Press Release

  • Motorsport

René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

At the Moscow Raceway on Saturday, René Rast won the ninth DTM race of the season. Right from the start, the pole-setting Audi driver knew how to get the Ventus Race tyre from premium partner Hankook working perfectly on the smooth surface and celebrated a convincing start-finish victory after 38 laps. The 30-year-old claimed the second win of his DTM career to reclaim the lead in the drivers’ championship. His brand team-mate Mike Rockenfeller overcame a fractured left foot to cross the finish line in second place after a strong performance.
René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moscow/Russia, 22nd July 2017 – René Rast (Audi) had completed Saturday morning's qualifying session in second place, but started the opening race of the DTM race weekend in first position at the Moscow Raceway. Marco Wittmann was fastest in qualifying but was demoted by five places after receiving his third warning at the Norisring.

DTM newcomer Rast defended his lead from the start and was one of the last drivers to head to the pits for a tyre change, on lap 15. The Audi driver managed the new set of Hankook tyres excellently throughout the remaining 23 laps on the technically challenging circuit and celebrated both his second DTM win and the lead in the overall standings.

Claiming second place felt almost like a win for Mike Rockenfeller, as the Audi driver had to struggle with a broken foot suffered in his accident at the Norisring. The 33-year-old went for new Hankook dry-weather tyres one lap before René Rast but was unable to seriously challenge his brand team-mate.

Marco Wittmann (BMW) was intent on damage limitation after his five-place demotion. He started from sixth on the grid and improved to finish in third position. The current DTM champion applied plenty of pressure after his pit stop on the twelfth lap, securing the final podium position after some skilful overtaking manoeuvres. Robert Wickens was the best Mercedes-Benz driver, in fourth place. His brand team-mate Lucas Auer stayed in second place overall after finishing sixth, while Mattias Ekström (Audi) is in third.

“The Hankook race tyre delivered another top performance on the smooth asphalt of the Moscow Raceway, and was convincing from start to finish. The drivers can do a long first or second stint and the Ventus Race can support whatever strategy they choose. Congratulations to René Rast, who has returned to the top of the drivers’ standings with this win. Great respect to Mike Rockenfeller as well, who reached the podium here despite suffering a broken foot,” says Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe.

René Rast (Audi): “The Hankook race tyre lasted well and was easy to manage in both stints. I had plenty of grip for the whole race and the very fast car allowed me to defend my lead.”

Mike Rockenfeller (Audi): “I had no problems at all with the Hankook tyres and I was very pleased with them. There was a lot of pickup on the track and it was important not to drive through it. That was the key to this race.”

Marco Wittmann (BMW): “The Hankook race tyres were very good, particularly in the second stint. I was able to manage them and I was still very fast at the end, which mean that I could push on to attack and overtake Robert. It was a very good race with the Hankook tyre from my point of view.”

Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz): “We had a perfect race strategy, which meant that I nearly made it to the podium after starting in eleventh place. It was a shame that Marco overtook me just before the end of the race, but the Hankook tyres performed well.”

Hankook Tire manufactures globally innovative, award-winning radial tyres of proven superior quality for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/street circuits/rallies).

Aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in product quality, technological excellence and driving satisfaction, Hankook Tire continuously invests in research and development maintaining five R&D centres and eight production facilities around the world. Bespoke tyre solutions for the European markets as well as European Original Equipment according to the requirements of leading premium car manufacturers, are developed in the company’s regional Technical Centre in Hanover/Germany. Production for the European region is taking place in the state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Rácalmás/Hungary which was inaugurated in June 2007 and is continuously being expanded.

Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The manufacturer operates further branches in several European countries and sells its products through regional distributors in other local markets. Hankook Tire employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and sells products in over 160 countries. The company has been the technical partner and exclusive tyre supplier of the Generation 3 for the FIA ABB Formula E World Championship since 2023. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by Hankook for their original equipment. Approximately 38 percent of the company's global sales are generated within the European region.

For more information please visit www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com or www.hankooktire.com

Hankook Tire Europe GmbH | Marketing Communications Europe | Siemensstr. 14, 63263 Neu-Isenburg | Germany

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René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

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René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

René Rast reclaims lead in drivers’ championship after second DTM win

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 22, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

Contacts

Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-178

Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-178

Lisa Schmid

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+49 (0) 6102 8149-172

Alexander Nevinny-Stickel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

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Annika Malcherek

Annika Malcherek

Digital Lead Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-176

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Stefan Prohaska

Digital Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-171

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