Philipp Eng has scored his first DTM win during the first race of the weekend at Zolder, in a race that was significantly altered by a mid-race safety car.
In the early stages, the top trio of Bruno Spengler, Rene Rast and Marco Wittmann looked set for a three-way fight with Spengler leading after a stunning start from third on the grid. But when both Daniel Juncadella and Jake Dennis stopped on track almost simultaneously, the leading trio were caught out by safety car as they had not yet made their mandatory pitstops.
In the chaos that followed, Eng made his way to the front and was able to claim the lead when Robin Frijns received a five second stop and go penalty for a jump start. The Austrian was then able to hold off Joel Eriksson and Nico Muller to claim his first DTM victory.
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“I am probably the happiest person in the world," said Eng. "I’m so glad to be in the DTM, so happy to be racing for BMW.
"Winning is simply fantastic. This is the scenario I’ve always dreamt of. However, reality is much better than the dream by far – although the last five, six laps felt as long as a 24-hour race!
"There was some luck involved as well, but I reckon we deserved this win. I dedicate this victory to my mentor Charly Lamm."
Rene Rast, who had taken a miraculous win at the second race in Hockenheim, did not finish after retiring with a mechanical issue. Pole sitter Wittmann finished seventh, behind the podium sitters as well as Loic Duval, Mike Rockenfeller and Jamie Green.
The pair of Aston Martins of Paul di Resta and Ferdinand Habsburg took eighth and ninth, ahead of Bruno Spengler, who finished tenth. The field was completed by Sheldon van der Linde, Frijns, Timo Glock and Pietro Fittipaldi. Jonathan Auberdein joined Rast, Juncadella and Dennis as he also retired following a clash with Mike Rockenfeller, damaging his front-right bodywork.
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