After the impressive anniversary celebrating 125 years of Motorsport at Mercedes-Benz last year, the brand continues to celebrate further outstanding racing moments from its history in 2020. The highlights include the triumph of Sauber-Mercedes in the World Sportscar Championship 30 years ago. Mercedes-Benz Classic also congratulates Brand Ambassador Roland Asch, one of the most popular racing drivers in German motorsport, on his 70th birthday in October 2020. Finally, the brand remembers Manfred von Brauchitsch: the racing driver of the first Silver Arrows era was born 125 years ago.

Die Sieger der ADAC GT Masters 2015 auf Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Sebastian Asch und Luca Ludwig, mit ihren Vätern. Foto auf dem Hockenheimring am 4. Oktober 2015. Von links: Roland Asch, Sebastian Asch, Luca Ludwig, Klaus Ludwig.
The winners of the ADAC GT Masters 2015 in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Sebastian Asch and Luca Ludwig, with their fathers. Photo at the Hockenheimring on 4 October 2015. Left to right: Roland Asch, Sebastian Asch, Luca Ludwig, Klaus Ludwig.

30 years ago: Double world championship with the Mercedes-Benz C 11

Successful across the board: In 1990 the Sauber-Mercedes team won in eight out of nine races of the World Sportscar Championship in Group C. Jean-Louis Schlesser and Mauro Baldi won the drivers’ championship in the Mercedes-Benz Group C 11 sports car and became world champions. As in the previous year, Jochen Mass was runner-up. Sauber-Mercedes defended its title in the teams’ championship.

Return of the Silver Arrows: As they had already done in the first championship year with the Sauber-Mercedes C 9 in 1989 the German-Swiss team entered with a racing car painted silver. This return of the Silver Arrows to the circuit was down to the impetus of Professor Werner Niefer, who was the chairman of what was then Mercedes-Benz AG and deputy chairman of Daimler-Benz AG. It was on his initiative that the original dark blue racing cars were painted silver – just like their successful predecessors that had written racing history up until 1955.

Innovative technology: The C 11 is the logical progression of the successful C 9, which won the legendary 24-hour race in Le Mans in 1989. The Silver Arrow was also built at Sauber in Hinwil (Switzerland) under the management of head designer Leo Ress. It was the first time a carbon fibre chassis was used, which contributed towards the minimal kerb weight of 870 kilograms and also offered a high level of rigidity. The Mercedes-Benz engineers around Dr Hermann Hiereth optimised the Mercedes-Benz M 119 engine. The V8 turbo engine with four-valve-per-cylinder design had 4973 cubic centimetres of displacement and during the qualifying tuning generated up to 680 kW (924 hp) in the racing car. In normal racing conditions and with continuous stress it was 537 kW (730 hp). The drivers were inspired – they praised the drivability of the deep-rumbling eight-cylinder engine and the well-tempered handling of the C 11.

The Mercedes kids: For the 1990 World Sportscar Championship, Mercedes-Benz race director Jochen Neerpasch wanted the experienced drivers Jean-Louis Schlesser, Mauro Baldi and Jochen Mass to be accompanied by highly promising young drivers. The top three of the German Formula 3 Championship were chosen: Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger. The youngsters were already impressing at the first test drives in Le Castellet at the end of 1989. Peter Sauber summed it up: “Frentzen was the fastest, Schumacher was hardly any slower, drove very consistently and was very interested in the technology even then. Wendlinger was the most cautious and really didn’t want to break anything.”

Successful races: In the 1990 seasons the three junior drivers started as partners with Jochen Mass. The pairings of Mass / Wendlinger and Mass / Schumacher each won a world championship race. All three young drivers had great careers ahead of them. Michael Schumacher won the Formula 1 World Championship seven times. Heinz-Harald Frentzen won three Grand Prix races and was the Formula 1 World Championship runner-up in 1997. Karl Wendlinger had his Formula 1 debut in 1993 with Sauber in Kyalami and today is an AMG Brand Ambassador and instructor at the AMG Driving Academy.

70th birthday of Roland Asch

Once a racing driver, always a racing driver: Roland Asch was also a success with the Star. On 12 October 2020 he will celebrate his 70th birthday. The “Schwabenpfeil” (Swabian Arrow), as his fans liked to call him, never officially ended his career as a racing driver. Together with his son, Sebastian, he even took part in the 2018 24-hour race in Dubai and only narrowly missed out on a class victory with a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT4.

DTM legend: “My best year in racing was 1988. We achieved a lot with only a little money: runners-up in the DTM!” says Roland Asch, enthused to this day. The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 for that season was bought by the owner of a Ford dealership in Ammerbuch-Altingen near Tübingen, financed from their own resources. Friends supported him at the racetrack, and on some days after work the Mercedes-Benz engineers worked on preparations for the “16-valver”.

Test driver for Mercedes-Benz: Gerhard Lepler, head of internal development of racing touring cars, signed the highly promising racing driver Roland Asch as a test driver. Important experiences were gained, particularly at the racetrack in Rijeka (Yugoslavia), from which Asch also benefited for the use of his own DTM touring car. In 1988, with 242 points, he was runner-up behind Klaus Ludwig (Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth, 258 points) and won the championship title in the Porsche 944 Turbo Cup.

Works driver in the DTM: For the 1989 to 1994 seasons Roland Asch was the DTM works driver of Mercedes-Benz. In the Mass-Schons team he won the first race of a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution I in Mainz-Finthen. In 1990 he switched to the team of Dany Snobeck, which lead the way for Mercedes-Benz in touring car racing in the mid 1980s by taking part in the French production car championship. In 1991 and 1992 Asch competed for the Zakspeed team. He took part in the season finale in Kyalami, South Africa, with a 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II works racing car with a “camel” paint finish. This was made special by the fact that, for the first time, a racing car had an anti-lock braking system (ABS) developed especially for racing. Asch won one of the two races with this vehicle as well as the overall ranking. In 1993 and 1994 Roland Asch became team colleague of Bernd Schneider in the AMG team. In both years he finished ahead of the later record DTM champion. In 1993, in the final year of the 201 model series in the DTM as a 190 E class 1, Asch finished as runner-up for the second time behind Nicola Larini (Alfa Romeo).

Brand Ambassador: For many years, father of three Roland Asch has been a Brand Ambassador. “When Mercedes-Benz Classic calls me up and asks that I test an old racing car, I’m right there,” says Asch. He drives a broad range of racing cars from the Sauber-Mercedes in Group C to the Silver Arrows of the 1930s and takes part in events such as the 1000 Miglia and the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And, of course, he is always happy to sit behind the wheel in a Mercedes-Benz racing touring car from his DTM era. “I have always felt particularly happy in the ‘16-valver’,” he says. Logically, his private collection of classic cars also includes a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II from the homologation production of just 502 vehicles.

Manfred von Brauchitsch was born 125 years ago

Breakthrough with the SSKL: On 15 August 1905 Manfred von Brauchitsch, later to become a racing driver, was born in Hamburg. Initially he wanted to become an officer, but after a serious motorbike accident he was discharged as unfit for service by the army in 1927. In 1929 he began motor racing. His breakthrough followed in 1932 when with the Mercedes-Benz SSKL, featuring a pioneering streamlined body, he won the international Avus race in Berlin and even beat the great Rudolf Caracciola. This spectacular success provided the nobleman with a contract as a Mercedes-Benz works driver for the 1934 season.

Silver Arrow: In 2019, in the “125 years of Motorsport” anniversary year, Mercedes-Benz Classic rebuilt the SSKL streamlined racing car and assembled it with great authenticity to ensure it could be experienced – also on the track. Body, chassis and engine were produced as close to the original as possible in the complex project.

