DTM champion Marco Wittmann in the BMW Team RMG M4 finished fifth in the series’ season finale at Hockenheim. Two additional BMW racers finished in the top ten; Martin Tomczyk was seventh and António Félix da Costa was ninth. Augusto Farfus, who had qualified fourth and run in the top group during much of the race, fell back after his car was hit by Mercedes' Robert Wickens with just two laps remaining.
Mattias Ekstrom led a trio of Audis to a podium sweep; Mike Rockenfeller finished second and Jamie Green finished third. Audi racers Timo Scheider (sixth) and Miguel Molina (ninth) also finished in the points. Audi’s performance propelled the marque to the manufacturers’ championship, denying BMW its third straight title. Marco Wittmann and Team RMG had already clinched the drivers’ and team championships for BMW.
It was the second consecutive win of the season for Ekstrom, whose option tires gave him an edge late in the race. He and Rockenfeller, also on options, passed Green, who finished on standard tires, for the lead with two laps remaining after the only safety car period in the race. Tire choice will not be a factor in DTM race wins in 2015; DTM has announced that only one tire compound will be used next year.
The other five BMW racers finished out of the points. Timo Glock, who won the Hockenheim race last year, finished eleventh. Bruno Spengler was twelfth, Joey Hand was fifteenth, Farfus was sixteenth, and Maxime Martin exited the race with damage to the right rear of his car.
After the race Wickens was penalized for causing the incident with Farfus; Wickens was reclassified from eighth to seventeenth as a result. The standings for the BMW racers stated here reflect his reclassification.
BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt said, “That was a tough way to end what has otherwise been a magnificent season. Given the situation we found ourselves in after yesterday’s qualifying, we are pleased to have finished in the points with three cars. Try as we might, there was nothing more in it for us today. Marco Wittmann and Martin Tomczyk produced great displays, and António Félix da Costa also picked up a point (his later reclassification to ninth boosted the count to two points. ed.). This year is the first time since our comeback that we have not won the Manufacturers’ Championship. Despite this, we are obviously very happy with two of a possible three titles this season. We have now won six of the nine titles up for grabs since our return to the series in 2012, and have had the champion driver in our ranks on two occasions – that is a fantastic record. This evening we will celebrate the successful season together, before turning our attention to the preparations for next year tomorrow. I would like to thank all the fans, partners and sponsors again for their great support this season. And it goes without saying that a big thank you also goes to all the staff at BMW Motorsport and our teams, who have all played a part in this success. Congratulations to Mattias Ekström on his race win today, and to Audi on winning the Manufacturers’ title.”—Brian S. Morgan
