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BRUNO SPENGLER - WINNER AT NURBURGRING AUGUST 8, 2010 Nurburg. A dominant lights to flag victory for Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler at the Nurburgring. After 177.821 kilometres, the Canadian crossed the finish line as the winner, scoring the maximum of ten points for the second time this season already after his success at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz. Spengler’s British fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett completed the clean sweep of the podium for Mercedes-Benz. After the fifth DTM season round, the 27-year old is leading the points’ standings with a margin of 16 points over British driver Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz). A total of 86,000 spectators attended the race weekend at the Nurburgring. Spengler commented the seventh DTM race win of his career as follows: “It was a great race. The start was absolutely awesome. I really concentrated on the starting lights. Then I just pushed and tried to keep the other guys behind me. First to third place - that is a great feeling. This is our 100th victory since we have been racing against Audi.”

Reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider was the best placed Audi driver of the day. From eighth place on the grid, he moved up to fourth after a successful start and then defended his position until the end of the race. “The race wasn’t bad: starting eighth and finishing fourth. That is okay and quite a decent result, but all in all, this certainly wasn’t satisfying. Nevertheless, I notice an upward trend”, said Scheider.

Mercedes-Benz driver Green had to withstand attacks by his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Ralf Schumacher for several laps, but remained in front and crossed the finish line in fifth position as the best placed driver of a 2008 spec car ahead of Schumacher. The German scored his first three championship points of the season for finishing sixth. Two times’ DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom wasn’t able to turn his expectations into reality after having claimed pole position in qualifying. The Swede lost valuable places after problems at the start and he took the chequered flag in seventh place. Scot David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) finished tenth in his fifth DTM race. Last year’s winner Martin Tomczyk finished 13th with his Audi A4 DTM.

In the points’ standings, Spengler is leading with 42 points from Green (26 points) and Paffett and Di Resta, who are tied at 25 points each. The sixth DTM race weekend of the year will be held at Zandvoort in The Netherlands from August 20th till 22nd.

Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug: “I just don’t know where to start. That was really good. Today, we really will have a ball. The team has deserved it. I am speechless when I see how quick Mattias was yesterday and what happened today. I thought that he would pull away from us. Apparently, something has changed dramatically overnight. Surely, that was one of our best races ever.”

>>>>>Read more in out RolfsRacing.com DTM Page.

Nuremberg, Gremany

During the annual season highlight of the DTM at the Norisring in Nuremberg, the focus is not only on the current racing action at the track. At the same time, all parties involved are also working hard on the future of the most popular international touring car series. Behind the scenes, those who are responsible are actively setting the course for the future of the DTM.

BMW INTENSIFIES CONTACT WITH THE DTM
At the Norisring, BMW motorsport director Dr. Mario Theissen took part in a meeting of the board of directors and the advisory board of the DTM’s rights holder and marketing organisation ITR e.V. for the first time. At the end of April, BMW had already officially announced its interest in entering the DTM from 2012. This was met with a very positive echo by motorsport fans and media alike.

CO OPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND SERIES
In order to further strengthen the position of the DTM in the international motor racing scene, the ITR e.V., the manufacturers represented in the DTM and the German motorsport federation (DMSB), together with BMW, are working on the international distribution of the planned new technical regulations for the DTM from 2012. Thus, a delegation of the Japanese motorsport federation JAF and representatives from manufacturers is present at the Norisring to intensify talks about a possible adoption of the new DTM regulations for the Japanese GT championship. At an earlier stage, the organisers of the American GrandAm sports car series also had expressed their interest in a co-operation. This would mean an additional international opportunity for running race cars to DTM regulations.

“Currently, a lot of things are going on into a direction that seems to be very positive for the future of the DTM”, says Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of the board of the ITR e.V. “Co operation with Audi and Mercedes Benz, the DMSB and BMW, but also the talks with our international colleagues are very constructive and for us at the ITR, they are a great motivation to keep doing our very best for the future of this great series. We are convinced that our joint efforts are contributing to the ongoing success of the series.”

