DTM: Molina dominates Lausitzring opener

Audi Sport Team Abt driver Miguel Molina claimed the second win of his DTM career with a dominant display at the Lausitzring.

Having started from pole, Molina lost out initially but reclaimed the lead from fellow Audi driver Jamie Green at one-quarter distance and eased clear in the remaining laps.

A tentative start from Molina allowed Green to take the inside line at Turn 1 and, after jostling for position through the next few corners, Briton Green blocked the Spaniard's line into Turn 3 to snatch the lead, as HWA Mercedes driver jumped Marco Wittmann for third immediately behind.

Green was unable to build a gap though and was gradually caught by Mortara, who, after deploying DRS onto the main straight at the end of lap seven, slithered up the inside to reclaim the lead at Turn 1.

The field bunched up slightly as a result, but Molina soon found his stride and edged clear over the last half hour to win by two seconds at the chequered flag.

As Molina pulled away, Green was reeled in ever so slightly at first by Mercedes' Wickens and Wittmann.

BMW man Wittmann dropped away in the second half of the race, instead fending off the attention of Mucke Mercedes pair Lucas Auer and Christian Vietoris, but Wickens stayed with Green in the fight for second.

Wickens was able to catch the Audi at the end of the main straight on a couple of occasions, but never attempted a move and instead backed off in the final laps to allow his engine to breathe.

Wittmann defended fourth robustly, at first from Auer and then Vietoris, and held on to the position despite running out of DRS usage shortly after the half distance.

Vietoris was allowed through by Auer with a quarter of the race to go and finished fifth, with Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom sneaking between the pair shortly after their switch to claim sixth.

Edoardo Mortara moved into eighth late on at the expense of Maxime Martin, who then held off Nico Muller for ninth over the final laps of the race.

RESULTS - 32 LAPS:

Originally on Autosport.com