Master of many hundreds of horsepower: Manfred von Brauchitsch won many major races. In 1934 he won the international Eifelrennen race at Nürburgring on the race debut of the Mercedes-Benz W 25 and was victorious in both the 1937 Monaco (W 125) and 1938 French (W 154) Grands Prix. His driving style was spectacular, paying little attention to the state of the vehicle. Tyre damage and even accidents led to many failures or defeats. He was dogged by an image of notorious bad luck. Decades later the racing driver explained his motivation: “Of course it is nice to win. But it is glorious to sit in such a racing car, to command this complex machine and to be master of many hundreds of horsepower.”

Bon vivant: After the Second World War Manfred von Brauchitsch tried to make a comeback in motorsport, but he failed. In 1954, with the emphatic support of the government of the GDR, he emigrated to East Berlin where he found new popularity as a highly regarded peace activist and sports official. When it came to his somewhat unconventional life, he described himself as a “bon vivant”. His contact to Mercedes-Benz never fully broke off: for instance, in 1974 he was invited to attend the French Grand Prix as a guest, driving a demonstration lap at 280 km/h in the Mercedes-Benz W 154 dating back to 1939. In 1995, Manfred von Brauchitsch celebrated his 90th birthday at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. He died at the age of 97 on 5 February 2003 in Gräfenwart, Schleiz.

After Maro Engel’s maiden DTM victory in Moscow, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport go into the second half of the season at Zandvoort feeling highly motivated.

The track layout and surface at Zandvoort make it one of the most demanding venues on the race calendar in terms of tyre wear
Lucas Auer: “The Zandvoort circuit is a lot of fun, and I’ll be interested to see what the new track surface is like”
Ulrich Fritz: “Although on paper, Audi look best placed in the battle for the championship right now, we are firmly convinced that we are still in with a shout”
Comments on the DTM races at Zandvoort

DTM, Moskau/Moscow. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team, DTM, Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM SILBERPFEIL Energy
DTM, Moskau/Moscow. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team, DTM, Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM SILBERPFEIL Energy

Lucas Auer (22, Austria):

Car number: 22
Team: BWT Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
Car: BWT Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“Next stop Zandvoort. A lot has happened since the previous race weekend in Moscow, but I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of a DTM car again and getting stuck in to the second half of the season. The Zandvoort circuit is a lot of fun, and I’ll be interested to see what the new track surface is like. I’m aiming to finish in the Top 18!”

Gary Paffett (36, England):

Car number: 2
Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me
Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM Mercedes me
“It’s been a few weeks out of the car, and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel. But also, with Zandvoort being probably my favourite circuit of the whole year, I just really like the big challenge. It’s an ‘old-school’ circuit which is quite tight and very twisty. It doesn’t have much run-off and there are some high-speed corners. I can’t wait to get back on track there. It’s been resurfaced this year, so it will be slightly different, but I’m still looking forward to the weekend, and hopefully we can get some really strong results.”

Robert Wickens (28, Canada):

Car number: 6
Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me
Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM Mercedes me
“Zandvoort is race number one after the announcement that we will be leaving the DTM at the end of 2018. That being said, I’m really excited to be getting back to work at a track where we won last year. With the new surface, though, we don’t know what to expect. It will be a new challenge for everyone. It’s going to be a fun weekend, and the Dutch fans always bring a lot of passion to the occasion.”

Paul Di Resta (31, Scotland):

Car number: 3
Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“After a short summer break, it’s nice to get back in the car. In Moscow, we showed some great pace on Sunday, but unfortunately I had a puncture. Hopefully, the breakthrough we made in our setup will continue at Zandvoort. If so, anything is possible. I’m ready to take on the second part of the season, and I look forward to getting back in the car on such a great circuit as Zandvoort.”

Edoardo Mortara (30, Italy):

Car number: 48
Team: BWT Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
Car: BWT Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“I had a nice summer break during which I was able to relax and recharge my batteries. Now, the second half of the season is upon us. I’m looking forward to the next four race weekends, as they are on tracks where I’ve had good results in recent years. That also goes for the coming weekend at Zandvoort, where I’ve already won in the DTM. I’ve always been competitive in the sand dunes, and I hope this year will be the same.”

Maro Engel (31, Germany):

Car number: 63
Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
Car: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“It’s obviously very special to be heading for Zandvoort with a maiden DTM victory under my belt. This particular fixture is always a highlight of the race calendar from a driver perspective. It is an absolutely mega track. The Dutch fans are always in very buoyant mood, and I’ve heard that Max Verstappen will be in attendance. So there will certainly be more going on than usual. For me, that’s all the more reason for looking forward to the race weekend. As a team, we have set ourselves the goal of going flat out and moving up in the championship.”

Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM:

“The first half of the season showed just how tight this year’s DTM is turning out to be and, moreover, that absolutely anything can happen in a race. The best example of that must surely be Maro’s sensational victory in Moscow. For us, Zandvoort is now race number one after we announced our exit from the DTM, and although the news was anything but pleasing for the team, our motivation still remains incredibly high. Although on paper, Audi look best placed in the battle for the championship right now, we are firmly convinced that we are still in with a shout. In Zandvoort, we now have the track that is the most challenging in terms of tyre wear. Proper tyre management is therefore going to be the key to success.”

Mercedes-AMG DTM drivers get in peak physical and mental form for the second half of the season

Esteban Ocon: “It’s always good when we all come together as a team and try our hand at different sporting activities”

Christian Vietoris: “After the race weekend at the Norisring, it was nice to get away for a while and to have something else to think about”

Paul Di Resta: “Now it’s time to get stuck into the second half of the year and to redouble our efforts”

After eight races, 333 laps and 1,145 race kilometres, the second half of the 2016 DTM season commences in July. So it made eminent sense for the eight Mercedes-AMG DTM drivers to attend a training camp in Austria where they put the finishing touches to their preparations for the remaining five race weekends of the campaign.

Mercedes-AMG DTM

“The week was very tough but extremely enjoyable. It was a great experience,“ said Gary Paffett, looking back. “I went canyoning for the first time – that was a nice adrenaline rush!” Hiking in the mountains, a visit to the glacier and the Seethalerhütte, team sports such as football, basketball, beach volleyball and exercises to train the reflexes were also on the programme.

“The weather was excellent, and we were covered in perspiration every day, but we laughed a lot too,” added Maximilian Götz. “We enjoyed a huge variety of sports from playing football together to climbing in the Klettergarten until we were all totally exhausted.” They will now have to try to maintain these levels of fitness status for the rest of the season.

“As a group, we’ve had really intense workouts punctuated by enjoyable leisure activities,” reports Paul di Resta. “It was great to be in the Alps, and to be doing sport in the fresh air.” Robert Wickens also enjoyed pushing – and being pushed by – his fellow Mercedes-AMG drivers to the limit. “The week was very hard,” says the Canadian. “Now I’m looking forward to relaxing over the weekend.”

Christian Vietoris took the opportunity to work off the frustrating experience of being taken out in a no-fault collision and losing the chance of winning the first race at the Norisring: “ It was nice to get away for a while and to have something else to think about. The training was great fun and there were some great sessions. At times, it was extremely hard, but fortunately it always took place in fantastic locations.”

For DTM rookie Esteban Ocon, training camp was a welcome opportunity to fine-tune his physical fitness. “This is very important, since we don’t have a lot of spare time during the season,” says the Frenchman. “So it was good to get back to some intensive training and to prepare ourselves for the rest of the season.”

