Lucas Auer says that Sunday’s second DTM race of the weekend at the Lausitzring was his ‘most intense race’ in the DTM, as the BMW driver took victory with a last-lap move on Timo Glock.
Auer, like Glock, elected to make an early pit stop on lap ten, whilst the Austrian was running in the lower echelons of the top ten.
That strategic move allowed the 25-year-old to emerge effectively in third after his pitstop, running behind Audi’s Jamie Green and BMW stable-mate Glock.
The two BMW drivers got past Green on lap 24, and Auer then took the lead a lap later, albeit for only two laps from Glock.
The German then led the race until the very last lap, when Auer made a move up the inside of Glock and took the lead, holding on to claim victory in an enthralling race.
“I am still lost for words,” said Auer, who took his fifth DTM win. “I think that was the most intense race I have ever experienced in the DTM, as an error could have been fatal.
“I was able to manage the tyres well, the strategy and pit stop were perfect. The car was also spot-on. And putting it all together on the final lap – it doesn’t get any better than that.
“It was a perfectly timed raced – we did the pitstop at the right moment and I had good pace. It was just the last attack on Timo – I had good tyres still, I could manage them – and it was a perfect race.
“A big thanks to my team, they have great engineering, and big thanks to my crew for the pit stop. Without those two things, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Auer believes that BMW is now getting closer to Audi, having claimed the marque’s first win of the season in the sixth race, and he heads to the next event at Assen in The Netherlands in a more optimistic mood.
“In the race we are definitely closer, and today faster, definitely,” added Auer. “I think in qualifying we still need to work, but I think it looks promising and I’m looking forward to the next race.