René Rast was the fourth DTM race event star at Norisring, Germany. On Saturday, Rast’s experience paid off as he gambled with tyre choices in the rain and secured his first season victory in the Schubert Motorsport #33 BMW M4 GT3. Sunday saw him making a sensational comeback, starting from 19th and finishing fifth despite carrying 20 kilograms of success ballast. This performance pushed him to third in the drivers’ standings with 93 points, while Schubert Motorsport leads the team standings with 186 points.
Rast’s triumph on Saturday was particularly remarkable. While most drivers pitted for a tyre change when the rain started, he stayed on slicks and avoided a pit stop, securing his 27th DTM win. His performance on Sunday, climbing 14 places, was a significant achievement in damage control, leaving him just eleven points behind the overall leader at the season’s halfway mark.
However, it was a tough weekend for his teammates. Sheldon van der Linde showed a strong pace but finished seventh on Saturday and 14th on Sunday due to a penalty. Despite the home crowd’s support, Marco Wittmann could not replicate his recent success, finishing 12th and 11th.
In ADAC GT4 Germany, BMW M Motorsport teams had a mixed weekend. On Saturday, Gabriele Piana and Michael Schrey won in the Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport #2 BMW M4 GT4, with teammates finishing second and third. Sunday was challenging, but the team still leads the standings.
Summarizing the weekend’s comments, BMW representatives and drivers expressed satisfaction with the overall performance, highlighting Rast’s strategic prowess and the team’s fighting spirit. Despite individual setbacks, the collective effort leaves them well-positioned for the season’s second half.