Rast joined BMW as a manufacturing facility driver in 2023, ending a 12-year affiliation with Audi that yielded three titles within the DTM in addition to victories on the Nurburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.
Following the change, Rast will drive the BMW M4 GT3 within the DTM this 12 months, a automobile that’s radically completely different to the Audi R8 LMS GT3 with which he completed third within the championship in 2022 with one victory at Imola.
Other than main variations in automobile dimensions, with the M4 noticeably longer and wider, the BMW is powered by a turbocharged straight-six engine that’s situated on the entrance of the automobile, a serious departure from the mid-engine format of the Audi.
With the M4 nothing just like the R8 LMS he’s accustomed to, Rast defined that he has needed to make adjustments in his personal driving to make sure he can get the very best out of the package deal.
“The automobile is totally completely different,” stated the German following his first take a look at in BMW’s GT3 contender.
“The BMW is a totally completely different automobile when it comes to its construction alone: the engine is on the entrance, the automobile is for much longer, has a distinct wheelbase and may subsequently be moved otherwise.
“I’ve to fully readjust and which means I’ve to fully change my driving fashion once more.
“If I drive like I did with the Audi, then there is no probability! I am actually fully screwed.
“It wasn’t straightforward to regulate to a totally new automobile once more, however I used to be happy.”
René Rast, Schubert Motorsport
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz
Rast will race for the title-winning Schubert Motorsport squad within the DTM this 12 months, teaming up with reigning champion Sheldon van der Linde.
He can be joined at Schubert by his former Staff Rosberg race engineer Florian Rinkes, who performed a key function in Rast’s DTM title successes in 2017, ‘19 and ‘20.
Rast stated it was “unusual” for folks to see him characterize BMW, given how carefully his success was tied with Audi throughout his decade-long stint with the Ingolstadt-based marque.
“Many have checked out me and stated ‘one thing is completely different, in some way you look completely different’.”
“I did not see myself, after all, however even Sheldon stated twice at breakfast that it was completely unusual for him to see me in BMW gear.
“I perceive that, too, after all. I used to be racing with an Audi brand for a few years, and now rapidly with BMW, that is uncharted territory for a lot of.
“Among the mechanics have joked that I now look actually good and am the place I belong. However all joking apart, wanting good is one factor, driving is one other.”