Team ABT Sportsline enters the DTM finale on 8/9 October at the Hockenheimring with its title chances intact. While championship leader Sheldon van der Linde in the BMW remained without points at the Red Bull Ring, René Rast in his ABT Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II collected a total of 21 points on Saturday with the fastest time in qualifying and second place in the race. On Sunday, he made up another point. Before the finale, as third in the standings, he is only twelve points behind. A total of 58 points will still be awarded at Hockenheim.
In pouring rain and extremely difficult conditions, Rast was once again the fastest Audi driver in qualifying on Sunday – but only in tenth place. In the race, he was in sixth place for a while thanks to a late tyre change. Shortly before the finish, however, he was caught by several drivers who had changed to slicks on the drying track. In tenth place, Rast still scored a point.
Ricardo Feller showed a strong performance in both qualifying sessions and was right next to René Rast on the grid on both days. However, after a contact on the opening lap on Saturday and a lack of grip on Sunday, the Swiss remained without points in both races.
Kelvin van der Linde moved up from 14th on the grid to 8th on Saturday. Sunday’s race ended prematurely for the South African, who lives near Kempten, after a contact and a resulting puncture.