Lucas Auer dropped a lot of points in the first DTM race this weekend at Spielberg.
Lucas Auer dropped a lot of points in the first DTM race this weekend at Spielberg. The Tyrolean received a ten-second penalty on Saturday because he had exceeded the permitted pit lane speed of 60 km/h and only got two points for ninth place. Without the time penalty, Auer would have won in Spielberg from Ferrari-Pilot Nick Cassidy narrowly missed the podium in fourth place. Thomas Preining was the second best Austrian in tenth.
The Upper Austrian also received a penalty, an overtaking maneuver by the Porsche-man was over the limit of what was permitted for the race director. Philipp Eng (BMW) finished twelfth empty-handed, Clemens Schmid (Lamborghini) Likewise.
New Zealand’s Cassidy celebrated his second win in a row after triumphing at Spa. Rene Rast (GER/Audi) and Mirko Bortolotti (ITA/Lamborghini) occupied the other podium places and overtook Auer in the championship. The Mercedes works driver, who showed a spirited race with a good pit stop, is now fourth.
Due to the fact that overall leader Sheldon van der Linde was eleventh without any points, the damage for Auer was still limited. He is 30 points behind the South African with three races to go, while Rast is 13 points behind the leader.
Neither Auer nor Preining could understand the penalties, which were checked again by the race control after the end. “I was more defensive. That’s why I was surprised. I thought I misunderstood it,” said Auer. “It’s bitter. Fourth place was good, but with ninth place we’re game over.”
(WHAT)