If Saturday’s first ever night race at Misano was chaotic, Sunday’s second race in the dark on the Italian Adriatic coast was even more chaotic. Rain showers resulted in many incidents, contact and a safety car period – and unfortunately, Augusto Farfus had to retire halfway through the race.
As on Saturday, the weather was unusual for this time of the year at Misano. Today’s second qualifying was again held on a wet track. Augusto qualified 14th in his Shell BMW M4 DTM. When the cars took their places on the grid, it had stopped raining and the track began to dry but was still pretty wet. Augusto and his BMW Team RMG opted for rain tyres. After three laps, he came into the pits to change to slicks. However, heavy rain started afterwards, with many drivers, including Augusto, pitting for a second time to change back to wet tyres. Half an hour into the race, he and Audi driver Nico Müller made contact and Augusto’s car spun into the barrier. He was able to drive to the pits but had to retire due to the damage to his car.
“It was a crazy race,” Augusto reported. “Unfortunately I got that push and in these conditions even the slightest touch takes you out.”
The 2018 DTM season resumes in two weeks’ time at the German Nürburgring (7th to 9th September) with the home races for Augusto’s BMW Team RMG.