>>>>>Read all the latest in our RolfsRacing.com News Page.

MATTIAS EKSTROM

For Mattias Ekström, Christmas this year will be on the 20th of June: the Audi “factory” driver and two time DTM Champion has been given the opportunity to contest a race of U.S. NASCAR series for the Red Bull team at Sonoma (California). After successful track tests, one of the biggest motorsport dreams of the 31 year old Swede is coming true.

At the 16th of a total of 36 NASCAR races, Mattias Ekström will drive car number 83. Ekström’s commitment was made possible because regular driver Brian Vickers, for whom the DTM star tested two weeks ago in preparation for the race, is still unable to compete for health reasons. The more than 3.2 kilometer Infineon Raceway in Sonoma Valley is a road course on which 110 race laps are run.

“First of all, I’d like to express my sincere thanks: to Red Bull for inviting a Swede with zero NASCAR experience to compete in the United States. And to Audi for the possibility and approval that enable me to fulfill this dream. This trust by the Audi family gives me additional motivation to return to Europe with a good result and to step on the gas again in Audi’s home race at the Norisring in Nuremberg,” says Mattias Ekström.

Head of Audi Sport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich is sending his 14-time DTM race winner off to the other side of the Atlantic with best wishes. “Mattias’ commitment as a guest entrant impressively shows the prestige which the DTM and the Audi drivers enjoy in the United States too. As early as in his test Mattias showed that he can stand his ground with a new team and a new car on a new track. Now, everyone at Audi is keeping their fingers crossed for him to be able to cause a bit of a sensation in the race with a great performance.”

Ekström’s eager anticipation of the race also contains a considerable amount of awe. “Tests are one thing and they were a good opportunity for me to get accustomed to a NASCAR vehicle. But contesting a race with 42 other cars is totally new territory for me. I’ll simply try and concentrate on my strengths and to stay cool for 350 kilometers.”

The weekend at the Infineon Raceway, which is located a little over an hour’s drive from San Francisco, will start on Friday, June 18, with free practice and qualifying. Two more practice sessions are scheduled on Saturday before the 110 lap race starts at 12.00, local time, on Sunday. 43 cars have been entered in the event. The race at Sonoma is the first of just two races on the calendar which are held on road courses.

>>>>>Read more on Mattias Ekström in RolfsRacing.com DTM Page.

Klettwitz - At the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, under the eyes of the prime minister of the state of Brandenburg, Matthias Platzeck, Canadian Bruno Spengler scored his first DTM race win of the season. After his second places at Hockenheim and Valencia, the Mercedes-Benz driver extended his lead in the points’ standings. With 26 points, he is ahead of his Scottish fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Paul Di Resta (17 points), who crossed the finish line in second place. Di Resta led for the best part of the race, but lost the lead after problems with the left rear wheel change during the second pit stop. “Winning here really is an incredibly good feeling. I have given my girlfriend a nice birthday present today. But it is even more beautiful because we have three Mercedes-Benz drivers on the podium today. Every year, I have said that I want to win the championship. Perhaps, this year I won’t say it - even though it is my goal”, said Spengler after the sixth victory of his DTM career and his first win since Norisring 2007.

Briton Jamie Green completed the 1-2-3 for Mercedes-Benz in the Lausitz region, which made him the best placed driver of a 2008-spec car. German Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller, who was racing a 2008-spec car just like Green, was classified fourth in the third season round. “For me, that was a great weekend of racing and these points are important. Now, we hope that it goes on like this. After all, I came into the DTM to win races. At the moment, I am more than happy with the situation”, said ‘Rocky’ after the race.

For the first time in her career in the DTM, Scottish lady racer Susie Stoddart scored points with her AMG Mercedes C-Class. After a great recovery from twelfth place on the grid, the 27-year old scored two points for finishing seventh. “Today’s points are a way to thank all those who kept their faith in me and kept supporting me”, said a delighted Stoddart.

