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.
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.
