Lucas Auer makes his mark again at the Lausitzring with win number two of the season

Lucas Auer is unstoppable in the DTM at the moment. The Mercedes-Benz driver led from start to finish to claim a dominant win on Saturday at the Lausitzring – his second victory in only the third race of the season. The 22-year-old started from pole, controlled the field from the word go, and crossed the finish line after 43 laps of racing with a lead of 3.613 seconds over fellow Mercedes-Benz man Robert Wickens. As at the season-opener in Hockenheim, the race tyre supplied by exclusive DTM partner Hankook provided a high level of grip, allowing exciting overtaking manoeuvres and jostling for position right down to the finish.

Klettwitz/Germany, 20th May 2017 – The Lausitzring is a happy stomping ground for Lucas Auer. It was here a year ago that the Mercedes-Benz driver claimed his maiden victory in what is probably the most popular international touring car series, and the 22-year-old was unbeatable again on Saturday at the most easterly racetrack in Germany. Robert Wickens came home second to complete a one-two for Mercedes-Benz, while René Rast (Audi) finished third to claim the first podium of his DTM career. The best BMW driver was Maxime Martin in fourth place.

Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), who started from eighth and ninth on the grid, came in for an early tyre change and went on to end the race in fifth and sixth place respectively. That result sees Gary Paffett climb into second place in the overall standings. However, he trails today’s winner Lucas Auer, who has been the dominant force so far this season, by 34 points. “Lucas Auer is in blistering form at the moment. He is managing to get the very best out of the Hankook race tyre, without putting it under too much strain. As at the opening race weekend in Hockenheim, we were treated to many exciting overtaking manoeuvres and battles for position here at the Lausitzring. Although Lucas Auer is the man to beat at the moment, anything is possible this DTM season, thanks in part to the Hankook race tyre,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe.

Lucas Auer (Mercedes-Benz): “We had a good and consistent car. It was easy to manage. I am always impressed at the high cornering speeds you can achieve in this heavy touring car when you are on a quick lap. The Hankook race tyre plays a key role in making this possible.”

Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz): “The Hankook race tyre was my friend today. You have to manage it correctly, and cannot push too hard at the start, otherwise it wears too dramatically at the end. Our set-up helped me to manage the slick over the entire race distance, and the Hankook race tyre performed perfectly.”

René Rast (Audi): “I managed the Hankook race tyre well at the start, and did not push too hard. It continued to perform right through to the finish. I am very happy with it.”

Maxime Martin (BMW): “The Hankook tyre was good today. The other cars appear to have come to terms with it a little better today. We are still in the early stages of the season, and have to learn how to handle the Hankook slick better. I managed well on the tyres today, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

Sobre Hankook Tire

Hankook Tire es uno de los principales fabricantes de neumáticos con mayor volumen de producción de todo el mundo de innovadores neumáticos radiales y de altas prestaciones en el segmento Premium para turismos, SUVs, todoterrenos, vehículos comerciales, autocaravanas, camiones, autobuses y vehículos de competición (pruebas en circuitos y carreras callejeras/rallies).

Con el fin de ofrecer a sus clientes la máxima calidad combinada con la excelencia tecnológica, Hankook invierte continuamente en investigación y desarrollo manteniendo sus cinco centros de I+D y ocho grandes fábricas en todo el mundo. La compañía desarrolla y produce soluciones de neumáticos especialmente adaptadas a las exigencias y requerimientos de los mercados regionales.

Además, en el Centro Técnico Europeo de Hankook situado en Hannover (Alemania) se desarrollan neumáticos de Equipo Original de acuerdo con los requerimientos de los fabricantes de vehículos líderes en este continente. La producción para la región europea se desarrolla principalmente en la fábrica ultra moderna de la compañía en Rácalmás (Hungría), inaugurada en 2007 y en proceso de expansión continua.

La Oficina Central Europea del fabricante de neumáticos está situada en Neu-Isenburg, cerca de Frankfurt del Meno en Alemania. El fabricante opera en la mayoría de países europeos y vende sus productos a través de distribuidores regionales en otros mercados locales. La compañía cuenta con 20.000 trabajadores en todo el mundo y sus productos se distribuyen en más de 160 países. La empresa ha sido seleccionada como socio técnico y proveedor exclusivo de neumáticos de la Generación 3 para el Campeonato Mundial de Fórmula E ABB de la FIA, a partir de 2023. Los fabricantes de vehículos líderes confían en los neumáticos de Equipo Original de Hankook. Aproximadamente, el 34 por ciento de las ventas globales de la compañía se generan en Europa y la región CIS.

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