Joel Eriksson brought home another strong DTM result with fifth place in Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring, taking BMW’s best finish of the weekend in Austria.
Historically successful at the Spielberg venue with five single-seater wins to his name, Eriksson continued to deliver in fine style at the Austrian Grand Prix track on his first visit aboard DTM machinery.
The 20-year-old Swede led the way among the BMW six-car contingent in Sunday qualifying, going sixth overall, before again heading the efforts of the Bavarian squad in the race thanks to fifth place.
That marked BMW’s best result of the Spielberg meeting, with Eriksson ending up ten seconds behind race-winner René Rast (Audi).
Second place went to Audi’s Nico Müller, third to Gary Paffett (Mercedes) and fourth to Paul di Resta (Mercedes).
Timo Glock was the second-highest BMW finisher in seventh, beaten to the flag by Eriksson by five seconds.
“I’m pleased with my race and with the end result,” says Joel Eriksson. ”I think I maximised our package and while the changeable conditions made tyre strategies difficult this weekend, we eventually managed to do a good job. I’m happy to have delivered our best result of the weekend and to have bagged further points for myself and the team.”
In the opening race of the weekend on Saturday, also won by Rast, Eriksson finished 15th.
The Red Bull Ring event marked the penultimate round of the 2018 DTM season. The finale is staged, as per the regular tradition, at Hockenheim on 12-14 October.
RESULTS (top five)
DTM | Round 9
Red Bull Ring (Austria)
Race 1
1: René Rast (GER), Audi, 37 laps
2: Mike Rockenfeller (GER), Audi, +0.705s
3: Nico Müller (SUI), Audi, +0.887s
4: Paul di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, +1.153s
5: Jamie Green (GBR), Audi, +1.444s
—
15: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, +27.621s
Race 2
1: René Rast (GER), Audi, 40 laps
2: Nico Müller (SUI), Audi, +0.421s
3: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, +4.700s
4: Paul di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, +6.963s
5: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, +10.889s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)
DTM | After 18/20 races
1: Paul di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 229 p.
2: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 225 p.
3: René Rast (GER), Audi, 199 p.
4: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 143 p.
5: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 139 p.
—
13: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 70 p.
