Robert Wickens captured his first DTM victory of the season as he led home Paul di Resta for a Mercedes 1-2 in the second race of the weekend at the Nürburgring.
Wickens held only fourth position during the first stint but profited when Lucas Auer spun through Turn 5 and opted to make his pit stop before leaders Paul di Resta and Marco Wittmann.
Di Resta had snatched the lead from Wittmann but the reigning champion fought back, completing a successful pass on his second attempt into Turn 1.
Wickens’ earlier stop enabled him to overhaul di Resta, who was skewered by a slow service, while he dived up the inside of Wittmann soon after to take the net lead.
Wittmann bided his time and nine laps later launched an attack on Wickens into Turn 1; the pair made contact as Wickens stayed ahead, after which the BMW driver faded.
Di Resta breezed past Wittmann and charged up to the back of Wickens, though the Canadian racer held on to cross the line 0.3s clear.
Wittmann held off Bruno Spengler to finish on the podium, ahead of Maro Engel and Mattias Ekström, who increased his title advantage to nine points on a day in which the primary title protagonists failed to take the top positions.
Jamie Green finished seventh, keeping his championship hopes alive, while Timo Glock, Augusto Farfus and Tom Blomqvist rounded out the top 10.
Auer, following his spin, trailed home in 13th position, behind title rival Rene Rast.
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