Juncadella secures maiden win in the DTM

Daniel Juncadella leads at Brands Hatch

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport got the second half of the 2018 DTM season under way with a win and third place at the old-established Brands Hatch circuit. The man to beat today was Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS). The Spaniard first took his second pole position in the DTM in qualifying. In the race, he then went out on track to achieve his maiden win in the touring car series. This was Juncadella’s second podium of the year following his first DTM podium finish at the Norisring. His team-mate Lucas Auer in P3 joined him on the podium. This was the Austrian's fourth podium of the year and the tenth in his DTM career.

Daniel's performance this season is all the more impressive, as he injured his collarbone in practice before the beginning of the season. Not long after, at the start of April to be more precise, he was back in the cockpit of his Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM, test-driving at Hockenheim and busily posting laps. His crew then nicknamed him ‘titanium man’. And now, just four months later, our titanium man has become a member of the elite band of DTM race winners!

Daniel's maiden victory was the 188th win for the brand with the three-pointed star in the DTM and the seventh this season. Daniel ensured that a Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM started on pole for the seventh time in a row this season. So far this year, a driver from the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team has lined up in the top spot on the grid in nine out of the eleven races held this year. With the two podiums achieved by Daniel and Lucas, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport have now increased our record of podiums to 555 since first joining the DTM with a works team 30 years ago.

A strong result by the team was rounded off by Gary Paffett (Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS), Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS) and Edoardo Mortara (SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport) in the new ‘watermelon pink’ design, who finished sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS) was 16th in his home race.

Gary on 156 points continues to lead the DTM drivers' standings. He is 35 points up on Paul in second place (121 points). Lucas (106 points) and Edoardo (101 points) complete the Top Four overall. In the constructors' championship, Mercedes-AMG (610 points) are in first place with a lead of 222 points on BMW (388 points). The two teams from Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS (227 points) and SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport (207 points) head the team rankings.

Looking ahead to race 2: The twelfth round of the 2018 DTM season starts on Sunday at 14:30 CEST (live on SAT.1 at 14:00 CEST). Third practice will take place before that at 11:00 CEST followed by the second qualifying at 12:20 CEST. During each race weekend, we will provide live timing data, live commentary, fan voting and exclusive behind-the-scenes videos of the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team on our website at: www.mercedes-amg-motorsport.com/dtm.

Comments after the race

Daniel Juncadella (26, Spain)

“Today is a big day for me. The start was a bit disappointing, as I lost two places. But then the guys were absolutely mega at the pit stop. Thanks to them, I re-emerged in front and had very good pace from then on. I treated the race like it was a qualifying session until the last five laps and pushed hard on every one of them. Then, on the final lap I drove very steadily and steered well clear of the curbs because I just wanted to bring the car home. My first DTM win is a very special occasion for me. I already came quite close at the Norisring this year, and after the start today, I was already thinking that things wouldn’t work out for me yet again. But my car was absolutely great and I’m going to party with my crew tonight – they have a huge share in this victory."

Race results: Top Ten

Drivers‘ Championship

Manufacturers‘ Championship