Jarschel leads the DTM eSports Championship at the halfway point

• Race day three of the DTM eSports Championship at the Lausitzring
• Rietveld and Wisniewski claim victories

Munich. Three of the six race days in the 2024 DTM eSports Championship powered by raceroom are in the books, and Tim Jarschel (Falken Simracing Team) goes into the second half of the season as championship leader. The Falken Simracing driver is this year’s surprise package and has had his nose in front since the start of the season. The first half of the season drew to a close at the Lausitzring last Friday, and third and fourth place could almost be seen as something of a disappointment for Jarschel. The race wins at the virtual Lausitzring on the third of six race days went to other drivers. The sprint race was won by Jeffrey Rietveld (Team Redline), ahead of Gianmarco Fiduci (Veloce Esports) and Enzo Bonito (Team Redline). In the main race, Nikodem Wisniewski (G2 Esports) celebrated his second win of the season. Rietveld came home second, ahead of Jarschel.

First win of the season for Rietveld
Qualifying saw Rietveld secure pole position for the first time this season, ahead of his team-mate Bonito. Rietveld then got away best in the flying start to the sprint race, and led coming out of turn one. Fiduci moved to the inside from fifth place and was able to climb into second place ahead of Bonito. After a turbulent start, things quietened down at the front of the field. As such, Rietveld went on to claim his first win of the season. Fiduci was runner-up, ahead of Bonito. Jarschel, who started from seventh place, finished fourth to pick up more valuable points.

Wisniewski – all or nothing
The main protagonists from the sprint race were out in front again in the second qualifying session: pole position went to Wisniewski, ahead of Jarschel. The Team Redline trio of Rietveld, Kevin Siggy and Bonito slotted in behind the two Porsche. Wisniewski took the lead at the start, while Jarschel lost a position and found himself third behind Rietveld. Siggy followed in fourth place, ahead of Löhner, who made a good start from tenth place.

Once the pit stop window opened, the top three came in at different times over the next three laps for their tyre change. However, the positions remained the same and Wisniewski continued to lead the way, followed by Rietveld and Jarschel. Even in the closing laps he refused to surrender this position, and ultimately took the chequered flag ahead of Rietveld and Jarschel.

As well as his second victory of the season, Wisniewski also won the Fastest Lap Award with a time of 1:21.367 minutes. Together with Rietveld, he also gained a place in the battle for the Pole Position Award. Jarschel currently has his nose ahead in this competition, with three fastest laps in qualifying.
 
Jeffrey Rietveld: “The qualifyings and races went well today. Unfortunately, I was not fast enough to catch Nikodem in the second race. I am taking it one race at a time and trying to be consistent. We’ll see where I end up at the end of the season. I am looking forward to the Sachsenring. However, I still have a lot of practice ahead of me if I am going to be successful there.”

Nikodem Wisniewski: “I have mixed feelings about this race day. There were issues, which meant I could not take part in the first qualifying session. I was then able to show what I am capable of in race two. To make matters worse, my steering wheel broke yesterday and I had to borrow one. However, I am happy at the moment and hope that my bad luck is over now.”

Tim Jarschel: “The first qualifying did not go to plan. Fourth place in the race was damage limitation. I completely messed up the start of race two. However, I then benefitted from the contact between Siggy and Fiduci in turn one, and climbed into third place.”

The drivers now take a two-week Easter break before the fourth race day of the 2024 DTM eSports Championship. Enough time for the competitors to prepare for the races at the demanding Sachsenring at 19:15 on 5th April 2024.