BMW driver Augusto Farfus claims second win of the 2013 DTM season in Oschersleben.

Oschersleben (DE), 15th September 2013. Augusto Farfus (BR) is back on the top step of the podium: the BMW Team RBM driver produced a flawless race in Oschersleben (DE) to win the eighth race of the DTM season, coming home 6.298 seconds ahead of Mike Rockenfeller (DE, Audi). The 30-year-old laid the foundations for his victory at the start, when he got away cleanly from second on the grid to pass Jamie Green (GB, Audi) and take the lead by the time he reached the first corner. It was the 57th win for BMW Motorsport in the DTM and the 49th for the BMW M3. Farfus celebrated his third victory in the popular touring car series, and his second of the season. 

In the Drivers’ Championship, Farfus moves up to second on 91 points after his third podium in a row. He is now the only driver still with a mathematical chance of catching championship leader Rockenfeller (124). BMW was able to retain its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship with 276 points, ahead of Audi (267) and Mercedes-Benz (237). 

It was an eventful race for the remaining BMW drivers, and particularly reigning champion Bruno Spengler (CA). The BMW Team Schnitzer driver made an outstanding start from sixth on the grid, immediately making up three places. Over the course of the race, however, he was unable to match the pace of the leaders in his BMW Bank M3 DTM and was forced to retire 11 laps from the end following a collision with Robert Wickens (CA, Mercedes). 

Martin Tomczyk (DE) made a jump start from eighth on the grid, resulting in a drive-through penalty that saw the BMW Team RMG driver drop well back down the field. Tomczyk, at the wheel of the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM, eventually retired from the race shortly before the end with technical problems. 

Marco Wittmann (DE, Ice-Watch BMW M3 DTM), Dirk Werner (DE, SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM), Timo Glock (DE, DEUTSCHE POST BMW M3 DTM), Joey Hand (US, BMW M3 DTM) and Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) also missed out on the points, coming home 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 19th respectively. Hand did set the fastest lap of the race, clocking a time of 1:21.255 minutes on lap 14. 

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“That was a fantastic performance from Augusto Farfus and BMW Team RBM in an incredibly intense race. It is a great feeling to have one of our drivers back on the top step of the podium. This is Augusto’s third podium in a row and his second win of the year. That is very impressive. Behind him, the race was extremely turbulent at times. Given our grid positions, we should obviously have had one or two more cars in the points. We will now analyse that in greater detail. For now, however, we are celebrating our third win of the season, thanks to Augusto and BMW Team RBM.” 

Note to 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 from Oschersleben: 

Standings after 8 of 10 races.  

Drivers’ standings.
1. Mike Rockenfeller (124 points), 2. Augusto Farfus (91), 3. Christian Vietoris (71), 4. Robert Wickens (70), 5. Bruno Spengler (67), 6. Gary Paffett (65), 7. Mattias Ekström (44), 8. Marco Wittmann (39), 9. Jamie Green (35), 10. Dirk Werner (26), 11. Joey Hand (26), 11. Adrien Tambay (22), 13. Timo Scheider (22), 14. Daniel Juncadella (20), 15. Timo Glock (15), 16. Filipe Albuquerque (12), 17. Martin Tomczyk (10), 18. Roberto Merhi (8), 19., Miguel Molina (8), 20. Edoardo Mortara (3), 21. Pascal Wehrlein (3), 22. Andy Priaulx (2). 

Team standings.
1. STIHL / AMG Mercedes (141 points), 2. Audi Sport Team Phoenix (132), 3. BMW Team RBM (117), 4. BMW Team Schnitzer (93), 5. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline (79), 6. EURONICS / THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG (73), 7. BMW Team MTEK (54), 8. Audi Sport Team Abt (44), 9. stern / AMG Mercedes (23), 10. Audi Sport Team Rosberg (15), 11. BMW Team RMG (12). 

Manufacturers’ standings.
1. BMW (276 points), 2. Audi (267), 3. Mercedes-Benz (237). 

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). 

About the DTM.
The German Touring Car Masters – DTM for short – is the most popular touring car series in the world. Last season, over 650,000 spectators flocked to renowned racetracks in Germany and around Europe to watch the ten races live. The series pits the three premium automobile manufacturers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz against each other in a sporting contest. BMW fielded its first works teams from 1984 to 1992, during which time it claimed 49 race victories and won the Drivers’ Championship on three occasions (1984, 1987 and 1989). In 2012, the manufacturer returned to the DTM with the BMW M3 DTM, three teams and six drivers. BMW promptly won five races and topped the driver, team and manufacturer standings at the end of the season. 

The 2013 DTM calendar once again consists of ten races. The schedule includes four trips abroad, to Brands Hatch (GB), Spielberg (AT), Moscow (RU) and Zandvoort (NL). The season traditionally ends in Hockenheim (DE) on 20th October. This season sees BMW line up with an even stronger contingent of four teams and eight drivers. The car charged with defending the team’s hat-trick of titles is once again the BMW M3 DTM. TV station ARD is broadcasting each qualifying (from 14:30) and every race (from 13:15) live. Tickets for all the DTM races are available here: http://www.bmw-motorsport.com/en/fan-area/dtm-tickets.html