It will be the end of a tough year for Augusto Farfus and BMW Team MTEK at Hockenehim this weekend. However, the driver can only look at the positives and so wants to finish the nine weekend, 18 race DTM season on a high in his Shell BMW M4 DTM.
Looking back to the beginning of the season, which was also at the Hockenheimring, it was a good start for him and his new team with a front row grid slot and third on the podium in the Sunday race. Sadly since then the driver from Curitiba has not been able to show his racing expertise with two fourth positions in Spielberg and Moscow his best other finishes. “I suppose lady luck just hasn’t been smiling on me this year. This can happen, but it is frustrating when you know that things beyond our control have stopped us getting some good results. However, we have fought hard all year and we will continue to do that until the very last lap of the last race of the season. Once this is over I shall only be looking forward and not back,” he said.
This track, which is about an hour away from Frankfurt, is one that Augusto likes, as he explained: “I like Hockenheim a lot. I have been on the podium there many times and have won races. After such a difficult season it would be great to give a little reward to the team and to myself by finishing the year on a high.” While the Brazilian is not in the running for any championships, he is very keen to get a good result for BMW: “As we head into this race BMW is second, just 37 points behind Audi, in the manufacturers’ championship. My aim is to do everything I can to help them win the title, which would be the fourth time in five years if we can manage it.”
The schedule for the DTM cars on the 4.574 kilometre track will be FP1 from 16.45 to 17.15 on Friday (14th October). For Saturday it is FP2 from 10.50 to 11.20, Qualifying from 12.40 to 13.00 and the 40-minute race starts at 14.58. On Sunday it is FP3 from 10.55 to 11.25, Qualifying from 12.55 to 13.15 and the 60-minute race starts at 15.18.
Dear Augusto, your season is over, as well as ours, as big fans of you for many years. You are a fighter and will come back next season “stronger and motivated” more than ever! We hope to meet you again at the track! We hope you will race the 20th anniversary race at Road Atlanta, and we hope to be around again for the third year in a row! All the Best Wishes from the Netherlands, from Cees (the old man) and my son Theo.