Worthy of a champion: Tim Heinemann wins DTM Trophy finale at Hockenheim 09.10.2022: The new champion in DTM Trophy: Tim Heinemann (GER), Toyota Gazoo Racing Deutschland by Ring-Racing © DTM • Undisputed lights-to-flag win for the two-time title winner in the talent pool

 
The new champion in DTM Trophy: Tim Heinemann (GER), Toyota Gazoo Racing Deutschland by Ring-Racing © DTM




 
•    Undisputed lights-to-flag win for the two-time title winner in the talent pool


•    After second place-finish: Theo Oeverhaus third in the drivers’ standings


•    Dutchman Colin Caresani secures runner-up spot in the standings by finishing third




Tim Heinemann has concluded the DTM Trophy season in style. With the Toyota Supra run by the Toyota Gazoo Racing Germany powered by Ring-Racing team, the freshly-crowned champion claimed victory in the final race of the season.


After 18 laps of the Hockenheimring, the German secured his sixth win of the season in the talent pool on the high-quality DTM platform that presented itself with the largest field of 24 cars. 3.371 seconds down on Heinemann, 17-year-old BMW driver Theo Oeverhaus (Walkenhorst Motorsport) crossed the finish line in second place ahead of his Dutch fellow BMW driver Colin Caresani (Project 1).



In the final race, Heinemann provided yet another impressive demonstration of his strong performance. The Toyota driver started the race from fourth place and worked his way up into the lead within just half a lap. Two early safety car interventions also left the two-time title winner in the DTM Trophy, run with production-based GT sports cars, unfazed.


The first neutralization came still on the opening lap following a crash by Frenchman Edouard Cauhaupé with the BWT Mücke Motorsport Mercedes-AMG. At the restart, there was a chain reaction in the field that prematurely ended the race for Aston-Martin driver Nick Hancke (GER, Speed Monkeys) and Porsche driver Ricky Capo (AUS, KÜS Team Bernhard).



That was the reason for the second safety-car intervention. Heinemann already having remained in control at the first restart, he didn’t make any mistakes at the second attempt either. After that, the driver with the #90 Toyota Supra was in a class of his own. Heinemann’s sixth win of the season was never in jeopardy.






Drivers’ standings:  Theo Oeverhaus secures third place behind Heinemann and Caresani


For 17-year-old Oeverhaus, third place in the drivers‘ standings was still at stake in the final race of the year. This position was safe once his Brazilian rival Thiago Vivacqua (Heide-Motorsport) became entangled in thrilling duels with Aston Martin driver Jacob Riegel (GER, Speed Monkeys) and the Porsche of guest driver Vincent Andronaco (GER, Allied-Racing).



Andronaco punted Vivacqua into the gravel bed at the Sachs corner, ending all hopes for the Audi driver who only finished eleventh. Andronaco retired on lap eleven.



Third place went to runner-up Caresani followed by his Spanish fellow BMW driver Marc de Fulgencio (FK Performance Motorsport). Between de Fulgencio and the next BMW with Louis Henkefend (GER, Project 1), Hungarian Philippe Denes (CV Performance Group Mercedes-AMG) was the best-placed guest driver in fifth. Project 1 celebrated the title win in the teams’ standings.





Aline Proll- photos DTM