Rast will be seen as DTM legend in 10 years - Rockenfeller
Mike Rockenfeller believes Rene Rast will be considered a DTM legend in 10 years after the German driver beat Nico Muller to clinch the 2020 drivers’ title.

Rast overhauled early season title favourite Muller to claim his third DTM title in four years, with a run of four victories at Zolder being the key to his championship challenge.
His latest title triumph puts him in the history books as the third-most successful DTM driver, only behind Bernd Schneider (five) and equalling the tally of Klaus Ludwig. He also scored his 24th race victory at Hockenheim, helping him surpass two-time champion Mattias Ekstrom and become the winningest driver in Audi’s history.
2013 champion Rockenfeller says what Rast has achieved is worthy of legendary status, even if people won’t give immediately give him that tag after his latest success.
“Definitely in the history of the DTM, he’s definitely one of the best, probably behind Bernd,” Rockenfeller said.
“If you want to call Rene a legend, then Rene is a legend. For me what Rene did is impressive and the team, the whole package, they did a really really great job. You have to [give him] credit. Legend or not is more down to journalists or people, I’m not thinking about it that much.
“I think right now it’s always difficult to say legend. But when you look at it 10 years from now, he will definitely be seen as a legend. Whoever will watch DTM in that period, he will put his stamp on massively because he was dominating those years in a way. So, hats off to him.
“This year again is down to him. But for me Nico could have been champion as well and I would have been happy for Nico.“
Read Also:
Rast himself dismissed suggestions that he should be considered a legend, crediting the role Team Rosberg has played in his success since he made his debut in the DTM as a full-timer in 2017.
“I don’t know, you tell me,” said Rast when asked if he should be considered a DTM legend. “At least I’m ahead of Mattias and Gary [Paffett] in victories and the third best DTM driver in that case, but I’m not a legend. I’m still too young.
“Yeah, what can I say. As I said we had some very good years. Could have been four titles. Obviously like I said I can’t thank my boys enough.
“They really live for that car, for that team. Sometimes I’m not even allowed to touch the car because it’s getting polished and when I touch it my mechanic comes and takes a piece of paper and polishes it again.
“So they are really loving and living that racing life. That’s how should be. And they deserve it.”
Related video

Previous article
Glock glad to rebound from "horrible" 2019 season
Next article
How the standout DTM privateer earned Audi stars' respect

About this article
Series | DTM |
Drivers | Mike Rockenfeller , René Rast |
Author | Rachit Thukral |
Rast will be seen as DTM legend in 10 years - Rockenfeller
Trending
WRT Team Audi Sport – 2020 DTM Season Review
DTM 2020: Audi bids farewell
DTM: Hockenheim - Race 2 Highlights
DTM 2020: Race 1 highlights – Hockenheim
DTM: Hockenheim - Race 1 Highlights
The slow-burner threatening to unseat Audi's DTM king
It's taken him a while to emerge as a consistent title challenger, but in the final year of DTM's Class One ruleset, Nico Muller has smoothed the rough edges and has double champion stablemate Rene Rast working harder than ever to keep up in the title race.
Does 2000 hold the answers to the DTM's current crisis?
It's 20 years since the DTM roared back into life at a packed Hockenheim with a back-to-basics approach as the antidote to its high-tech past. Now it's on its knees again, so is it time to recall the lessons learned in 2000?
Ranking the 10 best Audi DTM drivers
Audi last week announced it would be exiting the DTM at the end of 2020, bringing the curtain down on 20 years of continuous participation since the series' reboot in 2000.
Why the DTM must reinvent itself after Audi exit
Audi's announcement that it will withdraw from the DTM at the end of 2020 was the latest blow for a series that has lost three manufacturers in as many years. Some major soul-searching will now be required to assess how it can survive.
Why cynic Berger changed his mind over green tech in racing
DTM boss Gerhard Berger was a detractor of Formula E and held a reluctance for his series to embrace greener engine technologies. However, this cynic's tune has had to change to ensure DTM's existence as the motorsport world moves forward
What the fallout from Aston's engine split means for 2020
Aston Martin's DTM arrival, via the R-Motorsport outfit, was heralded as a salvation of sorts for the series. After plenty of bumps in the road in 2019, the team finds itself in a similar position to the one it was in 12 months ago. Can it get its act together?
How the DTM and Super GT can build on their experiment
The Class One 'Dream Race' staged by the DTM and SUPER GT proved a hit - from a competitive and collaborative standpoint. The next step will be for both parties to ensure a successful trial ends up being more than just that.
Robot pitcrews and hydrogen – is DTM's concept plausible?
DTM organiser ITR has mooted a radical plan for a "truly new and inspiring" future motorsport series. How realistic are its suggestions of automated pitstops and 1000bhp hydrogen-fuelled touring cars?