit better.
“If it’s your first time at a track you don’t have much time to learn it, and it’s not so easy when you race against guys that know it.”
The Audi Sport driver also admitted that he enjoys racing in the United Kindgom, and likes the type of track that DTM opted to use, following on from eight consecutive visits from 2006 to 2013.
“It’s one of the best places in the world to compete, because the British fans are crazy about motorsport. We have good drivers in the field, so we should always have a race over here.
“Brands is also nice, but there are also some other great tracks here. Even though it looks like a track that is difficult to overtake on, we had some good racing here this weekend, so you can’t ask for any more.”
Rockenfeller is now level on points with Bruno Spengler, with the pair on 43 after the end of the race weekend at Brands Hatch.