DTM: Bruno Spengler sets fastest time in free practice session

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Second in the point standings, Canadian Bruno Spengler Friday set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the final and decisive race of the DTM.

The weather was perfect today in Hockenheim with a bright sun and a temperature of 20 degrees.

Spengler in his BMW M3 DTM did two very long runs before going out in the last moments of the session on a set of new Hankook tires to set the fastest time of the day in 1m34.971.

Bruno Spengler, BMW. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Spengler is second in the standings, just three points behind Mercedes top man Gary Paffett. The Briton also did long runs, byt only managed to set the 16th fastest time in 1m36.649.

The other title contender, Jamie Green of Mercedes, third in points, set the 17th time of the day.

Gary Paffett, Mercedes. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Spengler' teammate at BMW, reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk ended up second fastest in 1m35.776, eight tenths of a second slower than the Canadian.

Third was Mike Rockenfeller of the Audi squad, followed by Mattias Ekstrom (Audi), Augusto Farfus (BMW) and Dirk Werner (BMW).

American Joey Hand was 12th in his BMW. David Coulthard, running his last DTM race, was 13th today and fastest Mercedes runner. The other Canadian entered, Robert Wickens, set the 15th time in his Mercedes.

Auto123.com will provide a live description of the qualifying session tomorrow.