Latest news with #ReneRast
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How BMW's "scary" performance led to DTM Nurburgring 1-2
BMW dominated the second Nurburgring DTM race with Rene Rast taking victory ahead of Schubert team-mate Marco Wittmann, as its rivals had no answer to its performance: 'It was a bit scary with the top speed machines I had around me,' smiled third-placed Landgraf Mercedes driver Lucas Auer. The DTM leader started from second but had to admit defeat to Rast after just four laps: 'I saw Rene, he was closing in so quickly. So, I defended once and then the second time he basically just overtook me fair and square.' Read Also: DTM Nurburgring: Rene Rast bolts to victory, Lucas Auer regains points lead Rast and BMW's overall performance took most by surprise – including the driver himself. 'I don't know [where the performance came from], to be honest. If I knew, we would do the same every race,' Rast said. 'But I could already feel in the formation lap that the car was connected like it has never been before on this track this weekend. 'So I went for the attack. I passed five cars in the first couple of laps and still pulled away, which was even surprising to me. I was hoping for a podium, but I wasn't expecting a victory - and such a dominant one as well.' However, Wittmann was unsure why he was not able to make equally-strong progress in the first stint: 'Somehow I struggled with tyre performance and couldn't really keep up with the leading group.' Marco Wittmann, Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 But team boss Torsten Schubert had an explanation. 'It was simply due to his position, because Marco was stuck in traffic. He always had cars in front of him, and when you can't drive freely, you naturally have a problem,' he told sister website 'Otherwise, they were already doing well in terms of pace, and Marco also said that he had a great car. It depends on the situation. When you're stuck behind someone for a few laps and have to try to fight your way past, it's not that easy.' 'That was also the main reason why we decided to stop early to put on the second set [of tyres],' added Wittmann, alluding to his strategy, as he undercut several drivers and moved up to third, directly behind Auer. 'In the end, the gap was slightly too big, because once I was close to him [Auer], his tyres were warm already. So I knew there was only a chance maybe at the second pitstop, although he opened up the gap.' But the BMW driver was gifted second place when Auer got held up in his second pitstop due to a problem with his Mercedes. Out in front, Rast had already built up a lead of almost 10 seconds, which was not only due to the favorable Balance of Performance, but also down to an incident on Saturday. In the accident that caused the first race to be red-flagged, Rast had damaged both front rims in a collision with Mirko Bortolotti's Abt Lamborghini. Watch: 2025 DTM - Round 5 - Nürburgring: Race 1 highlights 'We had several broken rims yesterday and were allowed to take the set of tyres from free practice during the red flag,' team boss Schubert explained. 'The regulations allow this set to be used in such cases. We were able to save the tyres, only the rims were damaged.' Read Also: DTM Nurburgring: Jack Aitken wins red-flagged race to take points lead It meant that the two undamaged front tyres, which Rast was allowed to change during Saturday's interruption, were remounted on intact rims overnight and available again to be used on Sunday. 'That was certainly an advantage for the race today. It meant we could put a very good set of tyres on Rene's car. And you could see that Gounon and Engel also had new tyres from yesterday, but when you're stuck in traffic, there's nothing you can do,' Schubert concluded. To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DTM Nurburgring: Jack Aitken wins red-flagged race to take points lead
Emil Frey Ferrari driver Jack Aitken has taken a commanding victory in the DTM's first Nurburgring race to become the 2025 championship's new leader. Aitken converted pole into the lead at the start of the race, as an incident between Rene Rast and Mirko Bortolotti caused the latter's retirement, while the former had to change his front tyres. Chaos ensued in the following corners with Maro Engel and Thierry Vermeulen colliding; the Dutchman was spun around and dropped to the back of the field, and Engel got three penalty laps. Another incident involved Morris Schuring and his team-mate Ayhancan Guven on lap 2, with Guven spinning out of the race – which was red-flagged due to debris, as well as coolant from Bortolotti's car. Aitken kept the lead from Luca Engstler, Ben Green and Lucas Auer as the race restarted behind the safety car. A small mistake from Engstler allowed Green through, with the two Emil Frey Ferrari drivers creating a two-second gap at the front. They also waited the longest for pitstops, and Green was overcut by Ricardo Feller, who was 11th on the grid, and Marco Wittmann. Feller even attacked Aitken; he overtook the Briton around the outside, made a mistake, then passed him again. Meanwhile, Green forcefully took third place away from Wittmann, which earned him a warning. Ricardo Feller, Land Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 Feller struggled with oversteer endured late-race pressure from both Aitken and Green, who easily passed him, as well as Wittmann and Jordan Pepper, whose battle saved the Swiss driver's podium finish; Pepper prevailed for fourth. 'It was a very enjoyable battle, one I honestly didn't expect,' Aitken told when asked about his duel with Feller. 'We came out of the pits, had a stop that was okay – not the best – and then I saw Ricci in my mirrors. At that moment I thought: 'Oh man, this is going to be really tough'. We had a great fight.' Auer came sixth ahead of Rast, Engstler, Ben Doerr and Thomas Preining. Aitken now leads the DTM standings with a 10-point advantage over Auer, with Pepper in third. The second race of the Nurburgring weekend will start at 1:30pm local time on Sunday. DTM Nurburgring Race 1 results To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rene Rast's "headache" required serious care after Zandvoort DTM win
