Podium at Brands Hatch for DTM champion Bruno Spengler – Marco Wittmann and Joey Hand also in the points.

Brands Hatch (GB), 19th May 2013. Following the successful season-opener in Hockenheim (DE), the podium at the second DTM race of the year again featured a BMW driver: BMW Team Schnitzer driver Bruno Spengler (CA) crossed the finish line in second place in the BMW Bank M3 DTM at the 1.929-kilometre “Brands Hatch Circuit”, a repeat of last year’s result. At the end of 98 laps, the reigning DTM champion came home 7.641 seconds behind winning Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller (DE). Robert Wickens (CA) finished third in his Mercedes to complete the podium. 

The second best-placed BMW driver was Marco Wittmann (DE) from BMW Team MTEK in only his second DTM race. The 23-year-old was fourth in the Ice-Watch BMW M3 DTM, ahead of BMW Team RBM driver Joey Hand (US) in fifth. This marked the best result of both drivers’ DTM careers. Augusto Farfus (BR) was extremely unlucky. Running second, the winner of the opening race of the season in Hockenheim (DE) had no choice but to retire after 65 laps due to a technical problem on the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM. 

Dirk Werner (DE), Timo Glock (DE) and Martin Tomczyk (DE) finished 12th, 13th and 14th. Having been stripped of his pole position, Tomczyk had at one point managed to fight his way back into the top ten from last place on the grid. However, he was then forced off the track in a bumper-to-bumper duel, dashing any hopes of finishing in the points. Like both Tomczyk and Glock, Andy Priaulx (GB) was also involved in an incident and eventually crossed the line in 19th. 

The new leader in the Drivers’ Championship is Rockenfeller with 29 points. Spengler trails Rockenfeller by just one point. Farfus is third, courtesy of the 25 points he received for winning race one. BMW Team Schnitzer has taken over at the top of the team competition followed by BMW Team RBM. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, BMW still leads with 101 points to its name. 

Tomczyk and Farfus have another opportunity to secure a good result this weekend. Immediately after the race at Brands Hatch, the two BMW drivers set off for the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE), where they will join up with BMW Team Schubert and take to the track in the BMW Z4 GT3 on Sunday evening.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“Generally speaking, we can be happy with the second race of the season. Three drivers in the top five is a very good result at any race. However, when you start the race with six drivers in the top ten, you have to admit it could have been even better. Runner-up Bruno Spengler and his team did an excellent job. I am also delighted for Marco Wittmann, whose fourth place in only his second DTM race shows what huge potential he possesses. Joey Hand, who finished fifth, also produced an impressive performance all weekend. Augusto Farfus, on the other hand, was unlucky. Like at Hockenheim, he was clearly on course for a podium finish before he had to retire with a technical problem. A number of manoeuvres out on the track were right on the edge, and our drivers were the ones who suffered. Congratulations to Audi and Mike Rockenfeller on their victory.” 

Note the editors: A second press release will be issued shortly, including further statements from the four BMW team principals and the drivers about the race. 

Facts and figures Brands Hatch: 

Standings after 2 of 10 races.  

Drivers’ standings.
1. Mike Rockenfeller (29 points), 2. Bruno Spengler (28), 3. Augusto Farfus (25), 4. Gary Paffett (20), 5. Christian Vietoris (19), 6. Dirk Werner (18), 7. Joey Hand (16), 8. Robert Wickens (15), 9. Marco Wittmann (14), 10. Timo Scheider (10).

Team standings.
1. BMW Team Schnitzer (46 points), 2. BMW Team RBM (41), 3. STIHL / AMG Mercedes (34), 4. Audi Sport Team Phoenix (29), 5. EURONICS / THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG (21), 6. BMW Team MTEK (14), 7. Audi Sport Team Abt (10), Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline (6), stern / AMG Mercedes (1). 

Manufacturer standings.
1. BMW (101 points), 2. Mercedes-Benz (56), 3. Audi (45). 

2013 calendar: 

5th May – Hockenheim (DE), 19th May – Brands Hatch (GB), 2nd June – Spielberg (AT), 16th June – Lausitzring (DE), 14th July – Norisring (DE), 4th August – Moscow (RU), 18th August – Nürburgring (DE), 15th September – Oschersleben (DE), 29th September – Zandvoort (NL), 20th October – Hockenheim (DE).