DTM, Lausitz.

Gary Paffett won last weekend’s DTM race in his Mercedes giving the Stuttgart manufacturer a much needed win after the first round drubbing they suffered at the hands of Audi. Lausitz proved to be a far better venue for Mercedes teams as Audi only managed to fill 3 of the top 11 places. Highest placed Audi driver was Mattias Ekstrom who finished 3rd overall.

DTM Hockenheim.

Germany’s premier touring car championship, the DTM {link}, got underway last weekend at Hockenheim. With north Audi and Mercedes investing large amounts of time and effort into their challenges the racing is always close fought and entertaining.
Preseason testing had indicated that Mercedes had a clear speed advantage and the race at Hockenheimring was expected to favour those driving cars with three pointed stars.
Interestingly the race proved to be an Audi benefit with Tom Kristensen leading home another 3 Audis as the Ingolstadt marque locked out the top 4 overall positions. But for a late puncture the top 5 positions would have been held by Audi as erstwhile race leader Mattias Ekstrom surrendered his 9 second lead when he pitted to change his punctured left rear tyre.
Fifth overall and the honour of being the top Mercedes driver fell to Paul di Resta although he was some 21 seconds behind the victorious Audi of Kristensen.
Kristensen ended an almost 3 year draught of DTMs wins at Hockenheim and heads into the next race at EuroSpeedway Lausitz (31st May) in buoyant mood.

2008 DTM final standings

Driver Championship

1. Scheider 75

2. Di Resta 71

3. Ekström 56

4. Green 52

5. Spengler 38

6. Schneider 34

7. Tomczyk 32

8. Kristensen 27

9. Paffett 13

10. Prémat 10

Team Championship

1. Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG Mercedes 109

2. Audi Sport Team Abt 102

3. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 88

4. Salzgitter/Original-Teile AMG Mercedes 86

5. Audi Sport Team Phoenix 15

Audi dominate DTM.

Audi drivers finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall (top 10 results below) at the first round of this year’s DTM series. The podium lockout was a surprise for everyone, not least Audi who didn’t expect such a dramatic showing of speed from their new-for-2008 A4 race car. Mercedes had a disappointing event with 2008 title hopeful Paul di Resta challenging the lead Audi brace before slipping down the field when a clutch problem cost him over 30 seconds at his second scheduled pit stop. New boy and ex-Formula driver Ralf Schumacher made a solid series debut in his older spec car finishing a creditable, if unspectacular, 14th overall. Audi’s new British drivers had mixed results with Oliver Jarvis taking an impressive 9th at the chequered flag and Katherine Legge finishing 18th.
Mercedes are a little under pressure as the next DTM race is on the 20th April at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.

Top 10 results DTM Round 1
1 Mattias Ekstrom Audi
2 Timo Scheider Audi
3 Tom Kristensen Audi
4 Bruno Spengler Mercedes
5 Martin Tomczyk Audi
6 Jamie Green Mercedes
7 Gary Paffett Mercedes
8 Bernd Schneider Mercedes
9 Oliver Jarvis Audi
10 Mike Rockenfeller Audi

DTM 2007.

The German Touring Car Championship (DTM) {link} is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious saloon car race series in the world. The DTM had one of its most fascinating and enjoyable seasons ever. The only thing never in doubt was that the winning driver was going to be in a German car. As it was Audi beat arch rivals Mercedes to both the Driver’s and Team’s championships; highly talented Swede Mattias Ekström taking the Driver’s crown with Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline sealing the team honours.
With new cars from both Mercedes (C Class) and Audi (A4) due for 2008 it looks like being another stunning race for the championship as the south German manufacturers renew their battle for DTM supremacy.