Ekstrom ends Audi's DTM drought

mattiasekstrom

The Swede had qualified fourth, but was handed a five-place grid penalty for blocking Gary Paffett on his flying lap and subsequently started from ninth in Sunday's race.

However, Ekstrom was aided by a series of safety car periods in an incident-packed race and the two-time DTM champion ploughed through the field while on the soft rubber tyres.

The key moment came after the safety car was needed for the third time, a lap after he changed to the softs, and Ekstrom passed race leader and newly crowned DTM champion Marco Wittmann (BMW) with 33 laps remaining.

"A lot of people might say it was lucky and I know to win a race you need some luck," he told reporters. 

"Still there is no shadow on the performance. It was very good.

"To win the race is quite nice when you haven't done it for a very long time."

Wittmann, who confirmed his championship victory by finishing sixth at the Lausitzring last time out, came home second ahead of another BMW driver, Martin Tomczyk.

Audi's Mike Rockenfeller started on pole for the first time this season and the German enjoyed a fierce battle with Wittmann in the early stages of the race.

Rockenfeller opened up a lead towards the middle of the race before two safety car periods left him out in front but behind on scheduled pit stops. He eventually entered the pits on lap 32 and fell back through the field to finish 16th.

Edoardo Mortara (Audi) was fourth ahead of Christian Vietoris (Mercedes) in fifth.

Author(s)