DTM-C2: Jamie Green tames Zandvoort

His last victory in the German touring car championship dates back to the Hockenheim final in 2015. On the Dutch track of Zandvoort, Jamie Green (Audi) dominated the second day, after taking pole position in qualifying.

Author of a good start, the British driver will initially resist his compatriot Gary Paffett (Mercedes), offensive in the first meters until the first Tarzan corner. The fight will then concentrate between Green and Robert Wickens (Mercedes), the latter having got the better of Gary Paffett. The trio does not let go until the first passages through the pits.

The two leaders decided to enter the pits at the same time, Green maintaining his position against the Canadian. Passing through the pit lane, one lap later, Gary Paffett was unable to gain an advantage over his two rivals.

After the pit stops, Green will benefit from the indirect help of René Rast (Audi) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) to open up a small gap on his immediate pursuer. Nothing will disturb anymore the progression of the reigning vice-champion, who won with more than nine seconds ahead of Gary Paffett, and signs his first victory on this track.

The ART driver took advantage of the mishap five minutes from time, hitting the Mercedes clan with Robert Wickens, then second, going off-course following an apparent puncture. Another puncture on the front left will affect the AMG C 63 of Christian Vietoris who will be forced to retire. These two avatars will allow Edoardo Mortara (Audi) to get onto the podium.

Marco Wittmann (BMW) took fourth place ahead of Nico Müller (Audi), Timo Glock (BMW), Mattias Ekström (Audi) and Paul di Resta (Mercedes). Lucas Auer (Mercedes) enters the top 10 after getting the better of Martin Tomczyk (BMW) just over 10' from the finish, following a superb overtake on the M4 driver DTM outside the first turn. Tom Blomqvist (BMW) takes 10th place.

A leading time in the event thanks to the leaders' stops, Esteban Ocon, qualified eighth, finished in 18th position, just ahead of René Rast, called to replace Adrien Tambay at Audi, the Frenchman still suffering from his hand after the incident at the start of race 1.

With this success, Jamie Green returns to second position in the championship, with 98 points, behind Marco Wittmann, still leader with 105 points.

Results Race 2

Find the full report of the Zandvoort DTM meeting, produced by our special correspondent in the Netherlands, in issue 2072 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.