Schubert BMW driver Rene Rast hit his head just before the second DTM race of the Zandvoort weekend, it has been revealed, turning what looked like a relaxed Sunday drive through the dunes into a feat of strength for his 29th career DTM victory. "Yes, I have a headache," confirmed the three-time DTM champion in an interview with ran after the race, though he downplayed the situation: "You really have to concentrate and keep your thoughts together, block out the pain. I took two painkillers before the start." Advertisement However, over the course of the podium ceremony, Rast's symptoms worsened. He complained of discomfort, dizziness, and even tingling in his fingers. "It was a very difficult race physically. I had a lot of head pain. Also, my fingers are still tingling, so it wasn't easy, but yeah, we made it." Next race: Le Mans Following the podium ceremony, Rast was initially treated in an ambulance. However, instead of attending the press conference, the race winner was taken directly to the medical center for further examinations of his head and cervical spine (neck). Because options at the track were limited, Rast was transferred to a hospital in Haarlem. A CT scan was scheduled there to rule out possible injuries to the cervical spine, a BMW spokesperson confirmed to Race winner René Rast, Schubert Motorsport Race winner René Rast, Schubert Motorsport Alexander Trienitz Alexander Trienitz Advertisement understands the incident occurred roughly 10 minutes before the race started, when Rast had gone to use the restroom one last time. While stepping over the pitwall, the BMW driver is said to have struck his head hard on the railing. Even team principal Torsten Schubert was unaware of the situation: 'I didn't know anything until the podium. Only after the podium.' Marco Wittmann, who had even put pressure on his BMW team-mate in the final phase of the race, was also unaware of Rast's health issues. 'No, I'm actually surprised, so I'll definitely check in to see what's going on,' said the runner-up, who was still completely in the dark during the press conference: 'I didn't notice him having any problems, so maybe it happened during the race.' Advertisement Following last night's examinations, Rast was released from hospital and is now able to make his way to Le Mans, where he'll drive the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 alongside Robin Frijns and Sheldon van der Linde in the Hypercar class this week. "Quick update: got released from hospital this evening," the German wrote on Instagram last night. "No injuries detected which means I am ready to go to Le Mans tomorrow. "Just before today's DTM race start, I hit my head quite heavily which lead to some pain and dizziness. The medical team took precautions and sent me to a hospital for checks. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for all your messages." To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DTM Zandvoort: Rene Rast takes lights-to-flag win
Team Schubert driver Rene Rast took a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the second DTM race of the Zandvoort round. The polesitter was challenged by his team-mate Marco Wittmann in the final stages of the race but held on to secure the win, with the BMW drivers consistently faster than their rivals. Advertisement 'We made up for yesterday's blunder and I'm super happy,' Rast told ran jubilantly. 'It wasn't easy, not even for me – mentally and physically, it was a tough race inside the car.' 'I was clearly faster towards the end, I could attack, but it just wasn't enough,' Wittmann grinned, having taken second place from Jack Aitken at the start. 'We all know that among drivers from the same brand, you may not always go for that final one percent. I believe today the team result was really important, and with that, we can certainly be very satisfied.' Marco Wittmann, Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Marco Wittmann, Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Alexander Trienitz Alexander Trienitz Advertisement Unlike Saturday, the weather remained dry, and there were very few incidents of note in the race. Grasser Lamborghini driver Jordan Pepper suffered a puncture in a first-lap scramble and eventually retired. Thomas Preining and Aitken battled for the final spot on the podium, with the Porsche driver prevailing. Maro Engel finished fifth, leading Luca Engstler, Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, Mirko Bortolotti and Arjun Maini. Landgraf Mercedes racer Auer has maintained his lead in the drivers' championship, with Rast up to second with a 16-point deficit. Saturday race winner Ayhancan Guven now shares third position with Jules Gounon. The next DTM round will take place on 4-6 July at the only street circuit on the calendar – the Norisring, in Nuremberg. To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DTM Lausitzring: Lucas Auer dominates to win opener from Maro Engel
Lucas Auer has taken his second win of the DTM season as he dominated the opener at the Lausitzring ahead of Maro Engel. Rene Rast darted from fifth on the grid to complete the podium for Schubert BMW in third, ahead of Jules Gounon, Marco Wittmann and Thomas Preining. Advertisement Landgraf Mercedes driver Auer led from the start while Ricardo Feller lost second place to Engel, but in the midfield there was chaos involving several drivers, as Morris Schuring sustained heavy damage to the front of his Manthey Porsche and Luca Engstler was also forced out early for Grasser Lamborghini. After a brief safety car period, Auer maintained the lead ahead of Engel, Rast and Feller. While numerous midfield drivers made early pitstops, the leading group stretched their first stint, with Engel pulling off an overcut on Auer to take the lead. But it wasn't to last as Auer, whose tyres reached the optimal temperature, quickly regained the lead, while Feller dropped out of the running with a mechanic issue with his Audi. Ricardo Feller, Land Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 Ricardo Feller, Land Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 Alexander Trienitz Alexander Trienitz Advertisement Auer kept Engel at bay for the remainder of the race to take his second win of the season and regain the championship lead. Further back, Jack Aitken took seventh place with his Emil Frey Ferrari, in front of Manthey Porsche driver Ayhancan Guven, who celebrated his first DTM win back at Oschersleben. Ben Dorr (Dorr McLaren) and Ben Green (Emil Frey Ferrari) complete the top 10. The second DTM race at the Lausitzring takes place on Sunday at 1:30pm local time, with two pitstops per driver mandatory. DTM Lausitzring - Race 1 results Results to follow To read more articles visit our website.
