BMW Team RMG driver Marco Wittmann took a shock DTM race one victory at Misano, Italy, after starting from last on the grid. The two-time DTM champion managed the gap to Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s René Rast to lead by 8.2 seconds at the checkered flag.
Wittmann was unable to set a time in this morning’s qualifying session as a mechanical issue left him stranded in the pitlane, this meant he had to start his 99th race in the DTM from last on the grid.
The BMW driver also made his mandatory stop at the end of the first lap, and was brought back into contention when the safety car was called out on lap four as BMW Team RBM’s Joel Eriksson stopped out on track.
Rast lead for the majority of the race, managing to maintain his lead after the restart, and was shadowed by Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Loïc Duval until the stops.
Rast made his mandatory stop on lap 15, and emerged in ninth some 32 seconds behind Wittmann who had cycled through to lead by lap 17 as other drivers made their stops.
Drivers and teams have been concerned about how the Hankook tyres would last over a longer stint, and so it seemed unlikely that Wittmann would be able to hold onto his lead.
However, the BMW driver managed his pace, and despite Rast lapping at some points two seconds a lap faster, was able to secure an incredible victory.
Duval completed the rostrum, taking his first podium finish of 2019.
Wittmann’s BMW Team RMG teammate Bruno Spengler finished fourth, ahead of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver Nico Müller in fifth.
Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Mike Rockenfeller crossed the line in sixth place, after overtaking BMW Team RMR’s Philipp Eng around the outside of the fast T12 in the final ten laps.
Audi Sport Team WRT rookie Jonathan Aberdein finished in eighth place. The South African made a poor start from the front row of the grid, and struggled to match the pace of those around him.
BMW Team RBM driver Sheldon van der Linde took the checkered flag in ninth place, the rookie looked set to score a top five position early on before struggling in the second half of the race and being passed by a number of drivers.
BMW Team RMR driver Timo Glock crossed the line in tenth, scoring his first points since race two at Hockenheim.
Andrea Dovizioso took part in his first race as a guest driver at Audi Sport Team WRT, and came home an impressive 12th place. The MotoGP star made a fantastic move on Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s Pietro Fittipaldi around the outside of the fast T12 on lap four.
Daniel Juncadella was the highest placed R-Motorsport run Aston Martin, crossing the line in 13th place.
Having taken pole and second, Rast will take the championship lead, Wittmann moves to second in the standings as Eng slips to third.
Qualifying for race two starts tomorrow at 10:45 CEST (9:45 BST)
Race result
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | BEST | GD |
| 1 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 39 | 39 LAPS | 1:28.153 | 18 |
| 2 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 8.238 | 1:28.537 | 1 |
| 3 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 17.686 | 1:28.548 | 3 |
| 4 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 39 | 22.853 | 1:28.664 | 6 |
| 5 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 28.503 | 1:28.918 | 8 |
| 6 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 32.467 | 1:29.112 | 9 |
| 7 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 39 | 44.922 | 1:27.991 | 7 |
| 8 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 47.238 | 1:29.015 | 2 |
| 9 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 39 | 48.347 | 1:28.362 | 5 |
| 10 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 39 | 48.429 | 1:29.376 | 10 |
| 11 | 21 | Pietro FITTIPALDI |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 50.043 | 1:29.296 | 11 |
| 12 | 34 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 39 | 57.138 | 1:29.235 | 15 |
| 13 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 39 | 58.948 | 1:29.718 | 14 |
| 14 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 39 | 1:01.928 | 1:29.473 | 16 |
| 15 | 76 | Jake DENNIS |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 39 | 1:08.229 | 1:30.395 | 13 |
| R | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 31 | DNF | 1:30.705 | 17 |
| R | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 16 | DNF | 1:29.243 | 4 |
| R | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 2 | DNF | 1:29.989 | 12 |