A successful DTM return to the UK: the eleventh DTM race of the season at the long Grand Prix version of the Brands Hatch circuit saw Daniel Juncadella secure his maiden race win in the popular touring car series.
Having started from pole position, the Spaniard put in a faultless race and crossed the victory line as the undisputed winner with a margin of 7.896 seconds after 41 laps.
"This is a victory we have all scored together," he hailed his pit crew over the radio. "Really, really cool. Winning in the DTM is something very special."
Augusto Farfus came second in the race on Saturday with his BMW M4 DTM from Lucas Auer with another Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM.
Meanwhile, things initially didn’t look too good for race winner Juncadella after the start. “I had problems getting away and I lost two places,” the Spaniard explained. “Then, I just looked ahead. It was like in qualifying, I only backed off a bit during the last five laps.”
For the Mercedes-AMG driver, it is his first win in his 67th DTM race. A few weeks ago, he scored his maiden podium finish by coming third at the Norisring.
Another driver who had reason to celebrate was BMW’s Augusto Farfus. After 825 days, the Brazilian finally took part in a prize-giving ceremony again. Farfus’s last podium finish to date was his second place in the 2016 season finale at Hockenheim. The BMW driver benefited from his track knowledge.
“That helped me a lot. I have already done some races here and Brands Hatch has always been friendly to me,” he said. “I am so happy to be back on the podium. Today, we will enjoy the day and tomorrow, I want to repeat this.”
Unlike Farfus, Lucas Auer raced at the long circuit for the first time. “The track is very difficult and demanding. Second in qualifying and third in the race is okay.”
In the DTM drivers’ standings after eleven races, three Mercedes-AMG drivers lock out the first three places. Gary Paffett remains first, having been able to extend his points’ lead with his sixth-place finish and now has a total of 156. Paul Di Resta is second with 121 points from Lucas Auer, who moved up from sixth to third and has 106 points. Tied on points (101) are Edoardo Mortara and Timo Glock in fourth and fifth place from Marco Wittmann (100).
