Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) won the 2010 DTM’s third round at the Lausitzring. After 52 laps (180.856 kms), Paul Di Resta who had started from the 100th DTM pole position of Mercedes-Benz came home second ahead of Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class). For the second time after the quadruple win in the season opener at Hockenheim on 25th April, there were again three C-Class drivers on the podium.
After a personal long lean period, Bruno Spengler who has won the last time at the Norisring in 2007, achieved the 70th win for Mercedes-Benz in the new DTM since 2000 and the ninth in the 11th race at the Lausitzring. Mercedes-Benz has now won 154 out of 323 races since the brand had entered the DTM with a factory team in 1988.
Winning his seventh DTM race and achieving his third continuous podium finish, Spengler extended his overall lead to now 26 points. Paul Di Resta is second on 17 points ahead of Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), fifth today, on 16 points. Salzgitter/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG with Spengler/Paffett leads the team ranking with 42 points; this can be compared to the Constructors’ Championship in Formula One.
Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) was in the lead once during the first round of pit stops and ended up seventh – the Scottish lady took her first DTM points. Fellow countryman David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) however missed them. Having qualified a strong eighth for only his third DTM race he was involved in a first-lap incident without own fault and had to retire on lap three.
Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) missed a points finish by 8.103sec and came home ninth. CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished 12th and Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) ended up 15th. After being hit by Oliver Jarvis (Audi) he had to make an unscheduled third pit stop.
A total of 79,000 spectators attended the DTM race at the Lausitzring during the weekend.
The start:Starting from pole position for the third time in his DTM career, Paul Di Resta maintained the top spot into the first corner ahead of Bruno Spengler, second in qualifying, and Jamie Green who moved up from fourth on the grid. David Coulthard, who had qualified eighth in only his third DTM race, made a poor start and at turn 5 he was involved in an incident of two Audi drivers without own fault. He made it back to the pits and rejoined the race after repairs one lap down.
Lap 5: Re-start. Paul Di Resta was in the lead ahead of Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green. Last year’s winner Gary Paffett, ninth in qualifying, was already in fifth position. David Coulthard went back to the pits and retired.
Lap 7:Maro Engel made an unscheduled pit stop because of damage at the right rear after being hit by Oliver Jarvis.
Lap 14:Gary Paffett (sixth) came into the pits for his first stop.
Lap 16:Susie Stoddart drove in fourth position.
Lap 18: Paul Di Resta pitted from the lead and Bruno Spengler took first place ahead of Jamie Green. CongFu Cheng (10th) completed his first stop.
Lap 19: Bruno Spengler (first) came into the pits. Jamie Green, now in the top spot, followed one lap later.
Lap 21:The new leader Susie Stoddart pitted and Paul Di Resta was back in first place.
Lap 25:Ralf Schumacher (sixth) came in for his first routine halt.
Lap 29:First mandatory stop by Maro Engel (13th) who had picked up new tyres already on lap seven. Gary Paffett (sixth) pitted for the second time one lap later.
Lap 31:Second stop by Ralf Schumacher (eighth).
Lap 34:Paul Di Resta completed his second stop from the lead. He lost about three seconds because the left rear wheel nut got stuck.
Lap 35:Bruno Spengler (first) and Jamie Green (second) came in simultaneously. Spengler resumed just ahead of Paul Di Resta.
Lap 36:Susie Stoddart (third) completed her second stop. Two laps later, also CongFu Cheng (10th) pitted for the second time.
Lap 38:All drivers had completed their mandatory stops. Bruno Spengler held the lead ahead of Paul Di Resta and Jamie Green. Gary Paffett was fifth and Susie Stoddart seventh.
Finish (lap 52):Triple win for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Bruno Spengler took victory ahead of Paul Di Resta and Jamie Green. Gary Paffett came home fifth and Susie Stoddart seventh – one place ahead of two-times champion Timo Scheider (Audi) she clinched her first DTM points.
Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) winner: “It’s a great feeling to finally win again after three years. Already on the final lap I had goose bumps and now I am only happy. I thank my team for a perfect car, perfect pit stops and a perfect strategy. The victory is also a birthday present for my girlfriend Franziska. Sorry for Paul and the mishap during his stop.”
Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) second:”I had everything under control and was in an easy lead. However, during my second pit stop I lost a lot of time and I dropped to second place. After pole position and such a good race, this is really disappointing. But I am second overall and there is still a long season ahead of us.”
Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) third: “A very good race for me and I am happy that I finished on the podium again with my 2008 car.”
Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) fifth: “Following the poor qualifying and starting ninth on the grid it is important to take at least four points. I lacked a bit of speed and was not able to chase Mike Rockenfeller in front of me.”
Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) seventh: “In the points – finally! This is my best race and my most beautiful day in DTM so far. My C-Class was great and our team did an excellent job. With these points I also want to say thank you to everybody at Mercedes-Benz and Persson Motorsport who did not stop to support me.”
Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth: “Today I had quite a solid speed and starting 17th on the grid, the ninth-place finish is quite reasonable. I have to improve in the qualifyings, and then I should achieve better race results.”
CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) 12th:”A solid race for me. I still have to learn how to make my way through the field.”
Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) 15th: “After Oliver Jarvis had run into me, my car’s body was bent down onto the right rear tyre, so I had to pit. Afterwards my C-Class was ok again, but I was too far behind the field to improve my position.”
David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired due to an accident without own fault: “I made a poor start and lost some positions. At turn 5, I suddenly saw Mattias Ekström right in front of me and was not able to avoid him. The impact broke my suspension and I couldn’t continue. It’s a shame, particularly after my really good qualifying, but basically we move forward and now I look forward to the Norisring.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:”A great race for us and a nice triple victory: congratulations to Bruno, Paul and Jamie, well done, guys. Sorry for the problem during Paul’s pit stop. Susie Stoddart was sensational – she took her first points in the DTM. This is our eighth win out of the last 12 races – our C-Class and its drivers and teams were real class.”
A selection of statements by the Mercedes-Benz DTM team before the third round of the 2010 DTM season:
Gary Paffett, DTM Champion 2005, runner-up in 2009 championship and winner of last year’s DTM race at Lausitzring:
“Particularly in the first sector, the Lausitzring is characterised by fast direction changes that challenge both the driver and car. There is a particularly good overtaking opportunity at the first corner, when we have to brake down from 250 km/h to 70 km/h within a few seconds. My victory from seventh grid position last year shows that overtaking is certainly possible on the EuroSpeedway.”
Bruno Spengler, DTM Runner-Up in 2006 and 2007, leader in the overall ranking after two races in the 2010 DTM season:
“This racetrack is technically very demanding thanks to the high-speed parts on the Trioval, and the comparatively slow, winding infield. The short intervals between acceleration, braking and cornering test the drivers and cars to the limits. This means a compromise between top speed and downforce for the set up.”
Ralf Schumacher, taking part at the Lausitzring for the third time:
“After my modest results in the first two DTM races, I am well motivated for the race at Lausitzring. The track is the third-shortest on the race calendar with a length of 3.5 kilometres, but it holds plenty in store. Entering the pits is particularly tricky, as we exit the last bend at 220 km/h and need to brake to 80 km/h in just over two seconds. My goal is to win my first points of the season at Lausitzring.”
David Coulthard, is starting his third DTM race at the Lausitzring:
“The race on the Lausitzring is a home event for my Berlin-based team Mücke Motorsport, and will be my premiere on this track. I have already heard a great deal about this course from my team colleagues, and also about the fantastic atmosphere along the roughly one-kilometre start-finishing straight in front of the main grandstand. I aim to improve significantly, and be nearer the front after the qualifying.”
Norbert Haug:
“Mercedes-Benz has an almost exemplary record for DTM races at Lausitzring. We have won 8 of the 10 races staged here, the most previous one being last year’s DTM race. In contrast to the qualifying and warm-up, we were far from achieving the desired speed on the last DTM Sunday in Valencia, and everybody in the team will be working hard to deliver a better performance at the Lausitzring.”
