Canadian driver Bruno Spengler (C Class Mercedes) lost DTM championship lead in Hockenheim. Spengler was forced to retire after a suspension failure, while his teammate and closest title rival Paul Di Resta clinched his third win in-a-row.
Di Resta started from 5th position, and then made his way to the lead of the field, helped by an optimal strategy from his HWA Mercedes team. The Scot, who took his third win in a row after Brands Hatch and Oschersleben, took championship lead for the first time this year, with two races remaining. He is now three points ahead of Spengler. Bruno Spengler was only 10th after a very wet qualifying session on Saturday. He had a good start and was 7th with 15 laps to go, but he had to retire with a broken suspension on his C Class Mercedes. The Canadian driver lost the championship lead for the first time since May, in Valencia, site of the last victory of an Audi car. Timo Scheider started from pole position ahead of Mike Rockenfeller’s 2008-spec Audi A4. Scheider looked on his way to his first 2010 win, until Di Resta took the lead after his second pit stop. Scheider and Rockenfeller took 2nd and 3rd places. "It’s a shame to retire this way," Spengler told Auto123.com. "Before this incident, I was right behind Martin Tomczyk’s Audi, who finished 5th. A top 6 was possible for me today, but mechanical problems are part of motorsport and we got unlucky. In the first lap, I tried to overtake two cars in turn 4. I braked a bit late and, with my cold brakes, I could not turn into the corner and I went straight. Fortunately, I was able to be back on track, and I did not touch anybody. "Then, my pace was quite good, but I was blocked by two Audis, and I could not overtake them with this new track configuration. Then, midway through the race, something broke suddenly on the car, I don’t know what exactly. The back of the car jumped in the corners, it was impossible to drive. "All in all, there are two races left and I will give it my best shot.” Hockenheim, Race Classification: 1. Paul Di Resta (C Class Mercedes 09) in 1h07'27"578 2. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 09) + 10’’532 3. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 08) + 14’’702 4. Gary Paffett (C Class Mercedes 09) + 19’’541 5. Martin Tomczyck (Audi A4 09) + 20’’006 6. Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 09) + 20’’337 7. Susie Stoddard (C Class Mercedes 08) + 20’’946 8. Jaimi Green (C Class Mercedes 08) + 21’’276 etc. Championship: 1. Di Resta 63 points, 2. Spengler 60, 3. Paffett 49, 4. Scheider 37, 5. Ekstrom 34, 6. Green 29, 7. Rockenfeller 22, 8. Jarvis 14, etc.
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