In hot temperatures and sunny conditions, 79,000 spectators witnessed an exciting DTM weekend. The action already started with an accident on the opening lap. French Audi driver Alexandre Prémat tangled with his fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekström. The Swede spun and collided with David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) and reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider. Prémat retired and the safety car was deployed. Ekström, who was runner-up in the points’ standings prior to the race, parked his car in the pits while Coulthard initially continued after a pit stop. However, two laps after the re-start on lap five, Coulthard had to end his race in the pits, too. Scheider made it to the finish line in eighth place, scoring one point. Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) defended his points’ lead by finishing fifth while Martin Tomczyk scored his first three points of the season for ending up sixth with his Audi A4 DTM.

The fourth DTM race weekend of the year will take place at the Norisring in Nuremberg from July 2nd till 4th.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com DTM Page.

The season finale of this year’s DTM will be held in China on November 28th. This has been agreed prior to the third round of the 2010 DTM season at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz by DTM rights holder ITR e.V. and the Chinese promoter Brilliant Culture Group (BCG). ITR chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht and Maggie Ip, managing director of BCG, announced the signing of the contract during a press conference on Saturday morning.

Hans Werner Aufrecht stated “We are really happy about the signing of the contract with BCG. For us, the reason for having a race in China is obvious: it is one of the most important markets for our manufacturers Audi and Mercedes-Benz.”

The finale of the most popular international touring car series will be taking place in the heart of Shanghai in the Pudong district. Preparations at the track will start immediately after the EXPO 2010 which will close its doors on October 31st. The track will have a length of 3.1 kilometres and includes nine corners.

After the invitational race in 2004, this will be the second time for the DTM to race in the metropolis of Shanghai with its 19 million inhabitants.

25th April Hockenheimring Baden-Wuerttemberg (D)
23th May Valencia (E)
6th June EuroSpeedway Lausitz (D)
4th July Norisring (D)
8th August Nuerburgring (D)
22nd August Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
5th September Brands Hatch (GB)
19th September Oschersleben (D)
17th October Hockenheimring Baden-Wuerttemberg (D)
28th November Shanghai (CN)

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com DTM Page.

Motorsport will continue to play a leading role at BMW, with plans now being implemented for an extensive programme. BMW will significantly expand its activities in the field of production car racing over the coming years: last week the executive board of BMW AG came to a positive policy decision regarding the company’s involvement in the restructured German Touring Car Masters (DTM) from 2012. For this to happen, certain basic requirements must be met. The governing body, the ITR, is currently working on these prerequisites. In anticipation of a positive outcome, BMW Motorsport is making appropriate preparations on the technical side. The final decision is expected during the year.

Dr. Klaus Draeger, the BMW AG board member responsible for development, says: “Following the withdrawal from Formula One, the realignment of our motorsport programme is raising our presence in production car racing to a whole new level. BMW sports and touring cars have achieved success right around the world, and have significantly influenced the brand’s sporting profile right from the word go. For that reason, we see it as a consistent step to return to our roots after bidding farewell to Formula One, and to expand our commitment to this discipline.”

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen adds: “The newly aligned programme offers us many important stages, on which to demonstrate the sporting gene present in BMW vehicles. The planned return to the DTM is an exciting challenge for our team. Over the coming months we will be making all the necessary technical preparations that should allow us to be competitive right from the start should we join the series in 2012. Thanks to its great tradition in production car racing, the BMW M3 is predestined to be used as the basic car.”

BMW enjoys a long history of success in international touring car racing. As early as the 1960s the brand backed up its new position as a premium manufacturer of sporty cars with a succession of championship titles. BMW drivers celebrated a total of twelve European Championship titles with the BMW 2002, BMW 3.0 CSL, and the BMW 635 CSi Coupé. On top of this, Volker Strycek (DE) guided his BMW 635 CSi to victory in the debut season of the DTM in 1984. The BMW M3 lined up for the first time in 1987 - and immediately proved to be a superlative racing car. Roberto Ravaglia (IT) claimed the World Championship title, Winni Vogt (DE) was crowned European Champion, and Eric van de Poele (BE) won the DTM.

