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.”

About Hankook Tire

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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