Audi's Muller not expecting many more DTM win chances in 2022

Muller dominated the second leg of the Portugal double header from pole position, leading every lap outside of the pit cycle en route to his first DTM victory in the series' GT3 era. 

Although the Swiss had two tenths in hand on the field in qualifying and was virtually unchallenged in the 33-lap contest on Sunday, the rest of the pack was closely matched with just three tenths splitting second-fastest qualifier Mirko Bortolotti (Grasser Lamborghini) and Abt Audi driver Rene Rast in 13th. 

In the race itself, all six manufacturers were represented inside the top seven in a race that featured no safety cars or full course yellows.

Muller said it was important for him to take full advantage of his chance to win, a prospect he believes will come around rarely due to the quality of the 29-car grid.

"I feel like the days where you have the package to win, you need to grab it with both hands," said the Swiss driver, who retired early from race one due to a right-rear puncture following contact.

"It's so levelled out that you will not get that many opportunities to win races and when you are in a position you wanna really do it. 

"It will be about limiting the damage when you cannot win and on a day like Saturday. That's what my other Audi colleagues managed to do and we got taken out of that game. 

"But luck will turn around and consistency will be the deciding factor this season. We need to maximise when you have the package."

Nico Müller, Team Rosberg

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

It marked the first DTM race win for the two-time series runner-up since the 2020 Hockenheim finale, with Muller's Team Rosberg outfit struggling for competitiveness since the series' switch to GT3 cars for 2021.

Adding that he was relieved to end