Timo Scheider (Audi A4) clinched pole position for the DTM race in Hockenheim, while championship leader Bruno Spengler is in a delicate position as he qualified a lowly 11th place.
After a dry first day of practice in Hockenheim (where Spengler set fastest time overall), the rain started on Saturday morning. The track conditions became very treacherous, with very low temperatures.
Fastest on Friday, Canadian Bruno Spengler endured a tough time Saturday. He struggled in the second free practice session in the morning, where he could not do better than 15th place. He even went off and brushed a tire wall, which is quite unusual for him.
In qualifying, the conditions did not improve the same with Bruno Spengler’s C Class behaviour. Spengler reached the top 14 easily, and qualified for Q2. But then, he could not do better than 11th position, and could not move on to Q3.
It was a big disappointment for Spengler, as Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett, his main championship rivals, took 5th and 3rd places.
Timo Scheider put his Audi A4 on pole position in the slippery conditions. Scheider beat his teammate Mike Rockenfeller, Gary Paffett and another Audi driveer, Alexandre Prémat.
« From the begining of the day, we had a lot of problem to get the tires to their operating temperatures,” Spengler told Auto123.com.
“The car was all over the place with no grip whatsoever. In both the free practice and qualifying session, IU nearly went off several times. I could not go faster in such difficult conditions. It was a lottery, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today was not our day. But tomorrow will be another day, and another chance. You never know what may happen. Everything is possible in the race…”
Hockenheim – Qualifying :
1. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 09) - Abt - 1'37"399 - Q4
2. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 08) - Phoenix - 1'37"856 - Q4
3. Gary Paffett (Mercedes C Klasse 09) - HWA - 1'37"982 - Q4
4. Alexandre Prémat (Audi A4 08) - Phoenix - 1'40"202 - Q4
5. Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C Klasse 09) - HWA - 1'38"179 - Q3
6. Martin Tomczyk (Audi A4 09) - Abt - 1'38"263** - Q3
7. Markus Winkelhock (Audi A4 08) - Rosberg - 1'38"484 - Q3
8. Miguel Molina (Audi A4 08) - Abt - 1'38"804 - Q3
9. Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 09) - Abt - 1'39"286 - Q2
10. Jamie Green (Mercedes C Klasse 08) - HWA - 1'39"432 - Q2
11. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes C Klasse 09) - Persson - 1'39"987 - Q2
etc.
After a dry first day of practice in Hockenheim (where Spengler set fastest time overall), the rain started on Saturday morning. The track conditions became very treacherous, with very low temperatures.
Fastest on Friday, Canadian Bruno Spengler endured a tough time Saturday. He struggled in the second free practice session in the morning, where he could not do better than 15th place. He even went off and brushed a tire wall, which is quite unusual for him.
In qualifying, the conditions did not improve the same with Bruno Spengler’s C Class behaviour. Spengler reached the top 14 easily, and qualified for Q2. But then, he could not do better than 11th position, and could not move on to Q3.
It was a big disappointment for Spengler, as Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett, his main championship rivals, took 5th and 3rd places.
Timo Scheider put his Audi A4 on pole position in the slippery conditions. Scheider beat his teammate Mike Rockenfeller, Gary Paffett and another Audi driveer, Alexandre Prémat.
« From the begining of the day, we had a lot of problem to get the tires to their operating temperatures,” Spengler told Auto123.com.
“The car was all over the place with no grip whatsoever. In both the free practice and qualifying session, IU nearly went off several times. I could not go faster in such difficult conditions. It was a lottery, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today was not our day. But tomorrow will be another day, and another chance. You never know what may happen. Everything is possible in the race…”
Hockenheim – Qualifying :
1. Timo Scheider (Audi A4 09) - Abt - 1'37"399 - Q4
2. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 08) - Phoenix - 1'37"856 - Q4
3. Gary Paffett (Mercedes C Klasse 09) - HWA - 1'37"982 - Q4
4. Alexandre Prémat (Audi A4 08) - Phoenix - 1'40"202 - Q4
5. Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C Klasse 09) - HWA - 1'38"179 - Q3
6. Martin Tomczyk (Audi A4 09) - Abt - 1'38"263** - Q3
7. Markus Winkelhock (Audi A4 08) - Rosberg - 1'38"484 - Q3
8. Miguel Molina (Audi A4 08) - Abt - 1'38"804 - Q3
9. Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 09) - Abt - 1'39"286 - Q2
10. Jamie Green (Mercedes C Klasse 08) - HWA - 1'39"432 - Q2
11. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes C Klasse 09) - Persson - 1'39"987 - Q2
etc.