What a weekend for ABT Sportsline within the DTM! In the Italian spherical of the favored racing sequence at the well-known Imola circuit, the Kempten staff gained each races from pole place – these had been the 72nd and 73rd wins for the ABT Sportsline staff in DTM.
The first race on Saturday was gained by René Rast. For the three-time DTM champion it was already the twenty fifth and but very particular DTM victory: it was his first victory for ABT Sportsline and the primary within the DTM with a GT3 automobile.
René Rast laid the foundations for his maiden triumph within the ABT Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II with an ideal qualifying lap. In the race, he efficiently repelled an assault from Nico Müller within the first nook and was dispatched a lot sooner by his ABT crew through the pit cease. Rast was then in a position to management the tempo up entrance and take the win in a giant method. As a consequence, the German, who lives in Austria, has made a giant leap ahead within the total DTM classification and is now positively one of many title contenders.
On Sunday, Ricardo Feller's huge present adopted: the Swiss drove three thousandths of a second sooner in qualifying than Rast the day earlier than though all Audi R8 LMS vehicles had so as to add 25 kilograms in a single day after an adjustment of the ” stability of efficiency” (BoP). Feller had studied the movies and knowledge of his two teammates within the night and had discovered essential tenths of a second.
From pole place, nevertheless, Feller needed to struggle for his first DTM victory – first towards Felipe Fraga within the Ferrari, who was a lot faster on the straights, then towards fellow Audi driver Dev Gore. The ABT Sportsline teen prevailed in each fights after which managed the tempo up entrance equally to Rene Rast the day earlier than.
On Sunday, Rast needed to retire shortly after the beginning with a right-back puncture – a destiny that had additionally hit Ricardo Feller the day earlier than. The Swiss subsequently tried to avoid wasting his tires as a lot as attainable at the entrance of the peloton on Sunday. After crossing the end line, the Swiss even made a cope with staff boss Thomas Biermaier over the radio: Feller will lastly get the long-awaited ABT energy improve for his Audi RS 6.
With a fifth place on Saturday regardless of a free rear wheel, Kelvin van der Linde additionally scored factors at Imola. On Sunday, the South African needed to settle for thirteenth place.
The DTM continues in simply 13 days with ABT Sportsline's residence race at the Norisring in Nuremberg.
Photos: ABT Sportline
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