But exercising in the gym was only part of the training week. “ These past few days have been helpful in strengthening the bond between the drivers,” emphasises Di Resta. There isn’t much spare time in the drivers’ busy schedule for all of them to get together in one place away from the racing. “It’s always good when we all come together as a team and try our hand at different sporting activities,” says Ocon. Robert Wickens concurs: “We’ve been friends and team-mates all along, but now our relationship is even closer.”& amp; amp; lt; /p>

The idea behind the training camp is not only to boost team fitness but also to build team spirit. “Now it is time to get stuck into the second half of the year and to redouble our efforts,” says di Resta. The race weekend at Zandvoort (15th – 17th July) marks the halfway point in the season. “I feel confident that we will be among the front-runners right up to the end,” asserts the 2010 DTM champion of 2010. “And one thing is clear – we are getting stronger.”

The 2015 DTM season reaches its climax in September. But even before the final three race weekends of the year at Oschersleben, the Nürburgring and Hockenheim, the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team are providing an insight into what lies ahead for the race series, revealing the new car that they will enter for the 2016 campaign.

Design adaptations to the 2016 Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM first began last year. The dynamic-looking headlights and the twin blade grille typical of the AMG are two of the car’s most striking features. The first tests with the new vehicle will take place during the winter as part of preparations for the 2016 season.

Mercedes-Benz, DTM, Mercedes-AMG DTM Team, Mercedes-AMG Edition One

Long list of previous successful models

The 2016 DTM car to be deployed by the Mercedes-AMG DTM team follows on from successful predecessors that include the most successful car in DTM history – the AMG Mercedes C-Class with which Mercedes-AMG drivers secured 85 victories in 159 races.

“The new Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé will again set new standards for driving dynamics and design. So, the vehicle provides the ideal basis for our DTM car,” said Head of Mercedes-AMG DTM Ulrich Fritz. “I’m already looking forward to seeing the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM compete in 2016. Our aim with this vehicle is, of course, to continue the Mercedes-Benz success story in the DTM.”

Gary Paffett is contesting his twelfth DTM season in 2015. Over the years, the 2005 champion has raced the AMG Mercedes CLK, the AMG Mercedes C-Class, the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé and the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM. Paffett: “The 2016 version of the Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM looks really good. Obviously, many parts are similar to those on the current car, but the new shape is really cool and simply shows that the Mercedes-Benz and AMG road versions are getting better and more beautiful with every stage in their evolution. I’m already looking forward to climbing into the new car. Hopefully, we can fight for lots of wins and maybe even win the title with it.”

The new Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé will again set new standards for driving dynamics and design

Edition 1: Inspired by motor racing

The graphic design of the IAA-launch version of the 2016 DTM car has also served as inspiration for special models of the new Mercedes AMG C 63 Coupé and the C 63 S Coupé which are available as Edition 1 market launches. Customer demands are catered for by two different treatments of the exterior. The first design is particularly striking and available only on the S model – an exclusive colour combination of designo selenite grey magno and yellow foil treatment with black wheels and rim flanges picked out in yellow. Yellow sports stripes are to be found on bonnet, roof, boot lid and on the sides above the sill trims. The special model comes complete with performance seats and aerodynamic package, emphasising its motor racing pedigree.

The AMG aerodynamic package in high-gloss black adds to the race-inspired look of both models. The extra large front spoiler, AMG-specific side skirts and fins to the sides on the rear apron, AMG-specific rear diffuser and spoiler lip on the boot lid not only reduce lift but also sharpen the visual appearance.

That unmistakeable racing feel continues in the interior. The AMG Performance seats are upholstered in nappa leather. In addition, the seats are contoured to give added lateral support, particularly under fast cornering. The flat-bottomed performance steering wheel in DINAMICA microfibre enables the driver to always have the C 63 Coupé safely under control.

The Edition 1 offers impressive driving dynamics at the highest level. All the right technical elements are there. Striking flared wheel arches to front and rear, a wider track and larger wheels give the new the C 63 Coupé a powerful appearance and also serve as the basis for highly responsive longitudinal and lateral dynamics. The AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, producing either 350 kW (476 hp) or 375 kW (510 hp), guarantees spectacular performance, aided by the technologically advanced AMG RIDE CONTROL-specific suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers, AMG DYNAMIC SELECT-specific driver programmes, a locking differential on the rear axle and the dynamic engine mounts of the C 63 S Coupé.

2016 Mercedes-AMG DTM Race Car

Positive innovation during the 2015 DTM season

There have been many innovations in the DTM already this year. The touring car series began the season opener at Hockenheim with a new race format. The return to two races per weekend (one on Saturday and Sunday) was well received by fans. Overall, 367,000 spectators were at the track to watch the first six race weekends of the year, while 123,000 spectators came through the gates over the weekend to watch the two victories of the Mercedes-AMG DTM team in Nuremberg.

Live broadcasts on ARD’s Sportschau also proved very popular during the first half of the season with some 13.8 million viewers tuning in to watch qualifying and the race live on ARD TV over the first five race weekends – that’s 23% up on the previous year.

Ulrich Fritz: Five questions about the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

What are the most striking features of the new DTM car?

Ulrich Fritz: We have used the unique, sporty design language of the street version of the new C-Class Coupé on the DTM version. Striking features like the dynamic design of the headlights and also the typical AMG twin blade grille of the C 63 AMG Coupé stand out immediately.

When did development work on the new design first begin?

Ulrich Fritz: The DTM car again takes its design and technological cues from the AMG line of the new C-Class Coupé. We took the first steps in adapting designs for the new DTM car last year.

How much development work has gone into the new car?

Ulrich Fritz: The regulations severely limit areas for development, so a large number of components have been taken from its tried and tested predecessor. Obviously, in the DTM, we seek to continuously optimise the overall package and, consequently, the vehicle passes through various development processes and stages during the course of its entire life cycle as deemed necessary.

What changes have been made to the aerodynamics, or do homologation needs perhaps dictate that nothing can be altered?

Ulrich Fritz: Due to the regulations, changes to the aerodynamics below what is known as the design line are not permitted. The vehicle’s aerodynamics above the design line will, of course, be adapted to the new shape.

When will the first test runs with the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM be held?

Ulrich Fritz: We plan to undertake the first test outings with the car as part of winter testing in preparation for the 2016 DTM season.

Inspired by motor racing

Mercedes-AMG are launching the special Edition 1 C 63 Coupé. The exclusive colour combination in designo selenite grey magno with yellow foil treatment and black wheels with rim flanges picked out in yellow reflects the graphic design of the IAA-launch version of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM racing coupé which will contest the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) next year. The special model’s equipment with performance seats and aerodynamic package emphasises its motor racing pedigree.

The new Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé and the C 63 S Coupé are also available as Edition 1 specials to mark their launch. The unusual combination of exclusive design and equipment are inspired by the look of the future Mercedes-AMG racing coupé which will compete in 2016 in the internationally acclaimed German Touring Car Masters (DTM).

Customer demands are catered for by two different designs for the exterior. The first design, exclusively available on the S model, is particularly striking. The colour scheme in matt designo selenite grey magno with yellow foil treatment adopts the look of the 2016 C 63 DTM IAA launch version, emphasising the brand’s motor racing pedigree. Yellow sports stripes are to be found on bonnet, roof, boot lid and the sides above the sill trims.

The ultra-light, matt-black AMG Performance forged wheels of 5-twin-spoke design with yellow painted rim flanges are also highly distinctive. At the front, 9.0 J x 19 rims with 255/35 R 19 tyres are used, while the car is equipped with 10.5 J x 20 rims and 285/30 R 20 tyres to the rear. The special sports tyres offer a noticeably increased level of grip on dry roads. The Edition 1 C 63 S Coupé is fitted as standard with the AMG ceramic composite high-performance braking system which provides the highest possible deceleration values and a lower unsprung mass, while also increasing racetrack performance.

