WRT Audi driver Ferdinand von Habsburg remained on top of the times in the third day of the official DTM tests at the Nürburgring, with the Austrian lapping four tenths faster than the pace he set on Tuesday.
Habsburg also topped the times on Tuesday, posting a lap of 1:19.319 seconds, but on Wednesday the 22-year-old went even quicker with a lap of 1:18.911. to edge out Team Abt’s Nico Müller by 0.033 seconds.
“Considering that I have the most competitive car on the grid at my disposal, winning races just has to be the goal,” said Habsburg of his impressive pace thus far.
“The same goes for the championship. Only someone who sets himself high goals can also be successful.”
The day got off to a slower start than the previous two, as thick fog shrouded the track in the Eiffel Mountains at 08:30 in the morning.
Whilst the morning’s running was dry, heavy rain struck just before the afternoon session, limiting the running of the drivers. Thus, Habsburg’s top time was set in the morning session and each driver’s best time came earlier in the day.
Jamie Green was once again third quickest in his Team Rosberg-run Audi, 0.126 seconds off the pace, although the Brit was actually running in reigning champion René Rast’s car.
South African BMW driver Sheldon van der Linde was fourth, 0.159 seconds off the pace, ahead of BMW’s Timo Glock, making his first test appearance this week, a further tenth of a second back.
WRT’s Fabio Scherer was sixth, having only run in the morning due to a technical issue in the afternoon, ahead of Team ART’s Robert Kubica, who put his BMW seven tenths off the pace.
BMW’s Jonathan Aberdein was eighth, whilst Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller was ninth, just over a second off the pace.
Marco Wittmann only did six laps, without a lap time, due to completing a shakedown of his new chassis only.
Testing continues on Thursday.
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 142 | 1:18.911 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 138 | 1:18.944 | 0.033 |
| 3 | 53 | Jamie GREEN |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 125 | 1:19.037 | 0.126 |
| 4 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 115 | 1:19.070 | 0.159 |
| 5 | 16 | Timo GLOCK |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 131 | 1:19.157 | 0.246 |
| 6 | 13 | Fabio SCHERER | |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 31 | 1:19.511 | 0.600 |
| 7 | 8 | Robert KUBICA |  |
BMW Team ART | BMW M4 DTM | 129 | 1:19.641 | 0.730 |
| 8 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 152 | 1:19.735 | 0.824 |
| 9 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 143 | 1:19.961 | 1.050 |
| 10 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 6 | No time | N/A |