Press Release

  • Motorsport

Marco Wittmann takes spectacular win in the heat of Misano

Marco Wittmann sensationally won race number five of the 2019 DTM season on Saturday in Misano. Earlier in the day, technical issues had forced the BMW driver to end his qualifying session prematurely, meaning he started the race from the very back of the grid. The two-time DTM champion put all his eggs in one basket and came into the pits on lap one for his mandatory pit stop. A safety car phase worked in his favour, but Wittmann was left to complete the rest of the race on one set of Hankook race tyres were he to have any chance of winning. However, right through to the end of the race the 29-year-old was consistently able to set fast times on the Ventus Race provided by premium tyre maker Hankook. After 39 laps of racing, Wittmann crossed the finish line first to claim his 13th victory in arguably the most popular international touring car series.
Marco Wittmann takes spectacular win in the heat of Misano

Misano/Italy, 8th June 2019 – With the sun shining and glorious summer temperatures in the Italian resort of Misano, pole-sitter René Rast (Audi) held off the challenge of fellow Audi man Loic Duval and Bruno Spengler (BMW) to successfully defend his lead at the start on Saturday. Marco Wittmann (BMW), who started the race from 18th on the grid, and Ferdinand von Habsburg (Aston Martin) both came into the pits for their mandatory tyre change on lap one. This risky tactic ultimately paid dividends: On lap four of the race, Joel Eriksson (BMW) was forced to park his car at the side of the track with a technical issue, resulting in the appearance of the safety car and the field bunching back together.

When race leader Rast came in for his fresh set of Hankook race tyres on lap 15, Wittmann adopted the lead, ahead of von Habsburg. While the young Austrian dropped back through the field over the course of the race and eventually finished 14th, Wittmann continued to drive consistently fast on his set of Hankook race tyres for 38 laps and to keep Rast at bay as track temperatures soared above the 45-degree mark. 

Wittmann came home 8.2 seconds ahead of Rast to take the 25 points on offer for the win. This was enough to move Wittmann into second place in the overall standings, behind new championship leader Rast. Loic Duval (Audi) finished third to claim his second podium in the DTM, while Bruno Spengler (BMW) narrowly missed out on the podium in fourth place. Fellow BMW driver Philipp Eng had to settle for seventh place in the race, and consequently drops from first to third in the Drivers’ Championship. MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso made a successful DTM debut, finishing a fine twelfth on his guest appearance.

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “It was a remarkable DTM race. Nobody would have believed that you could complete virtually a whole race on one set of Hankook race tyres in these high temperatures. Marco Wittmann showed emphatically that the Hankook slick allows all kinds of tactics if managed well. René Rast was faster on his fresher set of Hankook tyres at the end of the race, but Marco was able to hold onto the lead through to the finish. The appearance of the safety car obviously helped him, but it was still a fantastic drive.” 

Marco Wittmann (BMW): “Our risky strategy of taking the mandatory pit stop on the opening lap, definitely benefitted from the safety car being deployed. It was obviously extremely difficult to do 38 laps on one set of tyres in these high temperatures. However, the Hankook slick held up very well and the balance was excellent, so I always felt comfortable and was able to manage the tyre well. I obviously had to fight a little at the end, but that is to be expected with the tyre under so much strain for so long. I am really happy with this win.”

René Rast (Audi): “I had absolutely no problems with the Hankook race tyre throughout the entire race, even in these tough conditions here in Misano. There was simply no way of predicting that Marco would be able to drive so fast for so long on just one set of tyres. I am very happy, as I am to be leading the Drivers’ Championship.”

Loic Duval (Audi): “The Hankook tyre worked well in the heat, particularly in the third sector with the fast corners, which really puts stress on the slick. The tyres were very consistent, as you could see with Marco, who drove practically the entire race on one set. We struggled a little with the stability of our rear axle, but I am very happy with this podium.”

Ferdinand von Habsburg (Aston Martin): “It is fun to drive on the Hankook tyre, as it holds up very well, even in difficult conditions. I was surprised how consistent it was in the heat here in Misano, as I pushed really hard. I had no option but to risk the fact that the tyre may wear a little towards the end of the race after such an early pit stop. However, it was a race that I will remember for a long time.”

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

all press releases

Downloads

Marco Wittmann takes spectacular win in the heat of Misano

Marco Wittmann (GER) (BMW Team RMG - BMW M4 DTM) freut sich über seinen Sieg beim DTM-Lauf auf dem Misano World Circuit (ITA). Copyright Thomas Pakusch

File size: 5 MB

Marco Wittmann takes spectacular win in the heat of Misano

Zieldurchfahrt von Marco Wittmann (GER) (BMW Team RMG - BMW M4 DTM) beim DTM-Lauf auf dem Misano World Circuit (ITA). Copyright Thomas Pakusch

File size: 2 MB

Marco Wittmann takes spectacular win in the heat of Misano

DTM-Lauf auf dem Misano World Circuit (ITA). Copyright Thomas Pakusch

File size: 957 KB

Marco Wittmann takes spectacular win in the heat of Misano

Jonathan Aberdein (ZAF) (WRT Team Audi Sport - Audi RS5 DTM) beim DTM-Lauf auf dem Misano World Circuit (ITA). Copyright Thomas Pakusch

File size: 2 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

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-172

Subscribe to the Hankook press releases