The Team Rosberg Audi driver admitted to over-driving in qualifying in his efforts to compensate for a 25kg Balance of Performance hit dealt to all Audi runners and started 21st on the grid.
His race appeared to have been badly compromised when he picked up a puncture in the opening lap skirmish avoiding Laurens Vanthoor's spun SSR Porsche and had to come into the pits, dropping him to the back of the field.