After a second European Championship triumph in 1988, Ravaglia gave the brand its third and most recent DTM title to date in the BMW M3 in 1989. BMW has 49 race wins, 30 pole positions and 64 fastest laps to its name in this series. Up to and including 1992, BMW M3 drivers around the world had notched up over 1,500 individual wins and more than 50 international titles.

>>>>>Read all the latest in our Rolfsracing.com News Page.

The starting grid for the 2010 DTM season is complete: the two premium manufacturers involved in DTM - Audi and Mercedes-Benz - both will contest the season with nine cars and drivers. With CongFu Cheng, David Coulthard and Miguel Molina, three drivers are going to make their DTM debut, in the season opener held at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. As reigning champion, Timo Scheider will contest the forthcoming season with the number ’1’ on his car.

NO   DRIVER             COUNTRY   TEAM                            CAR
 1   Timo Scheider      Germany   Audi Sport Team Abt             Audi 2009
 2   Oliver Jarvis      G Britain Audi Sport Team Abt             Audi 2009
 3   Gary Paffett       G Britain Salzgitter AMG Mercedes         Mercedes-Benz 2009
 4   Bruno Spengler     Canada    Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG          Mercedes-Benz 2009
 5   Mattias Ekstrom    Sweden    Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  Audi 2009
 6   Martin Tomczyk     Germany   Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  Audi 2009
 7   Paul di Resta      Scotland  AMG Mercedes                    Mercedes-Benz 2009
 8   Ralf Schumacher    Germany   Laureus AMG Mercedes            Mercedes-Benz 2009
 9   Alexandre Premat   France    Audi Sport Team Phoenix         Audi 2008
10   Mike Rockenfeller  Germany   Audi Sport Team Phoenix         Audi 2008
11   Jamie Green        G Britain Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes       Mercedes-Benz 2008
12   Susie Stoddart     G Britain TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes       Mercedes-Benz 2008
14   Markus Winkelhock  Germany   Audi Sport Team Rosberg         Audi 2008
15   Katherine Legge    G Britain Audi Sport Team Rosberg         Audi 2008
16   Maro Engel         Germany   GQ AMG Mercedes                 Mercedes-Benz 2008
17   David Coulthard    G Britain AMG Mercedes                    Mercedes-Benz 2008
18   Migel Molina       Spain     Audi Sport Rookie Team Abt      Audi 2008
21   CongFu Cheng       China     stern AMG Mercedes              Mercedes-Benz 2008

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com DTM Pages.

The year 2010 could hardly have started any better for Audi “factory” driver Tom Kristensen: The Dane was voted “Sportsman of the Decade” as many as two times in his native Denmark. The TV channel “TV2″ as well as the major daily newspaper “Berlingske Tidende” awarded the prestigious title to the record Le Mans winner.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me and helped me receive these two awards,” said the Audi driver. “Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being so successful some day. But back then I had the great fortune of joining Audi. It’s a big privilege to have been a member of one of the world’s best race teams for as much as a decade now.”

The eight-time Le Mans winner clearly prevailed against such popular athletes as tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki, bicycle racer Michael Rasmussen and U.S. football star Morten Andersen in the votings.

Tom Kristensen was also recently recognized by the British racing magazine “Autosport,” which voted the Dane “Sports Car Driver of the Decade,” followed in second place by Allan McNish as another Audi “factory” driver.

Tom Kristensen has been competing for Audi since 2000 and has meanwhile won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) eight times, the 12 Hour Race at Sebring (USA) five times, the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (USA) and the LMP1 title in the American Le Mans Series in 2002. In addition, the Dane contested the DTM for Audi from 2004 to 2009, celebrating a total of four victories in the Audi A4.

In 2010, Tom Kristensen wants to fully concentrate on his greatest passion: on sports car races with Audi. Yet again, the highlight will be the 24 Hour Race at Le Mans on June 12/13.

