Audi's Mattias Ekstrom won the DTM race at Le Mans today as rain came in to provoke chaos and shortened the gap between series leader Timo Scheider and Paul di Resta who kept the title battle alive with second place.
Right from the start of the race most Mercedes drivers were in trouble as they had selected to start on wet tyres while their Audi opponents were on slicks and took the advantage.
Things were looking grim for Paul di Resta who had to come in early to change to slicks. Meanwhile, both Ekstrom and Scheider were looking as though they were going to finish the race in first and second; therefore giving the title to Scheider.
But a rain shower towards the end of the pit window played into di Resta's hands. As the only driver still with a mandatory stop to make, he took wets, and shortly afterwards everyone else was in to make an extra stop.
Race Results:
Pos Driver Car Time
1. Mattias Ekström Audi 41 1:10:11.103
2. Paul Di Resta Mercedes 41 + 4.250
3. Alexandre Prémat Audi 41 + 10.946
4. Gary Paffett Mercedes 41 + 11.393
5. Bernd Schneider Mercedes 41 + 17.200
6. Timo Scheider Audi 41 + 18.806
7. Bruno Spengler Mercedes 41 + 19.318
8. Tom Kristensen Audi 41 + 20.074
9. M.Rockenfeller Audi 41 + 26.014
10. Jamie Green Mercedes 41 + 29.940
11. Markus Winkelhock Audi 41 + 31.645
12. Susie Stoddart Mercedes 41 + 1:28.642
13. Christijan Albers Audi 41 + 1:39.120
14. Maro Engel Mercedes 40 + 1 lap
15. Mathias Lauda Mercedes 40 + 1 lap
16. Katherine Legge Audi 39 + 2 laps
Retirements
Oliver Jarvis Audi 26
Martin Tomczyk Audi 1
Ralf Schumacher Mercedes 0
Right from the start of the race most Mercedes drivers were in trouble as they had selected to start on wet tyres while their Audi opponents were on slicks and took the advantage.
Things were looking grim for Paul di Resta who had to come in early to change to slicks. Meanwhile, both Ekstrom and Scheider were looking as though they were going to finish the race in first and second; therefore giving the title to Scheider.
But a rain shower towards the end of the pit window played into di Resta's hands. As the only driver still with a mandatory stop to make, he took wets, and shortly afterwards everyone else was in to make an extra stop.
Race Results:
Pos Driver Car Time
1. Mattias Ekström Audi 41 1:10:11.103
2. Paul Di Resta Mercedes 41 + 4.250
3. Alexandre Prémat Audi 41 + 10.946
4. Gary Paffett Mercedes 41 + 11.393
5. Bernd Schneider Mercedes 41 + 17.200
6. Timo Scheider Audi 41 + 18.806
7. Bruno Spengler Mercedes 41 + 19.318
8. Tom Kristensen Audi 41 + 20.074
9. M.Rockenfeller Audi 41 + 26.014
10. Jamie Green Mercedes 41 + 29.940
11. Markus Winkelhock Audi 41 + 31.645
12. Susie Stoddart Mercedes 41 + 1:28.642
13. Christijan Albers Audi 41 + 1:39.120
14. Maro Engel Mercedes 40 + 1 lap
15. Mathias Lauda Mercedes 40 + 1 lap
16. Katherine Legge Audi 39 + 2 laps
Retirements
Oliver Jarvis Audi 26
Martin Tomczyk Audi 1
Ralf Schumacher Mercedes 0