Rockenfeller cleared for DTM Moscow race

Audi's Mike Rockenfeller has been cleared to race in this weekend's DTM race at Moscow Raceway, three weeks after a horrific crash at the Norisring.

Rockenfeller wound up third fastest in Friday's first practice session behind Audi Sport Team Rosberg's Jamie Green and Mercedes-AMG's Gary Paffett, the other driver involved in the Norisring crash. Rockenfeller admitted he was still recovering but was "very happy" to be able to race.

I have the green light to race in the@DTMat@moscowraceway!#Rocky99#mobilityfortomorrow#LeagueofPerformance#DTMMoscowpic.twitter.com/ePgEc5AqSR— Mike Rockenfeller (@m_rockenfeller)July 21, 2017

"It was not so clear at the beginning, with my foot, if I can do it or not, and now we have our first free practice behind us, and luckily it looks quite OK," Rockenfeller said Friday. "The big question for me was whether I would be able to drive at all with that foot, but it went quite well. We can still make some improvements on the pedals to make things easier for me. All in all, it was a good start of the weekend."

In the July 2 crash, after contact with Green, Paffett had a huge impact with the barrier in the run to the first corner, lost control and rotated at a high rate of speed into the driver's side of Rockenfeller's car.

Both were taken to the hospital in Nuremberg for examination. Paffett walked away "battered and bruised" but otherwise okay, while Rockenfeller suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot.

Paffett's Mercedes was damaged beyond repair, so a former test car was converted to race specification and readied for the Moscow race. The engine was also replaced.

"I am certain that there is no difference," Paffett said. "After all, the car isn't new to me. It was exactly adapted to suit me. It was a heavy accident, but such situations will always happen. They are a part of our sport. Accidents happened in the past and they will happen in the future. We have to thank the engineers for the fact that the DTM cars are so safe."