BMW off to a great start after historic win in first DTM race of the season

Defending DTM Constructor Champions, BMW, had a wonderful start to the 2014 season after Marco Wittmann piloted his #23 M4 DTM to the finish line first, after 42 laps of the 4.6km circuit, as DTM opened its anniversary season with an eventful race.

The 24-year old earned his maiden victory in only his 11^th DTM race, which also marked the first victory for BMW Team RMG and the German marque's 60^th win in the series.

Three decades ago, on the 11^th of March, it was Harald Grohs at the wheel of the BMW 635 CSi who won the very first race in the history of the DTM for BMW and three years later, he won once again when the new BMW M3 made its debut in Hockenheim.

Behind him, five other M4 DTM's finished the race within points' classification. Timo Glock in the Deutsche Post BMW M4 DTM finished fifth, followed by Bruno Spengler in the BMW Bank M4 DTM, Martin Tomczyk in the BMW M Performance Parts M4 DTM and Augusto Farfus at the wheel of the Castrol Edge BMW M4 DTM finishing in places six through to eight.

Joey Hand picked up the last point after crossing the finishing line in tenth, in the Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M4 DTM.

Jens Marquardt, BMW's Motorsport Director, cited it was a dream debut weekend for the BMW M4 DTM and went on to add, "To return to Hockenheim with the brand new BMW M4 DTM and win the first race, half a year after the last victory with the BMW M3 DTM - it doesn't get much better. At the same time, it is also a great maiden win for BMW Team RMG and Marco Wittmann, who drove an absolutely incredible race and was in a league of his own today."