- Pit stop strategy is key: Wanner wins with right tactics
- Double podium for Porsche: Houben and Ottaviani in second and third place
- Next event on 1st August at the Sachsenring
Munich. The title race in the DTM eSports Championship continues to pick up pace. With two races remaining until the grand finale at the Nürburgring, the field is closer than ever. With only the top 20 sim racers qualifying for the on-site showdown, every single point is fiercely contested.
Jonas Wanner (Alpha One by SX) made a big statement in Oschersleben. The BMW driver employed a perfect strategy and produced a flawless drive to claim his first win of the season and, in doing so, move to the top of the overall standings. However, Alessandro Ottaviani (Dörr eSports by SX) and Niklas Houben (Team Nitro) remain hot on his heels and complete the leading group in the championship.
Jarschel makes furious start
Alessandro Ottaviani and Tim Jarschel (Falken Simracing Team) set the early pace in qualifying, and secured their places on the front row of the grid. Lucas Müller (Falken Simracing Team) qualified third, ahead of Wanner, Tobias Gronewald (Team Nitro) and Houben. When the lights went out, Jarschel once again showed his strength. As at the Norisring, he made a perfect start and had moved into the lead by the time they reached turn one. Ottaviani slotted in behind him, followed by Müller and Wanner.
What then developed on the tight track at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben was the anticipated game of patience. The leading group remained tightly bunched, but overtaking manoeuvres were in short supply. It soon became clear that the race would not be decided on the track, but in the pit lane.
Wanner strikes at the right moment
This was precisely where Wanner laid the foundations for his eventual success. He was one of the first of the leading drivers to come into the pits when the window opened. The strategy immediately paid off. By the time Jarschel and Ottaviani had completed their first mandatory stop, Wanner had already worked his way up to second place. The second pit stop was even more decisive. Wanner and Ottaviani again reacted early, while Jarschel stayed out for one lap longer. However, a skid upon entering the pit lane resulted in the Audi driver losing valuable time, and he subsequently fell behind his two rivals. Houben opted for an alternative strategy and delayed his second mandatory pit stop for several laps. The risk paid off: the Porsche driver rejoined the race in third place, forcing Jarschel off the podium.
Houben produces the highlight in the closing stages
The final phase of the race did produce a rare overtaking manoeuvre. Houben put Ottaviani under pressure for several laps, and spotted the all-important gap with roughly five minutes of the race remaining. He passed the Italian on the start/finish straight to take second place. Out in front, there was no denying Wanner victory in his BMW, and he claimed a commanding win ahead of Houben and Ottaviani. Jarschel had to settle for fourth. However, that was sufficient to defend fourth place in the overall standings.
In contrast, it was a disappointing race for the previous championship leader, Tomás Ribeiro (privateer). 16th place saw the Portuguese surrender his lead and drop back to ninth place in the table.
The title race continues to come to a head. On 1st August, the DTM eSports Championship is at the Sachsenring. Round five of the season is also the final opportunity to claim one of the sought-after top 20 places for the grand finale at the Nürburgring. When the drivers arrive there, they will all be starting from scratch again.
Quotes after the race
Jonas Wanner (Alpha One by SX): “Qualifying put us in a good position. I did not think that we would be in the top four. It could not have gone better. The pit stops were perfectly planned in the race. I was then fortunate that the gap behind me grew a little. The BMW can keep the tyres alive a little better than the Audi and Porsche. In Oschersleben, you have to come up with the right strategy, as you do not get many opportunities to overtake. I am speechless that I won.”
Niklas Houben (Team Nitro): “That was a tough race. I was struggling with the handling prior to the event, and am pleased that I somehow got it together in qualifying. I knew it would be good with the Porsche in the race, as we are able to keep pace. However, it is very difficult to overtake on this narrow track. We then tried to solve that problem with our strategy. I actually had to come in a little earlier, because of the lapped cars. As a result, I came out in third place. I was then able to take Ottaviani and show that I had the pace. Everything is reset for the finale at the Nürburgring. This here is actually just the warm-up.”
Tim Jarschel (Falken Simracing Team): “The Audi is generally at a disadvantage when it comes to tyre wear in Oschersleben. I reacted immediately to Jonas, but lost the rear a little on the way into the pit lane. I must have lost half a second to a second there. To be honest, I still question whether I would have been able to hold onto the lead for the full distance anyway. The Sachsenring is also very demanding on the tyres. As such, I am expecting another difficult race there. A place in the top five would be a good result – it will be tough against the BMW.”