Motorsport: Will the champion come from Switzerland?
This weekend, the 2016 DTM title will be awarded at Hockenheim. In the World Endurance Championship, a preliminary decision could already be made in Fuji. At both venues, Swiss drivers will be at the center of the action. More than 100,000 spectators are expected over the three days of the event at Hockenheim, where the big showdown for the DTM championship title will take place. In May [...]
More than 100,000 spectators are expected over the three days of the event at Hockenheim, where the big showdown for the DTM championship title will take place. In May, Nico Müller claimed his first pole position here and then a podium finish (3rd), and now Swiss fans should also keep their fingers crossed for Edoardo Mortara to achieve a top result. The Geneva-born driver has had a red passport since June but is still driving under the Italian flag at Audi.
50 points are up for grabs in the two races on Saturday and Sunday. Because BMW withdrew its appeal against Marco Wittmann's classification (underbody panel too thin) in the week after the last race in Hungary, Edoardo Mortara's gap to the German is still 14 points.
"Edo" now has it in his hands to knock Marco Wittmann off the top of the standings. He was recently in top form in Budapest, but completely fluffed the start the day after his fourth win of the season. With a gap of 39 points, Edoardo Mortara's brand colleague Jamie Green also still has a small chance of winning the title.
Neel Jani could become world champion with Porsche ahead of schedule
The three Swiss sports car works drivers Neel Jani (Porsche), Marcel Fässler (Audi) and Sébastien Buemi (Toyota) will start the third last round over six hours at Fuji on Sunday. Neel Jani is comfortably leading the drivers' championship with his teammates Romain Dumas (F) and Marc Lieb (D), Porsche is leading the manufacturers' championship.
If Neel Jani's Porsche 919 Hybrid is flagged off as the winner in Japan for the first time since Le Mans, the early title decision will depend on the positions of the direct WEC pursuers from Audi and Toyota. Unfortunately, neither Marcel Fässler nor Sébastien Buemi are sitting in the cars in question, so they have to put themselves at the service of their teammates. At least Marcel Fässler still has theoretical chances, unlike Sébastien Buemi.
Japan also marks the start of reigning world champion Mark Webber's farewell tour. The nine-time GP winner is retiring from racing after the season finale in Bahrain and will then take on the role of representative, motorsport advisor and talent scout at Porsche.
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