Schedule: EuroSpeedway Lausitz
Friday 04.06.2010
Saturday 05.06.2010
Sunday 06.06.2010
Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) finished the 2010 DTM’s second round at Valencia, Spain in second place and was the best Mercedes driver. After 45 laps. Bruno crossed the line third, 3.547 seconds behind winner Mattias Ekström (Audi); however, after the stewards of the meeting excluded Martin Tomczyk (Audi) from the race, he moved up one position.
Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) ended up fifth and Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), the winner of the season opener at Hockenheim four weeks ago finished sevenhth.
Spengler, second at Hockenheim, achieved his second consecutive podium finish and took the overall lead with 16 points. Ekström is second on 13 points and Paffett third with 12 points.
Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home ninth ahead of Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class), Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) and CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class).
Former Formula One drivers David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired; David on lap 38 from 14th place with a broken gear shift control and Ralf on lap 24 from 14th position due to misfire as the consequence of an electronic engine control failure.
A total of 21,000 spectators attended the DTM’s racing premiere at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo during the weekend.
The start:
Starting second on the grid, Bruno Spengler was second at the first corner. Paul Di Resta improved from fifth to fourth whilst Gary Paffett, fourth in qualifying, dropped to eighth place following a coming-together with Alexandre Prémat (Audi). Maro Engel was pushed into a spin and was 17th at the end of the field after the opening lap.
Lap 11: Gary Paffett (ninth) came into the pits for his first routine halt. Bruno Spengler (fourth) and Maro Engel (15th) followed one lap later.
Lap 14: Paul Di Resta (first) pitted and so did David Coulthard (ninth) and CongFu Cheng (13th).
Lap 15: Ralf Schumacher (fith) and Susie Stoddart (sixth) completed their respective first stops.
Lap 19: Second pit stop by Maro Engel (17th).
Lap 21: Gary Paffett (11th) pitted for the second time.
Lap 24: Bruno Spengler (fourth) came into the pits for his second stop, followed by David Coulthard (12th). Ralf Schumacher was 14th when he retired in the pits due to misfire. One lap later, Paul Di Resta (sixth) and Susie Stoddart (10th) completed their second stops.
Lap 26: Jamie Green (second) pitted for the first time.
Lap 29: Second pit stop by CongFu Cheng (13th).
Lap 35: Jamie Green (first) is the last driver with a routine pit stop.
Lap 36: After the second round of pit stops, Bruno Spengler was the best C-Class driver in fourth place.
Lap 38: David Coulthard had improved to 12th place when he had to pit with a broken gear shift control.
Finish (lap 45): Bruno Spengler took the chequered flag third; Paul Di Resta ended up sixth and Gary Paffett eighth. After Martin Tomczyk was excluded, they all moved up one position respectively.
Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) second:
“The track was very slippery and the conditions had changed completely after this morning’s warm-up. Ekström was faster here today, after we had dominated in Hockenheim, but that’s what happens in the DTM. I am happy to take the overall lead and of course I would like to say this again after another eight races. I will now focus on the next race at the Lausitzring in two weeks.”
Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) fifth:”
My start was very good; however, I struggled with the balance of my car and had a lot of oversteer.”
Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) seventh:
“I lacked speed and downforce from the very beginning. Then I was hit hard four or five times and my car was damaged. All in all a difficult race for me, but at least I scored two points.”
Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth:
“After the start I got stuck in traffic and lost time. When I had a clear track, I was faster, but it was already too late to improve.”
Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 10th:
“10th place is not so bad. In the beginning, I was following David and hoping for a chance to pass him, but he was too fast for me.”
Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) 11th:
“On the first lap I was pushed into a spin, my engine stalled and when I continued I was 20sec behind the field. That was it.”
CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) 12th:
“After a good start I had problems with my first set of tyres, which disappeared after my first pit stop. Then I had a coming-together, my car was damaged and I was not able to improve.”
David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired:
“I started very well and gained a few positions; however, afterwards I was pushed wide and lost again same places. My race was pretty uneventful until on lap 38, when I retired due to a broken gear shift control.”
Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired:
“When the misfire began the team told me to try and continue, but the problem became worse and I lost more and more speed – it just didn’t make sense.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
“A race with little excitement, in which we were not able to produce the speed of the two previous days and thus contributed our part to the lack of thrill. Bruno Spengler is the overall leader and we are also first in the team ranking. Some incidents looked a bit strange to me and were completely unnecessary – this has to change in the future. We now look forward to the next race at the Lausitzring and I hope that there we will present speed good enough for winning during three days.”
The second round of the DTM Season will be held in Valencia this weekend, May 23rd and as Norbert Haug put it, it is the “premiere of DTM”.. Valencia’s circuit is new and state-of-the-art. Following its opening, on 19th September, 1999, it quickly established as a popular and renowned motor-racing venue. You can see nearly the entire racetrack from every grandstand. Turn one is particularly fast and on the way to turn two, the drivers are offered overtaking opportunities that are just as good as the ones in the infield.
Below, a selection of statements from the Mercedes-Benz DTM Team before the second race of the 2010 DTM season.
Gary Paffett, DTM Champion in 2005, runner-up in the 2009 season, and winner of the first DTM race of the 2010 season in Hockenheim:
“Winning the season opener at Hockenheimring gave me a perfect start into the new season. The course in Valencia confronts us with challenges which are partly different from those in Hockenheim. Valencia has many twists and turns that are very demanding on car and driver. After many laps of Formula 1 testing, I am very well acquainted with the circuit and it would be ideal if I could defend my lead in the standings there.”
Jamie Green took third place as best driver of a past-year model in the first DTM race of the 2010 season in Hockenheim:
“Hockenheim showed that I can compete with the best, and my third-place finish was a good start. The differently banked curves make the circuit in Valencia especially demanding, and finding a good setup is the key to success.”
Ralf Schumacher, fastest driver on all four test days in March 2010 in Valencia:
“I am especially looking forward to Valencia. The course suits me well and I clocked good times here during the winter tests. We shall see what they are worth up against competition. I’d like to make up for the mishap in the qualifying in Hockenheim with a good result here.”
David Coulthard, competing in his second DTM race in Valencia:
“Although my showing in my first DTM race was anything but impressive, I really enjoyed my debut in Hockenheim. Together with the team I analyzed the mistakes I made and where I have to improve. I definitely want to work on my qualifying performance – a good starting position is important to get a good result on the narrow course. I am very familiar with the circuit from many Formula 1 tests, but that doesn’t mean to say that this will be a big advantage to me in the DTM car.”
Norbert Haug:
“For Valencia this is the premiere of the DTM, but the course isn’t new to drivers and teams since pre-season tests took place there. We’ve won seven of the last ten DTM races and will try to deliver a good piece of work in Valencia too.”
It’s Friday ladies and gentlemen, and I must preface this article with a brief disclaimer: if you’re at work reading this, your mood is almost certainly going to get a bit more somber, because right now, as we speak, a caravan of incredibly gorgeous historic Mercedes-Benz models are traversing the beautiful Italian countryside in the 2010 Mille Miglia, and you (we) are missing it. All is not lost, however, because despite our unfortunate placement, we’ve still got firsthand coverage for you from the event, and believe me when I tell you, the Mercedes models on hand are truly a sight to behold.
The festivities for the 2010 Mille Miglia actually kicked off yesterday in Italy, after heavy rain finally gave way to sunny conditions. A total of 15 classic Mercedes-Benz models made the journey to Italy – nine Mercedes 300SL Gullwings, three Mercedes SSK’s, one Mercedes SS, one Mercedes 220A and one W194 prototype I – the largest factory team turnout for the event. Also on hand for Mercedes are ex-Forumla 1 drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard.
The first leg saw the drivers get underway from the norther Italian city of Brescia, with the teams traveling a total of 193 kilometers through Sirmione, Castel D’Ario and Cento before reaching Bologna, thus ending the first stage. Next up is the longer, second stage of the journey – one that will see drivers make their way from Bologna south through Repubblica Di San Marino and Rieti before they eventually conclude at the Italian capital of Roma.
