Gary Paffett (C Class Mercedes) clinched victory in the first round of the 2010 DTM season in Hockenheim. Bruno Spengler took 2nd place.
It is a great achievement for Mercedes, who took 1-2-3-4 at the end of the race, with Green and Di Resta right behind Paffett and Spengler.
Huge disappointment for Audi, whose best car took only 5th position (Mike Rockenfeller). The German brand suffered tires issue during the race. 2008 and 2009 champion Timo Scheider took only 7th place.
David Coulthard had difficult debuts with his 2008 C Class Mercedes. Only 17th on the grid, the Scot took 12th position.
Meanwhile, rookie Miguel Molina had a good start in his DTM career, taking 8th position at his first race.
"I am very happy with this results", said Bruno Spengler to Auto123.com. "I was careful at the start, and I lost some positions when Alexandre Premat’s Audi blocked me in the first lap, in the hairpin in the back of the circuit.
"Then, I quickly was able to push hard and, thanks to a good strategy, I was able to gain positions. I was 3rd after my last pit stop, and I soon passed Jamie Green for 2nd.
"It is a great start of season, but we have to be careful, Audi will react very quickly. The next race, in Valencia, will be ran on a totally different circuit!"
Race Results, Hockenheim:
1. Gary Paffett (Mercedes Classe C) in 1'02'31"580
2. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes Classe C) +0’’567
3. Jamie Green (Mercedes Classe C) + 1’’841
4. Paul Di Resta (Mercedes Classe C) +2’’251
5. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 08) +3’’201
6. Mathias Ekstrom (Audi A4 09) +3’’420
7. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 09) +13’’067
8. Miguel Molina (Audi A4 08) +13’’503
9. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes Classe C 09) +16’’911
10. Alexandre Premat (Audi A4 08) +28’’509
etc.
It is a great achievement for Mercedes, who took 1-2-3-4 at the end of the race, with Green and Di Resta right behind Paffett and Spengler.
Huge disappointment for Audi, whose best car took only 5th position (Mike Rockenfeller). The German brand suffered tires issue during the race. 2008 and 2009 champion Timo Scheider took only 7th place.
David Coulthard had difficult debuts with his 2008 C Class Mercedes. Only 17th on the grid, the Scot took 12th position.
Meanwhile, rookie Miguel Molina had a good start in his DTM career, taking 8th position at his first race.
"I am very happy with this results", said Bruno Spengler to Auto123.com. "I was careful at the start, and I lost some positions when Alexandre Premat’s Audi blocked me in the first lap, in the hairpin in the back of the circuit.
"Then, I quickly was able to push hard and, thanks to a good strategy, I was able to gain positions. I was 3rd after my last pit stop, and I soon passed Jamie Green for 2nd.
"It is a great start of season, but we have to be careful, Audi will react very quickly. The next race, in Valencia, will be ran on a totally different circuit!"
Race Results, Hockenheim:
1. Gary Paffett (Mercedes Classe C) in 1'02'31"580
2. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes Classe C) +0’’567
3. Jamie Green (Mercedes Classe C) + 1’’841
4. Paul Di Resta (Mercedes Classe C) +2’’251
5. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 08) +3’’201
6. Mathias Ekstrom (Audi A4 09) +3’’420
7. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 09) +13’’067
8. Miguel Molina (Audi A4 08) +13’’503
9. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes Classe C 09) +16’’911
10. Alexandre Premat (Audi A4 08) +28’’509
etc.