DTM Zandvoort: Rast takes lights-to-flag victory

Team Schubert driver Rene Rast took a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the second DTM race of the Zandvoort round.

The polesitter was challenged by his team-mate Marco Wittmann in the final stages of the race but held on to secure the win, with the BMW drivers consistently faster than their rivals.

“We made up for yesterday’s blunder and I’m super happy,” Rast told ran jubilantly. “It wasn’t easy, not even for me – mentally and physically, it was a tough race inside the car.”

“I was clearly faster towards the end, I could attack, but it just wasn’t enough,” Wittmann grinned, having taken second place from Jack Aitken at the start.

“We all know that among drivers from the same brand, you may not always go for that final one percent. I believe today the team result was really important, and with that, we can certainly be very satisfied.”

Unlike Saturday, the weather remained dry, and there were very few incidents of note in the race. Grasser Lamborghini driver Jordan Pepper suffered a puncture in a first-lap scramble and eventually retired.

Thomas Preining and Aitken battled for the final spot on the podium, with the Porsche driver prevailing. Maro Engel finished fifth, leading Luca Engstler, Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, Mirko Bortolotti and Arjun Maini.

Landgraf Mercedes racer Auer has maintained his lead in the drivers’ championship, with Rast up to second with a 16-point deficit. Saturday race winner Ayhancan Guven now shares third position with Jules Gounon.

The next DTM round will take place on 4-6 July at the only street circuit on the calendar – the Norisring, in Nuremberg.