Audi puts de Vries on standby for Rockenfeller in Moscow
McLaren junior driver Nyck de Vries will travel to this weekend's Moscow DTM round to act as an Audi reserve driver in case Mike Rockenfeller is unable to race.
Nyck De Vries, Rapax
FIA Formula 2
Rockenfeller sustained a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot after a heavy collision with Mercedes driver Gary Paffett in the second race of the previous round of the series at the Norisring.
Such was the damage to Rockenfeller's RS 5 DTM, which sustained an impact of 35G, that it has had to be rebuilt around another monocoque for this weekend's pair of races at Moscow Raceway.
F2 regular de Vries, who joined Audi for a rookie test at Jerez late last year, performed the roll-out for the rebuilt car last week and will travel to Moscow in case Rockenfeller cannot compete.
However, the German driver has had a special bandage and orthopedic racing shoe made especially for his injured foot, and hopes to race.
“I like the track and want to race at all costs, otherwise the championship will be over for me,” said Rockenfeller. "With this bandage it should work.
"I not only want to race in Moscow, but win there for the third time as well.”
Rockenfeller's previous wins in Moscow came in his title-winning 2013 campaign and in 2015, the latter being his most recent DTM race victory.
The 33-year-old lies eighth in the current standings with a sole podium finish to his credit in the opening race of the year at Hockenheim.
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