The exterior of the second model of the Edition 1 is more conservative. The sport stripes are in matt graphite grey and the rim flanges of the matt black forged wheels of cross-spoke design have a high-gloss finish. Sport tyres and a ceramic composite high-performance brake system are an option on this model. Furthermore, this version is available in all exterior paintwork finishes.

On both models, an AMG aerodynamic package in high-gloss black adds to the race‑inspired look. The extra large front spoiler, the AMG-specific side skirts and fins to the sides on the rear apron, the AMG-specific rear diffuser and spoiler lip on the boot lid not only reduce lift but also sharpen the visual appearance.

The AMG Night package with chrome tailpipes is also part of the standard range of equipment on the Edition 1 and features the following:

• radiator grille with twin blades in silver chrome
• A-wing on front apron and A-wing trim strip in high-gloss black
• inserts on side-skirts in high-gloss black
• window door edge trim strip and window trims in high-gloss black
• rear skirt trim strip in high-gloss black
• exterior mirror pods in high-gloss black
• insulating dark-tinted glass from B-pillar
• exhaust system with two twin chromed tailpipes

That unmistakeable racing feeling continues in the interior. The AMG Performance seats are upholstered in nappa leather and yellow is again used in the contrast stitching of the unique diamond pattern. In addition, the seats are contoured to give added lateral support, particularly under fast cornering. Yellow contrast stitching can also be found on the door centre panels, armrests, on the steering wheel rim and on the door edge mouldings. More distinctive yellow is used on the instrument binnacle, on the AMG-exclusive, IWC-design analogue clock and on the floor mats. The flat-bottomed performance steering wheel in DINAMICA microfibre enables the driver to always have the C 63 Coupé safely under control. The matt-carbon decorative trim in the centre console finally sends out a clear message: The Edition 1 represents impressive driving dynamics at the highest level.

All the right technical elements are there. Striking flared wheel arches to front and rear, a wider track and larger wheels give the new the C 63 Coupé a powerful appearance and also serve as the basis for highly responsive longitudinal and lateral dynamics. The AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, producing either 350 kW (476 hp) or 375 kW (510 hp), guarantees spectacular performance, aided by the technologically advanced AMG RIDE CONTROL-specific suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers, AMG DYNAMIC SELECT-specific driver programmes, locking differential on the rear axle and the dynamic engine mounts of the C 63 S Coupé.

The development of the Mercedes-Benz DTM cars

1988-1993: AMG Mercedes 190 E (2.5-16 Evo 2)

Mercedes-Benz posted 50 DTM victories with the 190 between 1988 and 1993. In the 1992 season, the 190 E 2.5-16 Evo 2 won 16 of 24 races and took the top three places in the drivers’ standings. Klaus Ludwig won the first DTM championship for Mercedes-Benz with it. Ellen Lohr in the 190 E 2.5-16 Evo 2 remains the only woman so far to win a DTM race.

2000-2003: AMG Mercedes CLK

In the year 2000, Mercedes-Benz lined up in the ‘new DTM’ with the AMG Mercedes CLK. Mercedes-Benz drivers took the CLK to 30 DTM victories between 2000 and 2003. The CLK won eight out of ten races in the 2001 season. During the 2003 season, it managed to post nine wins from ten races.

1994-1996 & 2004-2011: AMG Mercedes C-Class

The AMG Mercedes C-Class is the most successful car in DTM history, having achieved 85 victories in 159 races (1994/1995 and 1996 in the ITC International Touring Car Championship which is an offshoot of the DTM, and since 2004 in the DTM). So far, around half of all Mercedes-Benz victories since 1988 have been achieved by the C-Class, of which three generations of the model saw duty, starting in1994.

2012-2014: DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé

In 2012, the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé secured a one-two win in its very first race at Hockenheim. Overall, Mercedes-Benz achieved eight wins, 22 podiums, seven poles and ten fastest laps with the C-Coupé.

Since 2015: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

Since the start of the 2015 DTM season, the Mercedes-AMG DTM team has lined up with the Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM in the most popular international touring car series. Mercedes-AMG drivers posted three victories, twelve podiums, one pole position and three fastest race laps with the car at the first six race weekends.

The drivers in the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team are suitably equipped to meet the challenges of the new 2015 season whether on four wheels or two. All eight Mercedes-AMG DTM works drivers were presented with new high-tech racing bikes manufactured by team partner ROTWILD at the DTM season opener in Hockenheim.

ROTWILD racing bikes

Cycling is an important part of driver training and contributes to physical and mental fitness. The R.S2 Team AMG ROTWILD racing bike is built to the highest standards and has a wide range of applications. A full carbon frame ensures lightweight construction and damping throughout, while the application of powerful competition-driven technology ensures maximum forward motion and comfort, whether for training purposes, in competition or for endurance riding.

ADP Engineering GmbH, based in Dieburg, founded the ROTWILD cycle brand in 1996 after working on various developments within the bicycle industry. Series production began in 1996 and ROTWILD immediately won the prestigious Downhill World Cup and followed that by winning several long-distance and cross-country world titles and Olympic gold medals, establishing ROTWILD as a high-end mountain bike brand. Together with R.S2 Team AMG ROTWILD, the German bicycle manufacturer is now bringing its expertise and experience to the open road.

A period of intensive cooperation between the two high-performance brands, Mercedes-AMG and ROTWILD, began in 2013 with the R.X45 AMG full suspension carbon-fibre bike whose look and appearance is redolent of the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG Edition 1. The ROTWILD team of pro mountain bike riders has been sponsored by AMG since 2014. The joint launch of the ROTWILD GT S inspired by AMG took place this year.

ROTWILD racing bikes

Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes DTM: “Cycling is an integral part of fitness training for our drivers. They are now perfectly equipped to stay fit on two wheels during the season, riding their new ROTWILD racing bikes. The close cooperation that has existed in the past between Mercedes-AMG and ROTWILD now forms the perfect basis for a continuation of that partnership in the DTM as well.”

The DTM embarked on its 30th anniversary season this weekend in front of 75,000 spectators. Football legend and Laureus ambassador Franz Beckenbauer, plus MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg were among the prominent guests at the home race of Mercedes-Benz.

DTM Season Opener

Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein (gooix Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished the first race of the season in eleventh position. Fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Gary Paffett (EURONICS Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home behind him to place twelfth. Contesting his first DTM race since his title win in 2010, Paul Di Resta, (DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was 14th. Christian Vietoris (Original-Teile Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) ended the season opener in P15.

DTM rookie Vitaly Petrov (DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home in P17 on his DTM debut at Hockenheim. Fellow Mercedes drivers Robert Wickens (FREE MAN’S WORLD Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Daniel Juncadella (Petronas Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) placed 18th and 19th respectively. The next race: The second round of the DTM takes place on the weekend of May 17th-18th at the 3.696 km Oschersleben track.

Comments after the Race

Pascal Wehrlein (19, Germany, gooix Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
11th
“That was a disappointing start to the season, unfortunately. I did not have the necessary pace and I found the going very tough, especially just at the start of the race. The car’s balance changed dramatically during the race, and I felt pretty comfortable in the car in the end and was able to post faster lap times. It’s a shame, but there are no points for eleventh place. Now we must all put our heads together and improve the car before the next race in two weeks’ time, and then strike back in Oschersleben.”

Gary Paffett (33, England, EURONICS Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
12th
“Today was tough for us, and starting from P14 on the grid did not exactly put me in the best position for the race. Sure, I still moved up a couple of places, but unfortunately was off the pace, just like in qualifying. We must continue to develop the car so that we can secure points in the next race.”

