Like Spengler, BMW racers Marco Wittmann, Timo Glock, Martin Tomcyzk, and Andy Priaulx finished out of the points. Wittmann, Glock, and Tomczyk were fifteenth through seventeenth and Priaulx was twentieth.
Competition in Moscow began with an unusual qualifying session; the Q4 shootout for the pole among the fastest four drivers was canceled because of closed air space. Russian president Vladimir Putin’s private plane was to fly near the facility, so air traffic was shut down. This meant that the track’s medical helicopter was grounded, so it could not respond if it was needed. The top of the grid was set by Q3 times, placing Rockenfeller on the pole ahead of fellow Audi racer Mattias Ekstrom, Farfus, and Spengler.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt said, “We are happy to be back on the podium after the last two difficult races. Furthermore, we had another two BMW M3 DTMs in the top ten. It was a great race from Augusto Farfus. Joey Hand and Dirk Werner were also in very good form. In contrast, Bruno Spengler’s race was over before it really got started after the collision with Miguel Molina, which was no fault of Bruno’s. That is a real shame. We hope this incident will not have a bigger impact on the Drivers’ Championship over the course of the season and will be looking to make up ground in the next race at the Nürburgring. Congratulations to Rocky and Audi on their deserved victory. Congratulations also to the organizers, who put on a very successful event in front of packed grandstands and 45,000 thrilled Russian fans. We felt very much at home here and would be more than happy to return.”
The series runs on the 3.6 kilometer circuit at the Nürburgring on August 18.—Brian S. Morgan
