Canadian driver Bruno Spengler (C Class Mercedes) took victory in the opening round of the 2011 DTM season in Hockenheim.
After he secured pole position on Saturday, Spengler kept his advantage by dominating the race on Sunday, to clinch his eighth DTM win, which was his second one in Hockenheim, where he came in first place in October 2006.
Spengler had to face intense pressure from his rivals, especially when the race was yellow flagged ten laps to the end after Tomczyk’s Audi lost a fuel can on the track. The Canadian was able to maintain his lead at the restart, and took the win with an advantage of 3.7 seconds at the finish line.
Behind him, Mattias Ekström secured second position with his Audi A4. The Swede, who started from front row of the grid, was able to move up to the lead at the start, before Spengler took the first position back few seconds later.
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher took third position, which was his first podium finish since his debut in DTM. Schumacher had to defend his position against Timo Scheider’s Audi during the last lap of the race.
The first semi-private car was Martin Tomczyk’s Audi (5th), just ahead of Gary Paffett’s Mercedes.
The Brit had the best catch-up of the race, as he started from 18th position on the grid after his accident in qualifying. Mercedes drivers Jamie Green and Maro Engel completed the Top 8.
Hockenheim – Race classification:
1. Bruno Spengler (2009 C Class Mercedes) - 38 laps in 1h03’07’’244
2. Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 2009) + 3’’696
3. Ralf Schumacher (2009 C Class Mercedes) +3’’883
4. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 2009) +4’’585
5. Martin Tomcyk (Audi A4 2008) +5’’256
6. Gary Paffett (2009 C Class Mercedes) +6’’591
7. Jamie Green (2009 C Class Mercedes) +10’’653
8. Maro Engel (2008 C Class Mercedes) +11’’938
Etc.
Championship:
1. Spengler 10, 2. Ekström 8, 3. Schumacher 6, 4. Scheider 5, Tomczyk 4, 6. Paffett 3, 7. Green 2, 8. Engel 1.
After he secured pole position on Saturday, Spengler kept his advantage by dominating the race on Sunday, to clinch his eighth DTM win, which was his second one in Hockenheim, where he came in first place in October 2006.
Spengler had to face intense pressure from his rivals, especially when the race was yellow flagged ten laps to the end after Tomczyk’s Audi lost a fuel can on the track. The Canadian was able to maintain his lead at the restart, and took the win with an advantage of 3.7 seconds at the finish line.
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| Start of the race at Hockenheim - Photo: DTM |
Behind him, Mattias Ekström secured second position with his Audi A4. The Swede, who started from front row of the grid, was able to move up to the lead at the start, before Spengler took the first position back few seconds later.
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher took third position, which was his first podium finish since his debut in DTM. Schumacher had to defend his position against Timo Scheider’s Audi during the last lap of the race.
The first semi-private car was Martin Tomczyk’s Audi (5th), just ahead of Gary Paffett’s Mercedes.
The Brit had the best catch-up of the race, as he started from 18th position on the grid after his accident in qualifying. Mercedes drivers Jamie Green and Maro Engel completed the Top 8.
Hockenheim – Race classification:
1. Bruno Spengler (2009 C Class Mercedes) - 38 laps in 1h03’07’’244
2. Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 2009) + 3’’696
3. Ralf Schumacher (2009 C Class Mercedes) +3’’883
4. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 2009) +4’’585
5. Martin Tomcyk (Audi A4 2008) +5’’256
6. Gary Paffett (2009 C Class Mercedes) +6’’591
7. Jamie Green (2009 C Class Mercedes) +10’’653
8. Maro Engel (2008 C Class Mercedes) +11’’938
Etc.
Championship:
1. Spengler 10, 2. Ekström 8, 3. Schumacher 6, 4. Scheider 5, Tomczyk 4, 6. Paffett 3, 7. Green 2, 8. Engel 1.