On point #3 about la Rosa & Eky, Eky actually forced (by nudging) la Rosa off the track and if you watch a reply la Rosa is actually on the brakes, he isnt nailing the throttle with target locked on. So really he's drove the guy off the track, and then its that same car that collided with him as he's trying to slow down and return onto the track. How much brake is being applied is unknown, but those tail lights were on, its not the typical actions of someone trying to ram someone off the track is it??
Point #1 Mika im not too sure about, he'd moved out to make the pass and was forced to take the line he was on by Eky trying to block. If your on the brakes and being pushed further from the racing line you've braked for, then you'll never make it. I'd tend to say that was 50/50 probably, both could have helped the issue, both decided to take the action they took, if anything Mika had his route forced upon him by the Audi, i dont see why Eky is surpised. Eitherway, i could understand a penalty being given to Mika, but neither helped, they were both subjected to their own stupidity and both punished by it.
I'd also agree with the comments about DTM being extremely lame with their punishments for some mild contact, sometimes you really have to wonder. Todays racing was heated, plenty of contact in there, and theres absolutely nothing wrong with rubbing panels and such, but sometimes theres some bizarre calls made.
Compare the punishment given out in BTCC to DTM, in BTCC you could turn up in a Zonda, drive the wrong way round the track and drive head on into 12 cars and only get a warning!!! DTM if your on the track at the same time as another driver your given a lifetime ban
Very disappointed with Audi's actions though, its one thing to be annoyed with the actions of some drivers, but to pull in the few none-signficiantly-scoring drivers they had still in the race to try and pull some kind of publicity stunt is pathetic, their drivers were giving just as good as they got, and as it happened they were unfortunate to be on the wrong side of most of the incidents, and to imply that Mercedes were intentionally driving aggressively towards Audi drivers is childish. Certainly you give your 'teammates' more room when its them your side by side with, but its absolute BS for Audi to suggest they wouldnt expect their drivers to fight for their places too, just as Eky did when showing la Rosa the gravel, and Rocky on Paffett, quite possibly an incident or 2 from the opening lap. Audi gave, Audi got, Audi spat their dummy out and quite possibly disillusioned a pretty impressive spanish crowd.
Id love to see Opel back in the series, first started watching back in the days when daddy Rosberg (Keke) was racing, before running the team, always liked the Calibra. Likewise it'd be great having Alfa there too, Mercedes, Audi, Alfa & Opel, that would be really enjoyable to watch.
WTCC... I watch it, but its not a scratch on the BTCC or DTM, its fairly bland IMO, just as todays races have shown. There seems to be very little consistancy from one race to the next, very little on-track action, and i cant even begin to describe how much i HATE the reversed grid, in WTCC, LFS races, ANYTHING! The number of races where someone has qualified so-so, managed to get themselves into 8th place, started race 2 on pole on then gone on to win is beyond a joke, if you saw the race 1 winner fight through and retake their place or come close to doing so on a regular basis (afterall, they were a top qualifier and won race 1!) then fair enough, but seeing the Brazilian geezer start from right at the back after a crash in qual or something, take 8th in race 1 and then win race 2 its wrong, and i dont give a hoot about this 'entertainment' aspect, particularly when it provides no more entertainment than without it.
Also, what the hell was Turkington doing there!? Get your junk car off the damn track, leave the drivers competing in the series to actually compete instead of getting in their way. Its one thing that he doesnt score points, but he can still disrupt a race by a mistake or just by attacking or defending places because there is always a knock-on effect it has. I might just pop along to Thruxton in a couple weeks time and jump onto the track, have a bit of fun and all that. I dont drive mind you, but what the heck, its all a bit of fun right?!