Paul Di Resta (28, Scotland, DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
14th
“That was a very difficult race for me. I’m going to have to up my game in order to slot back into the DTM on a par with my team-mates. More importantly, however, we need to improve as manufacturers. We’ve now got two weeks in which to recover and then make the best of it. We’re somewhat down compared to BMW and Audi, but I have absolute confidence in the team that we will strike back and I hope that we can succeed soon.”

Christian Vietoris (25, Germany, Original-Teile Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
15th
“It was obvious that starting on the option tyres would not be easy. Nevertheless, I got the best out of the car and the strategy. I just missed turning out to be the best driver for Mercedes in the end. Of course, this was not the result that we’d hoped for, but we’ll keep pushing, and hopefully, we can start afresh in Oschersleben.”

Vitaly Petrov (29, Russia, DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
17th
“Considering this was my first DTM race, I’m satisfied with my performance. We were competitive on both sets of tyres, and I was able to keep up with the people around me. I pushed a bit too hard at times on my first stint because I wanted to see how far I could go. After the pit stop, my lap times consistently improved and I was involved in a few interesting scraps. The main thing for me this weekend was to understand how qualifying and the race work in the DTM. I think I’ve managed to do this. Now we need to improve the car, then I believe we will be in a position to go on the attack again at Oschersleben.”

Robert Wickens (25, Canada, FREE MAN’S WORLD Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
18th
“We started the race on option tyres, which enabled me to overtake a few cars. After the mandatory tyre change, we no longer had the speed to finish among the points. I hope that we’ll be seeing a completely different Mercedes performance at Oschersleben.”

Daniel Juncadella (22, Spain, Petronas Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
19th
“I wasn’t able to match the other drivers for speed today, and I lost contact with the leaders right at the start of the race. We were especially lacking in straight-line speed. This has not been a good start to our season, but we’ll continue to work hard.”

Wolfgang Schattling, Head of DTM Management:
“Our congratulations to BMW and Marco Wittmann on their opening win. Unfortunately, the first race of the season was disappointing for us. Our team has worked hard over the winter and certainly deserved a better result today. It’s obvious that our level of performance is not what it should be. We have to improve and continue to work hard. We now have a fortnight in which to considerably improve our performance before the next race in Oschersleben. That’s not much time and it won’t be an easy task. I am sure, though, that we will find a solution so that we can attack again very soon.”

Race results: Top Ten

Drivers’ Championship: Top Three

Teams’ Championship: Top Three

Manufacturers’ Championship: Top Three

A trio of prominent guests are due to attend the DTM season opener on the weekend of May 3rd/4th at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Football legend and Laureus Ambassador Franz Beckenbauer will be joining Germany’s top contenders for the Formula 1 title, namely current championship leader Nico Rosberg and fourth-placed Nico Hülkenberg.

Sahara Force India Mercedes driver Nico Hülkenberg has been booked in for Saturday when qualifying takes place in the world’s most popular touring car series. Fans at the circuit will have two opportunities to see Hülkenberg close up during his visit: he will be signing autographs and talking about his Formula 1 season so far first at Mercedes-Benz Erlebniswelt (situated behind the Mercedes grandstand) and later at a ‘Meet the Drivers’ session in front of the Mercedes-Benz hospitality suite.

On Sunday, it will be MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS driver Nico Rosberg’s turn to entertain the fans in a joint appearance with Franz Beckenbauer at the Mercedes-Benz Erlebniswelt complex. They will both be giving interviews on the stage behind the Mercedes grandstand and will then follow up by signing autographs. Immediately afterwards, Rosberg will be putting in a number of demo laps at the wheel of the original Formula 1 Silver Arrow, namely the W 196 in which Argentina’s Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 world championships. Nico Rosberg has an earlier appointment on Sunday 4th May at 9:30am in the Baden-Württemberg Center when he will be answering questions from the press.

Timetable for the DTM season opener at Hockenheim:

Nico Rosberg: “I’ll be fascinated to see what happens in the DTM season opener at Hockenheim. New rules, revised specifications and no fewer than seven champions on the grid should make for an exciting season. Obviously, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for my fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers as they launch into the new campaign. Whenever time permits between the Formula 1 races, I keep myself updated on what’s going on in the DTM – it’s series I know well from when my father was a competitor. I’m really looking forward to seeing the crowds of fans at Hockenheim and especially thrilled about the prospect of driving the original Formula 1 Silver Arrow that Juan Manuel Fangio used to race in. It’s always a very special feeling to drive one of the legendary Silver Arrows.”

What does it take to earn an invite from Mercedes-Benz to test in a DTM car? You may want to start with a resumé that includes a FIA Formula 3 European Champion title. Like the title recently won by Italy’s 18-year-old Raffaele Marciello from Prema Powerteam.  Finishing fourth during this weekend’s race, Marciello is the newest FIA Formula 3 European Champion, and now, Mercedes-Benz has now invited him to test a DTM car.

Raffaele Marciello, Prema Powerteam, Mercedes-Benz, FIA Formula 3 European Championship, Felix Rosenqvist, Mücke Motorsport

So far this season, Marciello has recorded twelve wins, 18 podiums, twelve pole positions and seven fastest race laps. Drivers powered by a Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engine occupy the first four places in the FIA ​Formula 3 Championship standings: after Marciello and Felix Rosenqvist (21, Mücke Motorsport) come Alex Lynn (20, GB, Prema Powerteam) and Lucas Auer (19, Austria , Prema Powerteam). Marciello finished last season as European Championship runner-up and in third place in the Formula 3 Euro Series. In the prestigious Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort, he finished second behind Daniel Juncadella.

New champion Marciello is following in the footsteps of Roberto Merhi and Daniel Juncadella who won the FIA Formula 3 title in the two previous years in a Prema Powerteam Dallara-Mercedes and were subsequently promoted to the Mercedes-Benz DTM driver squad. In addition to Juncadella and Merhi, Mercedes-Benz DTM juniors Christian Vietoris and Pascal Wehrlein also enjoyed F3 success with the Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engine. Twelve of the 22 current Formula 1 drivers races cars powered by Mercedes-Benz during their apprenticeship in Formula 3, including 2008 F1 champion and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS driver Lewis Hamilton, three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and 2010 DTM champion Paul Di Resta.

Teams using Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engines have won the Formula 3 Euro Series team championship in nine of the last ten seasons. On eight occasions, the winner of the Formula 3 Euro Series drivers’ championship was powered by Mercedes. Since the debut of the M271 Formula 3 engine in 2002, it has been instrumental in securing 226 wins in the German Formula 3 Championship, the Formula 3 Euro Series, the British Formula 3 Championship and the FIA ​​Formula 3 Championship.

Raffaele Marciello, Prema Powerteam, Mercedes-Benz, FIA Formula 3 European Championship

Raffaele Marciello: “What a fantastic day for me. Winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship is not only the biggest success in my career to date but also a great springboard for my future in motorsport. I can hardly believe that I am the latest in a long line of Formula 3 champions such as Lewis Hamilton and Paul Di Resta who have experienced success at this level with a Mercedes-Benz powered car and have then made the step up to the DTM and Formula 1. Obviously, I still have some way to go, so I’m all the more grateful to Mercedes-Benz for this invitation to test a DTM car. I’ll be doing my very best to justify the confidence they have shown in me and to use the opportunity to learn as much as possible for my future development.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Motorsport at Mercedes-Benz: “Congratulations to Raffaele Marciello on winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship. To triumph in such a keenly contested racing series is an extraordinary achievement, and he has well and truly earned the title. Here at Mercedes-Benz, we have had considerable success over the years in promoting young talent in the sport. The latest fruits of our development programme can be seen in the five members of our Mercedes DTM Junior squad, four of whom enjoyed success at Formula 3 level in Mercedes powered cars. It therefore gives me great pleasure to offer Raffaele a test drive in a Mercedes-Benz DTM car as a reward for his achievements this year. It goes to show that, if you work hard for success in Formula 3, it can lead on to greater things in your motor racing career.”

