DTM Oschersleben: Team Schubert Motorsport narrowly misses out on podium at home event.

Oschersleben. BMW M Motorsport and Team Schubert Motorsport narrowly missed out on the podium at the team's home event at Oschersleben (GER). Marco Wittmann (GER) battled for a top-three finish throughout Sunday's race, but ultimately lacked the pace to put the competition under decisive pressure. As a result, the 36-year-old had to settle for fourth place in the #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the second race of the weekend. Kelvin van der Linde (RSA) finished seventh in both races as he returned to DTM action following his heavy accident at the Norisring (GER).

Wittmann lined up third on the grid for Sunday's race after a strong qualifying performance but lost one position at the start. He remained within striking distance of the podium for much of the race but, despite having fresher tyres, was unable to launch a decisive attack and ultimately narrowly missed out on a podium finish. Van der Linde was unfortunate in qualifying due to traffic and could do no better than seventh on the grid, a position he maintained throughout the race.

On Saturday, Wittmann and van der Linde started from 13th and 15th respectively. In the #3 Shell BMW M4 GT3 EVO, van der Linde produced a strong comeback drive, gaining eight positions to finish seventh – the same result he achieved on Sunday. Wittmann worked his way up to eighth in the opening stages before being forced to retire with a tyre failure.

Team Schubert Motorsport received special support on Sunday from Maxime Estève. The French summer signing of Bundesliga club RB Leipzig had been invited by BMW M Motorsport and cheered on the team from the pit garage during its home event.

ADAC GT4 Germany: Piana and Sylvestersson celebrate double podium.

Gabriele Piana (ITA) and Benjamin Sylvestersson (FIN) secured a double podium for FK Performance Motorsport in the ADAC GT4 Germany. The duo finished third in the #51 BMW M4 GT4 EVO on Saturday before claiming second place on Sunday. As a result, Piana and Sylvestersson moved into the lead of the drivers' championship.

Reactions after the race weekend:

Björn Lellmann (Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport): “Unfortunately, it was a disappointing weekend. We had hoped for more at Torsten Schubert's home circuit. The team welcomed many guests throughout the weekend, and we would have loved to reward them with a podium finish. On Saturday, we had very few opportunities. Kelvin had a fantastic drive to gain eight positions, but the points haul was still rather modest. Our strategy on Sunday did not work out exactly as planned, although it's always easier to judge in hindsight. I am proud of the team's performance – the pit stops were excellent. Nevertheless, it simply wasn't enough. Oschersleben is a difficult place to overtake. We need to come back fighting at the next race. I'm delighted about the two podiums for FK Performance Motorsport, Gabriele Piana and Benjamin Sylvestersson in the ADAC GT4 Germany, which also put them at the top of the drivers' standings. That's a nice consolation."

Torsten Schubert (Team Principal, Schubert Motorsport): “We had an incredible number of spectators throughout the weekend, which was fantastic. It was great to be back racing here at Oschersleben. Of course, we would have loved to finish on the podium. After the tyre failure on Saturday, we had a bit more luck with the cars today. However, Marco showed that, even with better tyres, it still wasn't enough. Oschersleben is certainly a very challenging circuit when it comes to overtaking, but I still hoped we would find a way through the Porsche. Perhaps we should have stayed out a little longer during the first pit stop. We'll analyse that because I believe the podium was within reach."

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Race 1: DNF, Race 2: 4th place): “It was a difficult weekend, especially physically - my stomach issues were the biggest challenge. A huge thank you to BMW M Motorsport, Team Schubert Motorsport and everyone who had my back throughout the weekend. The tyre failure on Saturday was simply bad luck. When you start that far up the grid on Sunday, you naturally want to secure a home podium for Team Schubert Motorsport, but we just didn't have the pace. Despite the tyre advantage from Saturday, we weren't able to put enough pressure on the cars ahead. In the end, fourth place was the maximum we could achieve."

Kelvin van der Linde (#3 Shell BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Race 1: 7th, Race 2: 7th): “It was a mixed weekend with two seventh-place finishes in front of Schubert Motorsport's home crowd. I'm proud of the team because they extracted the maximum from the package. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for more. I'm really looking forward to the Nürburgring and hope we can fight for another win this season."