Rast tops the table after win number three of the season

René Rast (Bregenz/Schubert Motorsport) moved to the top of the DTM table for the first time this season in Austria. The BMW driver dominated the 13th race of the season on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, taking the chequered flag as the winner after 38 laps.

"Coming into the weekend, I did not imagine I had the greatest chance of winning the title - and now I am leading the championship. That feels huge. One race can change everything in the DTM. The team played a big part in this win, thanks to the outstanding pit stop. We delivered under pressure - that is what it is all about," said Rast, whose third win of the season catapulted him from seventh place to the top of the table.

Team-mate Marco Wittmann (Fürth) came home second to complete a one-two for BMW. Thierry Vermeulen (NL/Emil Frey Racing) finished third in the Ferrari 296 GT3 and stepped onto the podium for the second time this season. His team-mate Jack Aitken was unlucky: the British driver was running a comfortable second for much of the race, but then made a mistake on the final lap and skidded off the track. As a result, he missed out on top spot in the table. This result makes the title race an even closer affair, with just 15 points separating the top eight drivers.

Rast started Saturday afternoon's race at the Red Bull Ring from second place and wasted little time launching his assault on the top of the table. He overtook three-time champion and pole-sitter Wittmann on lap two, before consistently extending his lead. Aitken, who came into the race in second place in standings and was also on course for the top of the table, followed in third place. The Brit was the first of the leading trio to come in for new Pirelli slicks on lap 15. That tactic paid dividends. Aitken was able to overtake Wittmann, who, on cold rubber after a later tyre change, was powerless to resist the Ferrari driver.

Race leader Rast benefitted from a fast pit stop to rejoin the race in the lead on lap 19. He was then able to control the pace from that point on. Behind Rast, Aitken and Wittmann, Vermeulen had recovered from a poor start to sit fourth, followed by his team-mate Ben Green (GB). While there were plenty of fierce battles and overtaking manoeuvres further down the field, the top five positions seemed set in stone. However, Aitken lost control of his Ferrari on the final lap and skidded off the track. That mistake, after which he was unable to rejoin the race, cost him what looked like a certain lead in the championship. Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing) benefitted from Aitken's retirement and finished fifth, behind Rast, Wittmann, Vermeulen and Green.

Thomas Preining (A/Manthey EMA) produced an impressive fightback. The local favourite finished sixth after making up ten places in his Porsche 911 GT3 R. Jordan Pepper (ZA/TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) also battled back well, climbing eight positions to finish seventh. Jules Gounon (F/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) overcame a technical issue to end the race in eighth place. Gilles Magnus (B/Comtoyou Racing) dropped from third to ninth place in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Luca Engstler (Kempten/TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) completed the top ten in race 13 of the season.

Marco Wittmann: "The crew and I did a super job, both in the race and with the pole position in qualifying. I obviously feel for Jack Aitken. To come off on the final lap whilst on course for the podium - you wouldn't wish that on anyone, even if we did benefit from it in this case."

Thierry Vermeulen: "Third place was a surprise to me. I lost a few places at the start, but was then able to work my way back into fourth place. I then got a bit lucky at the end, although it was very bad luck for Jack Aitken. Despite this, I am pleased we managed to get a podium for the team. They definitely deserve it after that race."

Results are HERE