Zandvoort DTM: Green makes most of strategy for Sunday win
Audi driver Jamie Green took his first win of 2016 with a calm and collected drive from pole position in the DTM Sunday race at Zandvoort.
Green fended off early attacks from Saturday winner Robert Wickens, but had an easier time getting through traffic after his mandatory stop - and cruised to victory after Wickens hit trouble.
Off the line, Gary Paffett appeared to get a marginally better start than Green, but the poleman was fast enough to cover the inside line and lead into Turn 1,
Paffett followed Green close over the opening lap but dropped back - and was soon passed by Wickens at Turn 1.
However, despite remaining close to Green, Wickens could only take the fight to the Briton closer to the end of the opening stint, as DRS was disabled due to a technical glitch over the first six laps.
The Canadian finally had a go round the outside at Turn 1 on lap 11, managing to switch to the inside mid-corner - but while he nearly drew alongside on exit, Green remained out front and shut the door into Turn 2.
Shortly thereafter, Green and Wickens made their mandatory stops on the same lap, the Briton remaining well ahead. Third-placed Paffett followed them in a lap later, but his stop was slow and he nearly surrendered track position to Christian Vietoris as a result.
Now running mid-pack behind those yet to stop, Green and Wickens soon arrived at the back of the Mercedes of Dani Juncadella, who was told to "defend [from] Green and help Robert".
But Green quickly dealt with Juncadella, who subsequently waved Wickens through, only for debutant Rene Rast to allowGreen past and significantly impede Wickens for the bigger part of the lap.
That took the gap to two seconds and, with nothing but Audis up the road, Green continued to get assistance. He was first waved past by Mike Rockenfeller on the main straight - Rockenfeller subsequently holding up Wickens - before clearing Miguel Molina and retaking the lead when Mattias Ekstrom made his stop.
The gap between Green and Wickens stabilised at three seconds by that point, only for Wickens to suffer a suspected left-front failure in the closing minutes.
The Canadian went off at Masterkurve as a result, clogging up the C63 DTM's radiator with grass and being forced into the pits.
And while Wickens' trouble would've still left Mercedes with two spots on the podium, Vietoris immediately suffered a puncture himself and exited the race.
As such, Edoardo Mortara joined Green and Paffett on the podium, while championship leader Marco Wittmann took P4 to lead his new nearest rival Green by seven points.
Nico Muller was fifth, ahead of Timo Glock, Ekstrom and Paul di Resta.
Lucas Auer and Tom Blomqvist, involved in a mid-race spat that resulted in a warning for Auer for forcing Blomqvist off the track, made up the top 10.
Series newcomer Rast was last of the finishers in 19th, just half a second down on Esteban Ocon, who had been punted by Antonio Felix da Costa.
Felix da Costa was then also involved in an incident with Molina out of Turn 1, which resulted in Molina's bonnet coming loose and blocking his view.
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