Audi driver Loïc Duval: “A terrific moment”

At Zandvoort, you celebrated your first podium finish in the DTM. Did you realize that you were in such a good position during the race?
Loïc Duval: “To be honest, no I didn’t. After a weak qualifying I had started from 13th on the grid. Then, after many of my opponents pitted early, I had a clear track and drove a fairly lonely race.”

In lap 14 you took the lead after your teammate Mike Rockenfeller headed to the pit.
“That was a really great feeling, but I knew that Marco Wittman and Mike still remained in the ‘virtual’ lead. They then began to narrow the gap to me more and more, eventually catching me up shortly before my pit-stop.”

After the stop, you remained in third place. Did you know at this point that you were in a position to get your first DTM podium?
“No, not at all. In the cockpit we are shown all of our positions, but I was so sure that I had fallen back down the field that I didn’t even pay attention to the display. It was only when I crossed the finish line that my race engineer Mathieu (Le Nail) shouted the good news over the radio.”

It was your first DTM podium in your first DTM season. How did it feel to stand up there?
“I have driven for Audi Sport since 2012 and have celebrated a lot of success in the WEC. But to drive to the podium as a rookie in a new racing series was something really special – a terrific moment for me. Not least because I was able to celebrate it together with ‘Rocky’ as well.”