Hockenheim. Briton Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) has won the tenth DTM season round at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. After 39 laps at the 4.574 kilometres long circuit, he crossed the finish line in first place with his AMG Mercedes C-Class. For Paffett, it was the 14th DTM race win of his career and the fourth victory of the season. Timo Scheider (Audi) has successfully defended his DTM title: finishing second in the season finale at Hockenheim was enough for the German to win the drivers’ title again. Third place in the final round of the season at Hockenheim went to Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz), Alexandre Prémat (Audi) finished fourth. The Frenchman was the best-placed driver with a year-old car. The final point-scoring positions were taken by Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz), Oliver Jarvis (Audi), Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) and Markus Winkelhock (Audi).

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com DTM Page.

Tom Kristensen will contest his 60th and last DTM race at Hockenheim. The 42-year-old Dane’s sporting track record includes nine pole positions, four race victories, 18 podium places and 212 points. Audi honors the achievements of its “factory” driver, who was part of the DTM driver line-up for six years since the brand’s return to the series in 2004, with special graphics on his car, for all the fans to see. The red white Audi A4 DTM will be emblazoned with an inscription in German, “Danke Tom fur tolle Jahre in der DTM” (Thank you, Tom, for fantastic years in the DTM) and “Held og lykke, Tom” in his Danish native tongue as well as a large portrait picture on the hood.

Several executive board members of AUDI AG would not miss being personally present at the title decision at Hockenheim. Rupert Stadler, the Chairman of the Executive Board, as well as his colleagues Michael Dick (Technical Development) and Frank Dreves (Production) will support the brand’s DTM squad on location at the crucial tenth round.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com News Page.

Dijon-Prenois. For the first time this season, Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) is on pole position. In qualifying for the ninth DTM season round at Dijon-Prenois in France, the Canadian set the fastest time of 1:19,914 minutes. Another AMG Mercedes C-Class will be lining up alongside Spengler on the front row of the grid: Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) claimed second place. Tom Kristensen (Audi) and Mattias Ekström (Audi) will be starting from third and fourth place. The best-placed driver of a year-old car in the battle for grid positions was Maro Engel (Mercedes-Benz): the German ended up fifth and will be ahead of Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz) on the grid on Sunday. For DTM points’ leader Timo Scheider, qualifying was already over after the first heat. He will be starting into the race from 16th place.

Ingolstadt Aug. 25, 2009- For the first time since its victorious debut at Sebring in March, the technologically innovative Audi R15 TDI will again compete in an endurance race in the USA: On September 26, Audi Sport Team Joest will contest the 1000-mile “Petit Le Mans” race, which is part of the American Le Mans Series, at Road Atlanta (Georgia) with two cars. The two diesel powered racing sports cars will be driven by Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) as well as the two Germans Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner. DTM racer Mike Rockenfeller is planned to be the team’s reserve driver.

“The race at Road Atlanta already marks the first part of our preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We want to use it as an opportunity for our engineers to learn even more about the new Audi R15 TDI in direct competition with strong rivals. A lot of things can be simulated on test rigs and in track tests. But nothing can replace the experience gathered in actual racing events.”

“We’re convinced that we weren’t able to fully exploit the potential of the R15 TDI at Le Mans,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “At Road Atlanta, we’ll have the opportunity to test on Sunday before the race so that we should be in a better position than we were at Le Mans. Despite the strong competition by Acura/Honda, Peugeot, Mazda, Oreca and other prototype teams we figure on having good chances of fighting for victory, as we did over the past few years.”

Audi will contest the “Petit Le Mans” race for as much as the tenth time this year and has been unbeaten there so far. The Audi R8 won six times, the Audi R10 TDI three. Now, the plan is for the Audi R15 TDI to continue this impressive string of exploits.

>>>>>Visit our RolfsRacing.com ALMS Page.

