Press Release

  • Motorsport

René Rast produces spectacular fightback to claim his first win of the DTM season

René Rast won race two of the 2019 DTM season on Sunday, after an impressive fightback at the Hockenheimring. The Audi driver started from 16th on the grid and twice came in for a fresh set of the Hankook race tyre. This two-stop strategy paid dividends, allowing the 32-year-old to take his eleventh victory in arguably the most popular international touring car series. After the wet race on Saturday, good conditions meant the slicks supplied by exclusive DTM partner Hankook were used in Sunday’s race, and they provided all the drivers with the high level of grip they have become accustomed to.
René Rast produces spectacular fightback to claim his first win of the DTM season

Hockenheim/Germany, 5th May 2019
After the start of race two of the DTM season on Sunday at the Hockenheimring, nothing hinted at René Rast emerging victorious. Philipp Eng (BMW), the fastest man in qualifying, was leading the way, while Rast was languishing down in 17th. However, a safety car phase on lap eight proved the turning point. The Audi driver took the opportunity to stop for a new set of Hankook race tyres. After the re-start, he fought his way relentlessly through the field until he took the lead on lap 13.

As it is not permitted to make mandatory pit stops during a safety car phase, the Audi driver had to pit for another tyre change. Rast came in for the fresh set of Hankook slicks on lap 22, after which he defended his lead comfortably until the finish. Fellow Audi drivers Nico Müller and Robin Frijns followed him home to complete a one-two-three for Audi. The best-placed BMW drivers were pole-sitter Philipp Eng and Bruno Spengler in fourth and fifth. Paul Di Resta also opted for a two-stop strategy and finished seventh, making him the fastest driver for DTM newcomer Aston Martin. Marco Wittmann (BMW) leads the Drivers’ Championship, ahead of Robin Frijns (Audi) and René Rast (Audi).

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “That was an awesome race from René Rast, who showed how important the tyre strategy is, given the strength in depth in the DTM. It demonstrated that both a one-stop and a two-strop strategy are possible with the Hankook race tyre, and that both can be successful. While Rast won with two pit stops, Nico Müller and Robin Frijns finished second and third after just one stop. After Saturday’s wet race, this was the first time that the Hankook slick has seen action this season. It mastered the high demands of the high-speed circuit in Hockenheim very well.”

Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline completed the fastest pit stop of the opening DTM weekend in Hockenheim, with a time of 31.990 seconds. They are rewarded with 25 points towards the Best Pit Stop Award, Hankook’s unofficial pit crew championship.

René Rast (Audi): “That was an incredible race. I drove on three sets of Hankook tyres today and did not have any problems with any of them. They were all just as quick as each other. I benefitted from the safety car phase and the fresh Hankook tyres, which allowed me to really plough through the field and take the lead after my first pit stop. The key after that was not to be too aggressive, in order to minimise tyre wear. We want the driver to have a big influence on the races in the DTM, and that is possible through tyre management.”

Philipp Eng (BMW): “When you start from pole, you obviously also want to finish in first place. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way today. The opposition at Audi simply did a better job of managing the Hankook tyre than we did. We will have to do our homework before the next race.”

Paul Di Resta (Aston Martin): “It is vital, with the new engine and more power, to manage the Hankook race tyre well and properly. The pit strategy can also make the difference between victory and defeat, as we saw with René today.”

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 produces spectacular fightback to claim his first win of the DTM season

Audi Sport RS 5 DTM #33 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg), René RastRene Rast ( D, Audi Sport Team Rosberg )

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René Rast produces spectacular fightback to claim his first win of the DTM season

Hockenheim, Germany: DTM 2019 Hockenheim 01,

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René Rast produces spectacular fightback to claim his first win of the DTM season

Hockenheim, Germany: DTM 2019 Hockenheim 01, Timo Glock, ( D, BMW Team RMG ) Marco Wittmann ( D, BMW Team RMG )

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René Rast produces spectacular fightback to claim his first win of the DTM season

Hockenheim, Germany: DTM 2019 Hockenheim 01,

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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

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-172

Alexander Nevinny-Stickel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-173

Annika Malcherek

Annika Malcherek

Digital Lead Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-176

Stefan Prohaska

Stefan Prohaska

Digital Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-171

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