We’ll keep you updated throughout the Mille Miglia 2010 with additional photos and details; but in the meantime, check out the first wave of photos from the Mille Miglia’s first stage in the gallery below.
With bright eyes, square jaw, striking face and a big grin – David Coulthard is an eye-catcher. The Scot has an aura that attracts everyone’s attention. As attractive as his success is and the fact that he drives in the 2010 DTM as an excellent racer is noteworthy, but as an individual, Coulthard is also a great addition to the human race.
Once addicted, always addicted
After only a year away and his F1 farewell in 2008 he is back in the racing world. In the DTM with Mercedes-Benz. Norbert Haug and his men can also be proud of this coup. “DC” is a star. Such types can bring a real racing series only forward. At least, humanly, morally and in terms of image.
Whether DC also sports an added value may be, will turn out. It starts in a 2008-spec C-Class mosquito teams – there, where Ralf Schumacher his “apprentice” year graduated. For a team that has a lot of experience and DTM Peter Mücke in a calm, serene as head teacher.
“I would like to try it by myself and make the challenge of DTM. I do not have a defined goal, but simply want to make with my friends again at Mercedes motorsport, “said Coulthard his motivation to compete with the world’s best touring car aces. There it is again: this radiation, this karma. It deprives them of their estimates from simple and wishes him that will be the DTM-entry more than a brief interlude. David Coulthard will be good for the DTM – just as it has done before, fetched from Mercedes Jean Alesi, Mika Hakkinen and Ralf Schumacher.
Held in Formula 1
Coulthard’s career in racing runs initially as textbook: As a child turns David Klein, the first laps in the kart, he shows great talent in dealing with the gas pedal and steering wheel. In Scottish championships in the 80’s he giving his competitor for many years no chance. The reward: 1989 is the now adult Coulthard honored with the “McLaren Autosport BRDC Award – the most prestigious award for young racers. The ticket simply for a successful career. Coulthard also gives the award a boost. It rises up in the Formula racing. In 1991, he travels in the team of Paul Stewart, son of former Formula 1 world champion Jackie Stewart, in the British Formula 3 Championship and won second place overall. In the same year he wins both the Formula 3 Grand Prix in Macau as well as the Formula 3 Masters, and thereby gains the two most prestigious races in the Formula 3 circus. Coulthard climbs logically the next stage of the career ladder: Formula 3000 Championship – the second division under the first formula Furthermore, for Paul Stewart. In 1993, the dream comes from Formula 1 in performance: The Williams-Renault team requires him as a test driver in the top class. ” Full-Coulthard remains in the Formula 3000 For the Pacific team, he occupied overall.
Then the year that he will never forget. 1994 Grand Prix of San Marino. Formula 1 experienced one of its saddest days. Williams superstar Ayrton Senna fatal accident. Team boss Frank Williams has to make a difficult decision. He gives his inexperienced replacement driver Coulthard a chance – and using them. In eight operations to the end of the season he runs five times in the points, including once on the podium in Portugal. Coulthard in 1995, celebrates his first victory. Back in Portugal. The McLaren-Mercedes team is aware of the young Scot and obliged him to season 1996. In 1997 the big break: In the very first race in Australia Coulthard wins. It is the first victory in a “silver arrow” since the 1950s.
McLaren-Mercedes is developing a titeltauglichen team again. However, it is not Coulthard, who is reaping the laurels of the British. Rather, he takes the role of the solid number two behind the Finn Mika Hakkinen, who is a world champion in 1998 and 1999. 2001: F1 last year by Hakkinen. It is no longer good, overall five. Coulthard uses his chance and comes out of the shadows: two overall. His best end result in Formula 1 2002 – another Finn DC makes life difficult. Initially developed at eye level to Kimi Raikkonen for Ohata number one. Three average from 2002 to 2004 are cause for a team move to Red Bull Racing, which celebrates in 2005 its F1 debut. The former Jaguar team, bought by Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, turns out to be a mediocre team. Coulthard comes in spite of his experience in four years does not go beyond the tenth place overall. A victory is denied him, but he makes 2006 in Monaco as a third party for the much acclaimed first Red Bull podium place.
