Rast: Season goal "reached already" with podium

Rast, 30, was chosen by Audi as one of its six full-time drivers for the 2017 DTM season.

He started the season with only two prior weekends of DTM experience, having filled in for the injured Adrien Tambay in the second race at Zandvoort, and World Rallycross-bound Mattias Ekstrom in the season finale at Hockenheim last year.

A three-time Porsche Supercup champion and former Audi LMP1 driver, Rast took until the third race of his first full campaign to take his maiden DTM podium, finishing behind Mercedes pair Lucas Auer and Robert Wickens at Lausitzring.

Asked whether his maiden podium affected the goals he had set for his rookie campaign, Rast told Motorsport.com: "My goal was actually to be on the podium, I reached that already. [Now] I want to be up front continuously, scoring points, it's the most important point for me."

"[I want] to learn and improve myself so that is still the target, but obviously now a win would be nice."

The podium added to what has already been a rather strong start to the German's rookie campaign, Rast placing as the top Audi in two of the three qualifying sessions so far.

"Obviously very happy [with my season so far], two times the best Audi in qualifying, today best Audi in the race.

"DTM is a little bit up and down every race so I can't expect to be always the best Audi in every race but I am trying.

"Just mega happy with the result, we put a lot of effort [into it], lots of hours to work, improving the car and today it paid off."

GT, LMP1 experience helped

Rast entered DTM with an extensive CV in GT and LMP2 racing, as well as three races of LMP1 under his belt.

He said his familiarity with the low downforce of the GT cars and with the LMP1 prototypes in high-speed corners has helped him acclimatise in DTM.

"Especially the GT cars [helped], where you have really low downforce, you are just managing the tyres because the cars at the end of the stints are sliding quite a lot," Rast said.

"Also maybe LMP1 driving helps in high-speed corners.

"Every detail counts in DTM, it's for sure a secret, and you have to work a lot to be up there.

"The driver who doesn't want to work or doesn't understand how to work will not be quick and as long as you know what to improve, you just need to continuously improve yourself and the car."