Nürburg. And Audi it is again. Also in the sixth qualifying of the year, a driver of the car manufacturer from Ingolstadt claimed first place on the grid. German driver Martin Tomczyk lapped the 3.629 kilometres long sprint circuit of the Nürburgring in 1:23.489 and thus claimed his seventh pole position in the DTM. “Of course, I am delighted with being on pole. The Nürburgring is one of my favourite circuits. After free practice this morning, I was really confident. Setting the fastest lap on Friday was the icing on the cake”, the 27-year old said. Alongside Tomczyk, Canadian Bruno Spengler will be starting from second place into Sunday’s race with his AMG Mercedes C-Class. He was 0.195 seconds down on the pole-sitter. After qualifying, Spengler said: “To be honest, I am very happy with second place. That was far from easy today. However, I gave my best and the balance of the car was good. I will try to complete a race without any mistakes.”

In summer conditions, Mattias Ekström with his Audi A4 DTM set the third-fastest time. Together with British driver Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), the Swede is leading in the points’ standings with 28 points. However, Paffett is in a significantly worse position for the race. Due to an engine misfire, he only reached 16th place on the starting grid. With Timo Scheider, another Audi driver is lining up on the second grid row alongside Ekström. A situation that promises a lot of excitement in the race because the reigning DTM champion is only one point behind Ekström.

British driver Oliver Jarvis again showed a good performance in qualifying. The best-placed driver of a 2008-spec car, the 25-year old Audi driver will be starting from fifth place into the sixth round of the season of the most popular international touring car series. For Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz), the four-heat qualifying session was already over after the first session. The ex-Formula 1 driver will be starting 15th.

The race on Sunday will cover a distance of 48 laps, equalling 174.192 kilometres. The start is at 14.00 h (ARD live from 13.45 h).

Oschersleben. With his Audi A4 DTM, Danish driver Tom Kristensen claimed pole position for the fifth DTM season round at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. In the fourth and final qualifying heat, the Audi driver lapped the 3.696 kilometres long circuit in the area near Magdeburg in 1:21.352 minutes. Lining up alongside Kristensen on the front row will be his team-mate, reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider, who qualified second. The second grid row was also locked out by Audi: Martin Tomczyk claimed third place on the grid, Mattias Ekström was fourth. Oliver Jarvis (Audi) finished as the best-placed driver with a year-old car in fifth. The fastest AMG Mercedes C-Class was driven by Bruno Spengler, the Canadian will be starting from sixth place.

Zandvoort. In qualifying for the fourth DTM season round at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, British driver Oliver Jarvis caused a big surprise. With his 2008-spec Audi A4 DTM, the 25-year old set the fastest time. Thus, a year-old car will be on pole for the first time in history of the DTM. In the final heat of the four-way qualifying, Jarvis outpaced Gary Paffett (GB) and Bruno Spengler (CDN), both with current-spec AMG Mercedes C-Class cars, who ended up second and third respectively. “I am very proud. We knew that we were quick and that it would be very close between the new cars and the year-old cars. Tomorrow’s race will be very difficult. But I am not worrying too much, because starting from pole, I have it all in my hands”, the Brit said, happy about his maiden pole position in the DTM. For Audi, it was the 48th DTM pole. Second-placed Paffett commented after qualifying: “We expected the Audis to be quicker today. But we have a quick car and we have the right pace. Still, I hadn’t expected to end up second. Today, the car was very good and so it will be tomorrow.”

German Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller, also with a year-old car, showed a convincing performance, ending up fourth fastest. He was followed by Paul Di Resta (GB/Mercedes-Benz), Alexandre Prémat (F/Audi), Norisring-winner Jamie Green (GB/Mercedes-Benz) and German Martin Tomczyk with his Audi A4 DTM.

Three Audi drivers with new cars were rather disappointed. Last year’s race winner at Zandvoort, Mattias Ekström (S), and his fellow Audi drivers Tom Kristensen (DK) and defending champion Timo Scheider, were already out after the second qualifying heat. They will be starting from ninth, tenth and eleventh place into the first race outside of Germany of this season. After scoring his best DTM result to date in the Norisring round, Ralf Schumacher had a setback. The team of the Mercedes-Benz driver opted for a wrong strategy and the ex-Formula 1 driver will be last on the grid.

The race on Sunday is scheduled for 41 laps, a total of 176.587 kilometres. The start is at 14.00 h (ARD live from 13.45).