With the Brazilian GP in 2008 Coulthard ends racing career. For the time being. “I will certainly not hang his helmet on the nail. I’m staying in motor sports receive different, “he reassured his fans. The F1 record of 15 years is impressive. In the eternal rankings of the race started, the collected championship points and landed podium finishes he romped in the Top Ten. After Michael Schumacher (180 races for Ferrari) no driver stayed longer with a team (150 races for McLaren-Mercedes). He keeps his promise to the fans. In the background, in 2009 he worked as a consultant and representative for Red Bull, in the foreground, and hear it as a Formula 1 expert for the British TV channel BBC. And as an ambassador for “Wings for Life”, a foundation of former motorcycle star Heinz Kinigadner and Red Bull founder Mateschitz, which supports research to cure paralysis.
Disaster Strikes
May 2, 2000. An ordinary Tuesday. David Coulthard, his then-fiancee Heidi Wichlinski and personal fitness trainer, Andrew Matthews, were in a privately rented Lear jet on the way to the Spanish Grand Prix. Then a shock for all occupants: Around the Lyon region in France, pilot and co-pilot realize there are problems with both engines and put on the emergency landing. The quintet will be diverted to the airport of Lyon-Satolas. Then the disaster takes its course: According to official data, the pilots lose control of landing the plane. The chassis and the left wing touching the ground, the plane bounces up again breaks into two parts, and goes up in flames. Coulthard and Matthews can save themselves, Coulthard is believe to have saved his fiancee from the blazing wreck. A real feat. For the pilots, however, help comes too late. “I thought I would die,” said Coulthard, who incurs in the disaster, only a few scrapes and bruised ribs.
Women Held in everyday life
“I admit that women are on me,” says David Coulthard in his very entertaining autobiography, “It is what it is”. It was during his time in Formula 1, many unique properties. Time he assumed that once he refused. This Playboy life is history. He has found his true love: Karen Minier, a former television presenter from Belgium. Coulthard puts her engagement ring befitting the Formula 1 race in Hockenheim in 2006 on the grid to. Two years later, the couple is happy about the birth of their son, Dayton. Coulthard’s everyday life: remove children, change diapers, get up at night, when the boy cries. Only for Karen, he is a womanizer. And in the DTM, it can quickly become one.
Spring was in the air for Mercedes-Benz. The brand from Suttgart locked out the first four places in the DTM season opener at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. After 39 laps and 178.386 kilometres, British driver Gary Paffett crossed the finish line as the race winner. The 29-year old was followed home by his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers Bruno Spengler from Canada, Briton Jamie Green as the best-placed driver of a 2008-spec car and Scot Paul Di Resta.
“Winning the first race is a great way to start the season. Last year, the season started just the other way round for me. Today, our goal was to score as many points as possible. The team has done a tremendous job and I like the car – it is just running well. I could see the rest of the season going like this”, said the winner of the opening round immediately after the race. Paffett, the 2005 DTM champion, scored his 15th DTM race win at Hockenheim.”
The best-placed Audi driver was German Mike Rockenfeller in fifth place. The 26-year old is driving an Audi A4 DTM from the 2008 range. “My start was great. I overtook Paul Di Resta. We had some slight contact in the process and I lost a few positions. In spite of the damage to the front, the car was still quick. Moreover, we had a good strategy. Hopefully, we will be stronger in the races to come”, said Rockenfeller. Spaniard Miguel Molina (Audi) showed an impressive DTM debut, finishing in eighth place and scoring his first championship point right away in his maiden race. In ninth place, Mercedes-Benz driver Ralf Schumacher just missed out on championship points. Ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) made up five places during the race and finished twelfth in his first-ever DTM race.