Gary Paffett, driver of the THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, came in second in the DTM grand finale at Hockenheim. Finishing the 2012 season as championship runner-up, four points behind Bruno Spengler (BMW). The newly crowned champion won the last race of the year by a 2.2-second margin.

Gary Paffett led the championship table from the first race of the year right through to the last, scoring points in nine out of the ten races on the calendar. Going into the closing race weekend of the season, the Englishman held a three-point lead over Bruno Spengler. The newly crowned champion of 2012 began his DTM career with Mercedes-Benz in 2005, subsequently winning nine races in an AMG Mercedes C-Class.

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) crossed the finish line fourth today. The Englishman is the only DTM driver to have scored points in all ten races this season and ends the championship campaign in third position.

THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG were second and Mercedes AMG were placed third in the DTM team championship. With 168 wins, ten drivers’, thirteen team and nine manufacturers’ titles, Mercedes-Benz is the most successful manufacturer in the DTM.

Since the first works entry in 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have secured a total of 489 podium finishes, including nine this season, in 353 races.

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) both finished in the points – ninth and tenth respectively – in this home race for Mercedes-Benz at Hockenheim. Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) bowed out in her 74th and final DTM race with a P13 finish. Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home in 15th place. David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) both had to retire in the closing race of the season. Coulthard was likewise competing in the DTM for the last time.

On lap 29, Gary Paffett secured a 1:35.402, the fastest of the 42 laps. This was Paffett’s ninth fastest lap in his DTM career and his second at Hockenheim. This season, Mercedes-Benz drivers have posted fastest race lap six times in total. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have achieved the fastest lap time in 168 races.

A total of 128,000 spectators attended the DTM finale weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) at Hockenheim.

Race summary

The start: Gary Paffett finishes the first lap in third place. Jamie Green moves up four positions to sixth. Christian Vietoris goes up three positions to eleventh. Ralf Schumacher races up through the field from 17th on the grid to twelfth.

Lap 5: Paffett in third place, Green sixth. Schumacher, David Coulthard and Vietoris in P11, 12 and 13 respectively.

Lap 8: Schumacher overtakes Martin Tomczyk (BMW) and is now tenth.

Lap 10: Green finds a way past Joey Hand (BMW) in a scrap for fifth place.

Lap 11: The pit stop window is open and Paffett comes in for his first mandatory pit stop. As he exits the pits, he overtakes Augusto Farfus (BMW) and moves into second place.

Lap 12: First change of tyres for Green and Vietoris.

Lap 13: Schumacher and Coulthard pit.

Lap 14: First pit stop for Susie Wolff.

Lap 18: Paffett in second place, 3.5 seconds down on Bruno Spengler (BMW).

Lap 20: Paffett in second place, Green fourth, Schumacher ninth and Vietoris tenth. Robert Wickens retires in the pits.

Lap 22: Schumacher comes in for second pit stop.

Lap 23: Coulthard put into a spin by Timo Scheider (Audi) and retired. Second mandatory pit stop for Vietoris.

Lap 24: Paffett in P2 pits for second time.

Lap 25: Final mandatory pit stop for Green.

Lap 30 : Paffett reduces deficit on Spengler to two seconds since pit stop.

Lap 32: Ten laps to go, and the gap is now only 1.3 seconds.

Final lap (Lap 42): After 42 laps and a total race distance of 192.108km, Gary Paffett finishes the last race of the season in second place. Jamie Green is fourth.

Comments after the race:

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:

“My team has done brilliantly well this season in terms of performance and it is very unfortunate that we missed winning the championship title in the last race by four points. So in the immediate aftermath of the race, disappointment sits deep, of course, because from my point of view we deserved to win the championship title just as much as Bruno Spengler and BMW. Congratulations to Bruno on his first DTM title! We will go on the attack again next year to take the championship.”

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Fourth:

“Third place in the Drivers’ Championship, my best result so far, proves that I had a strong season in 2012. I had a chance of winning the title in the finale at Hockenheim this weekend, but nevertheless, I am satisfied with my year. Congratulations to Bruno Spengler and BMW. Bad luck for Gary, he deserved the title win.”

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Ninth:

“It’s good to have scored two points in the grand finale at Hockenheim. That’s a nice way to sign off at the end of a long and exciting season. I’m sorry for Gary that he missed out on the title by such a slender margin. He put in a fantastic performance today which unfortunately wasn’t rewarded with the championship crown. Congratulations to BMW and to Bruno Spengler who was a member of the Mercedes-Benz family for so many years.”

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Tenth:

“Tenth place was unfortunately the best result possible for me today. The start went well, but I was stuck behind Martin Tomczyk’s BMW for quite a long spell. That cost me a lot of time and had a negative effect on my race. Otherwise, I think that a place higher up the field would have been a distinct possibility. But a points-scoring finish is nevertheless a good way to end the season ”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 13th:

“I’m leaving the DTM with mixed emotions – I want to laugh and cry at the same time. I would have liked to have secured a better result than P13 for my fans, but I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life. My thanks go to Mercedes-Benz for their continued support.”

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 15th:

“Congratulations to Bruno Spengler and BMW on winning the title. Gary and Bruno staged a thrilling chase right through to the final lap. My own race was a bit chaotic. I would’ve liked to finish my rookie season with a championship point or two, but unfortunately, that wasn’t to be. What a pity.”

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“Competing in my last race here at Hockenheim in front of so many DTM fans has been a great honour. I had obviously intended securing a better result on the occasion of bowing out from the DTM. However, you can’t pick and choose in the DTM, this is racing at the highest level. I have had an absolutely brilliant time during the past three years in the DTM and will always look back with fondness to this period in my life. Many thanks to Mercedes-Benz and to all our fans everywhere.”

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“My goal was to go into the winter break with a decent result under my belt. Unfortunately, it has not been possible, and so at the moment I am quite disappointed, but overall I’m pleased with my debut season in the DTM. I’ve learned a lot and have secured my first points in a top class field. I intend building on that achievement in the future.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Today marks the end of the first DTM season contested under the new regulations. Gary Paffett has played a strong role throughout, particularly in this final race in which he staged a thrilling chase that ultimately fell short of victory.

Congratulations to Bruno, BMW and Team Schnitzer on winning the title. We end this magnificent season with our heads held high, and in this closing race, we showed once again that we have the necessary speed to compete for the win.

Bruno’s victory is well deserved. In 2012, he has achieved what was denied him previously in five attempts when he drove for us, and so we offer him our congratulations.

I want to thank Gary and Jamie Green, who finished third in the championship, plus all of our drivers and our teams for their hard work. I wish we could have secured the title to reward all our hard-working colleagues – but a four-point deficit is no reason to be sad.

As one season ends, another begins, and we will start 2013 even stronger than before.”

Race: Top Ten

Drivers’ Championship: Top Three

Teams’ Championship: Top Three

Manufacturers’ Championship

DTM championship leader Gary Paffett, driver of the THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, took second place in the eighth race of the DTM season at Oschersleben. Paffett’s podium finished marked the 30th time he’s landed on the podium during his DTM career and his third at Oschersleben. His team-mate Jamie Green, driver of aMercedes AMG C-Coupé, finished in third place and secured his 20th podium in the DTM. The race was won by BMW’s Bruno Spengler.

