Hi everyone!
It feels great to talk to you for the second time this season. After four races, and four podiums, including one victory, things could not be better for me. I’m currently sitting atop the driver standings with a 10-point lead.
This is by far my best start since I began racing in DTM back in 2006. I used to have various problems and mishaps early in the season, like a flat tire in Hockenheim to kick off my rookie year. Then, in 2007, I didn’t even score a single point during the first two rounds because of a faulty power steering. Each time, though, I fought my way back in the standings. Heck, I lost the 2007 championship by just a few points at the very last race of the season!
No more rotten luck this year! I even savoured the sweet taste of victory at Lausitzring, something I hadn’t experienced since Norisring in 2007. Talk about a long wait! It felt incredible to once again cross the finish line before every other driver, with thrills, chills and a whole lot of adrenaline exhilarating my body and mind. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, from my everyday life compares to the joy of winning a race at a top level.
My success at Lausitzring combined with my second-place finishes in Hockenheim and Valencia as well as my third-place finish at Norisring allowed me to build a strong 10-point lead atop the driver standings.
There are still six races to go and anything can happen. The second part of the season includes tracks that are not exactly suited for my C-Class Mercedes. I’ll have to train and focus even more in order to earn as many points as possible. Similar to my approach in previous seasons, this means not over-thinking things and not taking excessive risks, either.
I tip my hat to the entire crew. While our cars haven’t evolved since the late-season push of 2009, Audi kept busy during the off-season and excelled in Hockenheim and especially in Valencia, where Ekström took the checkered flag. Even at Norisring, which is a track that I normally enjoy success on, the Audis proved to be very competitive.
We worked relentlessly to fine-tune the cars and stay in front of the pack. The crew did a fantastic job, like during my second pit stop, which took a mere 2.7 seconds. Amazing!
That race last Sunday demanded a lot from drivers. The heat was stifling, which only made the tricky street track even less forgiving. Third on the starting grid, I soon dropped to fourth and, despite my initial attempts to keep pace with the leaders, I wound up losing ground to them. Same thing during my next stint. However, after my second pit stop, the car performed beautifully and I gave it all I had. Had the race been about 10-lap longer, I might have won. Still, I’m glad that I was able to hang onto my third place.
In June, I made a trip back to Canada for the F1 Grand Prix on Ile Notre-Dame in Montreal. Unfortunately, I didn’t stay home very long since I had test runs scheduled the following week. I managed to make the most of my time, though.
On Wednesday before the race, I spent the entire day at Parc Omega in Montebello, which is where I grew up. I feel so good there that it always pains me to leave. Sure enough, it allowed me to charge my batteries. Getting close to nature and the animals is very important to me. I also had the opportunity to play golf at Château Montebello.
From Thursday through Sunday, I was in full GP mode, meeting colleagues from the Mercedes family and doing interviews with a number of Canadian journalists. Some of them have been following my career ever since my kart racing years. The fans were ecstatic to have their Grand Prix back and it showed.
Just before the Norisring race, I also spent time in the Austrian Alps, where I took part in a historic car rally behind the wheel of a magnificent 1963 SL 230 Pagode. My girlfriend Franziska served as co-driver and we covered 500 kilometres of divine landscape in three days. What an awesome experience!
With nearly a one-month break, I’ll be heading to Hockenheim in late July to attend the German F1 Grand Prix. DTM action will resume at Nürburgring in early August.
See you soon!
Take care.
Bruno Spengler
www.brunospengler.com
www.scalfaro.com
www.hugoboss.com
It feels great to talk to you for the second time this season. After four races, and four podiums, including one victory, things could not be better for me. I’m currently sitting atop the driver standings with a 10-point lead.
This is by far my best start since I began racing in DTM back in 2006. I used to have various problems and mishaps early in the season, like a flat tire in Hockenheim to kick off my rookie year. Then, in 2007, I didn’t even score a single point during the first two rounds because of a faulty power steering. Each time, though, I fought my way back in the standings. Heck, I lost the 2007 championship by just a few points at the very last race of the season!
 |
| Bruno Spengler (middle) is stuck in traffic at the start of the Norisring race. (Photo: dtm.com) |
No more rotten luck this year! I even savoured the sweet taste of victory at Lausitzring, something I hadn’t experienced since Norisring in 2007. Talk about a long wait! It felt incredible to once again cross the finish line before every other driver, with thrills, chills and a whole lot of adrenaline exhilarating my body and mind. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, from my everyday life compares to the joy of winning a race at a top level.
My success at Lausitzring combined with my second-place finishes in Hockenheim and Valencia as well as my third-place finish at Norisring allowed me to build a strong 10-point lead atop the driver standings.
There are still six races to go and anything can happen. The second part of the season includes tracks that are not exactly suited for my C-Class Mercedes. I’ll have to train and focus even more in order to earn as many points as possible. Similar to my approach in previous seasons, this means not over-thinking things and not taking excessive risks, either.
 |
| Spengler spent a day at the Parc Omega where he grew up. (Photo: Archives Bruno Spengler) |
I tip my hat to the entire crew. While our cars haven’t evolved since the late-season push of 2009, Audi kept busy during the off-season and excelled in Hockenheim and especially in Valencia, where Ekström took the checkered flag. Even at Norisring, which is a track that I normally enjoy success on, the Audis proved to be very competitive.
We worked relentlessly to fine-tune the cars and stay in front of the pack. The crew did a fantastic job, like during my second pit stop, which took a mere 2.7 seconds. Amazing!
That race last Sunday demanded a lot from drivers. The heat was stifling, which only made the tricky street track even less forgiving. Third on the starting grid, I soon dropped to fourth and, despite my initial attempts to keep pace with the leaders, I wound up losing ground to them. Same thing during my next stint. However, after my second pit stop, the car performed beautifully and I gave it all I had. Had the race been about 10-lap longer, I might have won. Still, I’m glad that I was able to hang onto my third place.
In June, I made a trip back to Canada for the F1 Grand Prix on Ile Notre-Dame in Montreal. Unfortunately, I didn’t stay home very long since I had test runs scheduled the following week. I managed to make the most of my time, though.
 |
| Spengler participated in a historic car rally. (Photo: Archives Bruno Spengler) |
On Wednesday before the race, I spent the entire day at Parc Omega in Montebello, which is where I grew up. I feel so good there that it always pains me to leave. Sure enough, it allowed me to charge my batteries. Getting close to nature and the animals is very important to me. I also had the opportunity to play golf at Château Montebello.
From Thursday through Sunday, I was in full GP mode, meeting colleagues from the Mercedes family and doing interviews with a number of Canadian journalists. Some of them have been following my career ever since my kart racing years. The fans were ecstatic to have their Grand Prix back and it showed.
Just before the Norisring race, I also spent time in the Austrian Alps, where I took part in a historic car rally behind the wheel of a magnificent 1963 SL 230 Pagode. My girlfriend Franziska served as co-driver and we covered 500 kilometres of divine landscape in three days. What an awesome experience!
With nearly a one-month break, I’ll be heading to Hockenheim in late July to attend the German F1 Grand Prix. DTM action will resume at Nürburgring in early August.
See you soon!
Take care.
Bruno Spengler
www.brunospengler.com
www.scalfaro.com
www.hugoboss.com