Bright sunshine and 78,000 fans were a great setting for the first DTM race weekend of the year. The fans got to see a thrilling start. Pole sitter Gary Paffett and German Martin Tomczyk (Audi) in second place had a tough battle for the lead. Tomczyk came out on top and took the lead, but suffered a punctured left rear tyre on his car on lap eleven. The 28-year old still made it back into the pits and initially was able to continue his race, but had to park his damaged car for good on lap 32. Paffett didn’t lose the lead anymore and scored a dominant win.
For Mattias Ekström, the 2004 and 2007 DTM champion, the race didn’t go too well. During the race, the Audi driver made it up from fifth on the grid into second place. However, as Ekström had come in for his first mandatory pit stop one lap too early, he had to repeat it and lost valuable seconds and his position. The Swede still scored some points in the battle for the title by finishing sixth. Reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider (Audi) came home in seventh place.
In the drivers’ standings, Paffett is leading with ten points from Spengler (8) and Green (6). The second DTM race weekend of the year will take place at Valencia in Spain from May 21st till 23rd.
Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug:
”Of cours, that was a dream start into the new season. No doubt, it could hardly have been any better. The task in the race was to keep the tyres alive. We managed to do this and that was the key to success. David Coulthard did considerably better than in qualifying. He will find his way. Ekström had the speed to win the race, but came in too soon for his pit stop. Gary has started off this season in the way he finished last year. This is his 15th victory in his 60th race, so he has won every fourth race. That is incredible.”
Audi motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich:
”This was a big blow for us today. We didn’t get the tyres to work and to prevent damage to the tyres. Martin didn’t have a problem with the tyres throughout the weekend and was still the first to suffer from a puncture. We have to investigate on that thoroughly. It was a good race and very open between the new and the old cars. I hope that we will see competition like this at the other race tracks, too. Molina was able to score a point in his very first race and did an excellent job.”
The Mercedes-Benz driver line-up for the 2010 DTM season is complete: Nine drivers from five countries will race the AMG Mercedes C-Class, thus representing the Stuttgarters’ colours on this year’s DTM grid. Apart from the new idol of the public, David Coulthard, China’s CongFu Cheng is the latest signing for the Mercedes-Benz DTM squad. They both will race the 2008 spec of the AMG Mercedes C-Class.
The 2009-spec AMG Mercedes C-Class will be raced by: Gary Paffett (29, Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), 2005 DTM-Champion, DTM runner-up in 2009 as well as test and reserve driver for the Formula 1 team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes; Paul Di Resta (23, AMG Mercedes C-Class), 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion, DTM runner-up in 2008 and test and reserve driver for the Formula 1 team Force India Mercedes; Ralf Schumacher (34, Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Bruno Spengler (26, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class), DTM runner-up in 2006 and 2007.
Susie Stoddart (27, TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class); Jamie Green (27, Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class), 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion and Maro Engel (24, GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) will race 2008-spec C-Class vehicles.
At the DTM Launch held this Sunday at Wiesbaden, Mercedes-Benz is going to publicly present its driver squad for the first time. Paffett and Di Resta, who are in China as test and reserve drivers for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Force India Mercedes respectively, will arrive in Wiesbaden only on Sunday morning at 06:00hrs. While Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Director Norbert Haug and David Coulthard who also works as TV commentator for the British BBC, stay in Shanghai but will join the press conference via a live connection.
After a near two year absence, David Coulthard has decided to resume his career in motor racing. Coulthard will make his debut in the German DTM touring car series with the Mercedes Team at the April 25th opening race in Hockenheim, Germany.
“I always said I wasn’t hanging up my helmet for good because I didn’t believe I was over racing,” Coulthard told the BBC. “I just knew my time as an F1 driver had reached its natural conclusion.”
“I didn’t actively look to race anything through 2009 but at the final race of the DTM season I really got the buzz and the tingle again for the competition.”
“There’s a reasonable level of technology involved in the cars, it’s a professionally run championship and in Mercedes there’s a company I worked with for seven years in my time at McLaren.”
At this weekend’s F1 Malaysian Grand Prix, Coulthard revealed that he had been approached about a return to the sport last season but did not follow up.
“I had a call from one of the teams which I never returned because people in F1 knew I wasn’t looking to make a return in F1,” said Coulthard.