Overall, this was the 488th podium for Mercedes-Benz in 351 races since 1988 and the eighth podium of the 2012 season.

Gary Paffett leads the DTM drivers’ standings with 127 points and is eleven points ahead of Bruno Spengler (BMW / 116 points). Jamie Green is in third place on 108 points. Team THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG leads the team standings with 151 points. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Mercedes-Benz heads the rankings with 295 points.

Canadian driver Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) in seventh position produced his best DTM result so far since the previous race at Zandvoort. Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished the race in positions twelve, thirteen and fourteen respectively. Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Coupé) and David Coulthard (DHL Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) did not finish.

Roberto Merhi posted a 1:22.752, the fastest of the 51 laps. It was the first fastest lap of the Spanish driver’s DTM career. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have achieved fastest laps in a total of 167 races, including six at Oschersleben.

The eighth race of the season at Oschersleben was the 140th race of the ‘new’ DTM since 2000. During these twelve and a half years, Mercedes-Benz has secured 81 wins, 62 pole positions and 83 fastest race laps.

A total of 71,000 fans attended the DTM race weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) at Oschersleben.

Race summary

The start: Jamie Green and Gary Paffett are second and third at the start of the race. Robert Wickens moves up six places to seventh, Christian Vietoris goes up the field from P16 to P12.

Lap 2: David Coulthard retires in the pits.

Lap 10: Paffett is in second place, two seconds down on leader Bruno Spengler (BMW). Green is third, Wickens seventh and Vietoris tenth.

Lap 13: The pit stop window is now open. Green and Susie Wolff come in for their first change of tyres.

Lap 14: First pit stop for Ralf Schumacher.

Lap 15: Paffett in second place comes in for first pit stop.

Lap 16: Wickens comes into the pits for the first time.

Lap 17: Roberto Merhi also makes his first pit stop and comes away with fresh rubber.

Lap 21: Vietoris makes first mandatory pit stop.

Lap 27: Second change of tyres for Green.

Lap 28: Wickens comes in for second time.

Lap 29: Paffett in the lead makes final mandatory pit stop.

Lap 31: Second pit stop for Vietoris.

Lap 32 : Final mandatory pit stop for Ralf Schumacher.

Lap 34: Second set of fresh tyres for Merhi.

Lap 35: Paffett, Green and Wickens are in positions two, three and seven respectively after the two mandatory pit stops.

Final lap (lap 51): After 51 laps and a total race distance of 188.496km, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green crossed the finish line in second and third place. Robert Wickens was seventh.

Comments after the race:

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:

“My C-Coupé was, as expected, very fast in the race today and we had a shot at victory. Bruno Spengler, however, also drove well and with no mistakes. I would, of course, like to have won in Oschersleben, nevertheless I have defended my lead in the championship with second place. Quite apart from that, it’s nice to be on the podium for the 30th time in my 90th DTM race. I’m currently eleven points ahead of Bruno with the last two races of the season in Valencia and Hockenheim still to come and am optimistic for the next race in Spain.”

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Third:

“This is my 20th podium in the DTM and I am very proud of that fact. The race was not easy for me. My pace was not quite good enough to scrap with front-runners Bruno Spengler and Gary for the win. But during the race, my car’s speed kept coming and I achieved my third podium finish of the season.”

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Seventh:

“After my best-ever DTM result in Zandvoort, I also anticipated a finish in the points at the Oschersleben weekend, so I’m very happy with seventh place. I had a very good start and was able to move up six places in the first corner. It was like a dream come true. My stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé was very fast. I hope to achieve a similarly good result during my next race in Valencia.”

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Twelfth:

“I hoped for a good finish in the points today after a great start from P16 on the grid. Overtaking at Oschersleben is difficult though, and, despite all efforts, I could move no further forward than twelfth. Now I’m looking forward to Valencia and hope to achieve a better result there.”

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 13th:

“My race went wrong in the first turn. After that, I tried to make up as many places as possible in the race, but my pace was not fast enough. It could be that my car was damaged at the start and that’s why I couldn’t post faster lap times. I will now have a look at the data with the team’s engineers.”

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 14th:

“I found the race very tricky. I got off to a bad start and then pushed hard to gain some places, but, unfortunately, I didn’t have enough grip with my first set of tyres. The second set of rubber was much better and I was able to demonstrate my car’s good pace towards the end of the race. My first fastest lap in a DTM race shows that I could have achieved a better result with my Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé and has given me extra motivation for my upcoming home race in Valencia.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“That was a very tough weekend for me, unfortunately. After a disappointing qualifying session, things did not get much better in the race. I had trouble with the suspension after making contact with another car, and so my race was over. There are two races still to come, and I would like to finish the season with two decent results.”

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“Unfortunately, my race was over before it had really begun. Another car hit my off-side rear wheel at the start – after that it was undriveable. This is obviously a disappointment, but now I must put this weekend in Oschersleben behind me and look forward to Valencia, where I was very quick last year.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Today’s race was one or two laps too short for Gary and so the championship remains a thriller to the very end – exciting and open-ended. At the start of the season, neither Gary nor I could have imagined a more gripping scenario with Gary taking an eleven-point lead into the last two races of the year. His lead is not huge, but it is better than a deficit of similar size.

There are two races yet to be run and of the three drivers who still have title chances, two drive for Mercedes. We continue to lead in all three championship categories as we have done since the first race in Hockenheim and we will all work hard as a team to defend the status quo until after the last race at Hockenheim.”

Drivers’ Championship: Top Three

Teams’ Championship: Top Three

Manufacturers’ Championship

Jamie Green, driver of a Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, and Ralf Schumacher took home a victory on Saturday in the first DTM Team Relay Competition. On Sunday, Green finished second, Gary Paffet, driver of the THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, finished third, both overtaken by Audi driver Mattias Ekström who finished first.

The weather played a major role on Sunday, with rain showers and a damp track adding significantly to the excitement of the race. In the quarter finals, a mere 90 thousandths of a second separated the Audi A5 DTM of Swedish driver Mattias Ekström and the BMW M3 DTM of reigning DTM champion, Martin Tomczyk from Germany. In the end, Tomczyk was defeated in front of his home crowd. In the semi-final, Ekström beat British Mercedes driver Paffett while Green made his way into the final with a tiny margin over Bruno Spengler (BMW). “A slight error cost me victory,” Spengler explained.

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished in second place in the DTM individual competition at Munich’s Olympic Stadium. The Norisring winner lost out to Mattias Ekström (Audi) in the final two races, run over six laps each time. Two Mercedes-Benz drivers progressed through to the semi-finals – Green and championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé). Paffett was joint third with Bruno Spengler (BMW).

On the first day of racing on Saturday, Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), currently placed second in the championship, won the inaugural team competition. Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) were third. Positions 1 and 3 were the best possible result in accordance with the regulations which state that no single manufacturer may finish in P1 and 2. A total of 45,000 spectators attended the DTM race in Munich on Saturday and Sunday.

The Format: After the team competition on Saturday, all 22 DTM drivers took part in the individual competition on Sunday. Championship leader Gary Paffett and the top three drivers from each manufacturer in the DTM drivers’ championship received a bye and did not race until the heat for the final sixteen (for Mercedes-Benz that was, apart from Paffett, Jamie Green, Christian Vietoris and David Coulthard). The preliminary heat and heats for the final sixteen were run over four laps. Starting with the quarter finals, the race distance was over six laps, which included a mandatory pit stop. The winner was determined in the final in two runs.

