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Marco Wittmann has hauled himself back into the DTM title race. The German put his #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO on top at the Sachsenring on Saturday. It was the 21st DTM win of his career. It was also BMW M Motorsport’s first-ever victory at the tight Saxon circuit.
The triumph came from pole, and few saw it coming. The Sachsenring has rarely flattered BMW machinery. Yet the 36-year-old topped Saturday morning qualifying for his first pole of the season. He converted it cleanly and led the field home. Teammate Kelvin van der Linde brought the #3 Shell BMW M4 GT3 EVO across the line in fourth.
Sunday flipped the script. Rain lashed qualifying and scrambled the order. Van der Linde lined up seventh. Wittmann could manage only 19th. Both drivers then went to work. Wittmann carved through the pack and into the top ten. Van der Linde ran fifth and eyed the podium.
A late safety car restart undid the South African. A rival clattered into him and ended his run. He was classified 18th, another harsh result in a bruising campaign. Wittmann kept his head down and gained 13 places to take sixth. That haul lifted him to third in the standings.
The two-time champion now heads to the Hockenheim finale just 24 points off the lead. His 2014 and 2016 crowns prove he can close a season out. BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos hailed the recovery drive and the team’s sharp strategy calls. Schubert Motorsport sit third in the team table. Mathematically, everything is still on the cards.
