Modern DTM - for once it was like the old days again!
We don't normally report on current cars and modern racing events, but what the DTM offered on Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Hockenheim was absolutely first class and therefore deserves a blog here, as it was reminiscent of the glory days of yesteryear.
It had long been clear that the races would get better with less aerodynamics. The lap-long duel between Timo Glock in the BMW and Gary Paffett in the Mercedes literally swept the spectators off their feet. In Moto GP style, they took turns at the front and at times, like Villeneuve and Arnoux at the 1979 French GP in Dijon, they drove side by side for kilometers through several combinations of corners. always fair, but very close to the limit.
Thanks to this gigantic duel, the other drivers were able to close the gap on the front runners, so that Mike Rockenfeller in the Audi was even able to snatch second place in the end. It wasn't just the final laps that got the spectators off their plastic seats, they were already screaming wildly from the grandstands during the duel, reminiscent of the great races of yesteryear.
The 37-year-old Englishman Gary Paffett declared after the race: "I love Timo (Glock), that was incredible. We both could have backed off at any point and taken second place. We knew that we would be caught by the other at some point, but neither of us wanted to give up. Third place is ultimately disappointing for me, but it was worth it. That was the best race I've ever driven. A duel for victory like that is absolutely sensational."
Glock showed nerves of steel and finally completely lost it on the radio after the race: "That was the craziest race I've ever driven. Mercedes, you're totally stupid to leave this championship!"
Sebastian Vettel also congratulated Timo after the race and said: "What you did there was absolutely brilliant." It really was.
The emotions also got completely out of hand in the parc fermé. Track announcers, mechanics and team members were literally freaking out. This is exactly how motorsport should be. And once again it became clear that less is more, because the less aerodynamics there are on the cars, the more "racing" can be expected. Nobody asks about lap times in such thrilling duels. Even if they had been well over ten seconds slower than last year, the current race was clearly the better one.
Keep it up!
