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Home  Home The first point was possible |
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The first point was possible |
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Monday, 30 June 2008 |
 First of all I would like to thank all my fans that supported me at my home race at the Norisring. Although every DTM race and every DTM circuit is something new and exciting for me, the race in Nuernberg with 140,000 spectators was a real highlight. The last time I had raced at the Norisring was 5 years ago in a formula car. The view of the fully sold out stone grandstand opposite the pit lane is just amazing.
Also the short track through the roads of Nuernberg is something very special too. The 2.3 km short racetrack forgives no mistake. On any other track a small mistake in one of the corners could be compensated in the following corners, but not on the Norisring. All the more rewarding that I managed to reach Q2 for the second time on such a demanding track. My C-Class was perfectly prepared, and I was able to concentrate fully on driving. Position 12 on the grid is my best result in a DTM qualifying to date and thus a success. However, I had the feeling that an even better result would have been possible.
For that I had some 74 laps race distance. A good start, especially on the Norisring, is essential. Like in the last races my start was really good, after the first corner I hade made up 4 places already and was in 8th. Unfortunately, Alexandre Prémat hit me on the rear corner entering the Schöller-S which made me run off line. This lost me five places, so I had to start my run from 13th.
I was just behind Mathias Lauda, for a long time, I watched his line, and tried to put pressure on him, until I managed to pass him. Immediately I managed to pull away from Lauda and create a gap. This was important for the early pit stops to get some air between him and me. Since we ran a very long first stint I also managed to clock up my first lead laps in DTM and was able to use the clear track ahead of me to my advantage before my two stops. When everyone had completed their pitstops, I was already in ninth position. I must say that my guys from Mücke Motorsport did a fantastic job with strategy and pitstops this weekend which gained us track position.
Immediately after the second pit stop I came out just behind Oliver Jarvis. When I wanted to overtake him at the last corner he turned in. He probably didn’t see me on the inside and we collided – I would put it down as a racing incident. Unfortunately this incident lost us both some time. After that I had to pay the price for my fast drive, the brake performance dropped and I had to take out some speed to preserve the brakes. Therefore, I had to let Ralf Schumacher and Mathias Lauda pass. The fact that I still finnished ninth at the end, was due to brake problems for Ralf too and the subsequent disqualification of Garry Paffett who was Underweight after the race. I missed out on my first point in DTM by the smallest of margins 1.4s.
The next race will be on the Dutch coast in Zandvoort. The track is very demanding as it changes constantly because of the drifting Sand, which will make it a real challenge for us drivers. With the good result from Nuernberg in the bag, I will be giving it my all to score my first points in Zandvoort.
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