Preliminary Round: Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won his race against Timo Scheider (Audi), who raced in the finals of the team competition on Saturday, one and a half seconds ahead. Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won the next duel against Joey Hand (BMW) by three-tenths, but did not go through to the quarterfinals because of a subsequent one-second time penalty. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) were eliminated in their respective races against Miguel Molina and Adrien Tambay (both Audi).

Round of 16: Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) beat Rahel Frey (Audi) in the first round by six seconds. In the second round, David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) got the jump on Molina with a 0.062-second lead. Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won against Audi driver Filipe Albuquerque by 1.2 seconds. Robert Wickens and Christian Vietoris were eliminated in their races against Martin Tomczyk and Augusto Farfus (both BMW).

Quarter-finals: The quarter-final races took place on a wet track after intermittent showers of rain. Paffett beat his Mercedes-Benz team-mate Coulthard in the first round by just eight-tenths of a second. Green won his quarter-final heat against Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) three-tenths ahead.

Semi-finals: Paffett lost to Mattias Ekström (Audi) in the first of the semi-finals and so finished joint third with Bruno Spengler (BMW) in the individual standings. Green secured a place in the final in a thrilling duel against Spengler.

Final: Rain began to fall again before the start of the final. Green won the first of two runs against Mattias Ekström (Audi) by just under two seconds. In the second run, however, the Swedish driver beat Green to win the individual competition.

Comments on Sunday:

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:

“Too bad that we didn’t achieve an outright win in the final, but I’m satisfied with second place and winning the team competition on Saturday. My first final run was good, but conditions were tough on the second run and I lost some time during the pit stop into the bargain. It was an exciting race, and the crowds braved the rain and cheered us in the stands – they deserve a special mention.”

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Third:

“Third place twice, in the team competition and then in the individual contest, plus the relay victory for Ralf and Jamie yesterday and Jamie’s second place today – yes, it was a very successful weekend for Mercedes-Benz in Munich. Of course, I would really have loved to have won, but the track on my side was slightly wetter than on Mattias Ekström’s. But still, I’ll be going into the summer break and the next race at the Nürburgring with a real sense of achievement. Even after the rain, the track afforded a surprising amount of grip and we had plenty of speed – it was a whole lot of fun!”

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Quarter-finals:

“The track was very slippery and conditions difficult after the rain. Gary was faster in our race and won. I hope the fans in the stands had a lot of fun, despite the bad weather. Well, anyway, I enjoyed myself in the cockpit.”

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Round of 16:

“I felt very much at ease on the circuit in the Olympic Stadium. I proved that on Saturday by securing third place in the team competition with Gary. I got away to a good start again today, but unfortunately, didn’t manage to finish ahead on my track, since it was probably a little slower compared to the other.”

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Round of 16:

“It’s nice to have got this far, but unfortunately, the competition is now over for me. Martin Tomczyk had fresh tyres and mine were used, which made the difference. Overall, it’s been a very successful weekend for Mercedes-Benz, and that should give us some extra motivation for the second half of the season.”

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:

“I’m a bit disappointed because I had planned to do more on this second day. The start is run over such a short distance and is particularly important, given that the field is so evenly matched. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be my day. Now I’ll be focusing on the forthcoming race at the Nürburgring.”

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:

“Too bad, after winning the team event along with Jamie, I was hoping for more today in the individual competition. Unfortunately, my side of the track was still a little damp and I had the disadvantage of having run out of fresh tyres, because I was in the finals yesterday. Nevertheless, I’ve had a lot of fun this weekend racing here at the Munich Olympic Stadium and after Saturday’s successful outcome, I’m looking forward even more to the next race at the Nürburgring.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:

“Unfortunately, I exited the individual competition after the first round. Although I would obviously have liked to have progressed further, I took the opportunity to enjoy the competition along with the fans in the Munich Olympic Stadium, and cheered on my team-mates. It was a very successful event as far as being a mere spectator goes.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“A very successful weekend for Mercedes-Benz with the best possible result, first and third in the Manufacturers’ competition on Saturday and second and third place for Jamie Green and Gary Paffett in the Drivers’ competition on Sunday.

Two of the four drivers in the semi-finals were Mercedes drivers and a win was definitely in the offing, since Jamie Green was the clear leader in the final with the fastest laps on both tracks and the best pit stops – the die was cast, however, when Jamie was slowed down by a stalled engine when coming back out after his second pit stop. So, congratulations to Mattias Ekström and Audi on a well-deserved victory in the final.

The DTM race at the Munich Olympic Stadium will also be remembered for a terrific crowd who stuck it out in today’s rain and had plenty of fun and saw lots of thrilling action. Coverage by television, radio, print and electronic media has been very comprehensive and positive, which shows that the DTM in the stadium is well accepted.

Many thanks to all the teams, of all the competitors who made this possible, to the ITR, the DMSB and partners of the Olympic Park. This great event is the result of their joint, cooperative efforts.”

After winning the DTM season opener last week, Gary Paffett, driver of the THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, managed to get on the podium again at the Lausitzring. Paffett came in a second behind Bruno Spengler of BMW who won the race in a time of 1:09:45.795. After the first two races of the season, Paffett leads the drivers’ standings with 43 points over Jamie Green, driver of the Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, who has 30 points. Team THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG lead the team standings with Mercedes AMG in second place with 37 points. Mercedes-Benz also leads in the DTM manufacturer championship with 96 points to BMW’s 54 points and Audi’s 52 points.

Jamie Green, 2nd in the opening race of the season Hockenheim a week ago, came in 4th. Green posted a time of 1:19.025 minutes, the fastest lap of the race at the Lausitzring, the second time he’s done it at this track. In total, Mercedes has clocked eight out of thirteen fastest laps in DTM races at this track since 2001. It was also the 164th quickest lap for Mercedes-Benz since 1988.

In his 45th DTM race, Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) moved up the field from 16th place to P10 and so finished in the points. Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) and David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished in P11 and P12. In his second DTM race, Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home in 16th place. Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was 21st, Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) did not finish.

The start: Gary Paffett moves up one position at the start into P2. Jamie Green overtakes Mike Rockenfeller on the first turn and is fifth. Vietoris moves up the field four places from 18th on the grid.

Lap 8: Green goes by Edoardo Mortara (Audi) and is in fourth place.

Lap 11: Ralf Schumacher and Christian Vietoris overtake Adrien Tambay (Audi).

Lap 13: The pit stop window is now open. Roberto Merhi, Schumacher and Vietoris come in for their first mandatory stop.

Lap 15 : First set of fresh tyres for Paffett.

Lap 18: Mehri wins through against Tambay in the scrap for 19th position.

Lap 21: Green now leads the race from Bruno Spengler (BMW) and Paffett.

Lap 25: Second pit stop for Merhi.

Lap 26: Green still in the lead but comes in now to make his first pit stop.

Lap 28: Schumacher makes his second mandatory pit stop.

Lap 30: Vietoris overtakes Rockenfeller.

Lap 31: Schumacher goes by Rahel Frey (Audi). Paffett comes in for final mandatory pit stop.

Lap 33: Green in P2 turns into the pit lane.

Lap 36: Paffett four tenths down on Spengler in second place.

Lap 48: Robert Wickens coasts to a halt at the side of the track.

Final lap: After 52 laps and a total distance of 180.856 kilometers, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green are second and fourth. Ralf Schumacher is tenth.

Comments after the race:

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:

“It’s such a pity. My THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé had enough speed to win again today. I was just a bit too far behind at the pit-stop. Having said that, my car was really quick and had a brilliant set-up, a tribute to the team. I was also so close to Bruno Spengler’s car that I was losing a bit of down force. However, I did give it my all and being second on the podium within the space of a week is a great result for us, especially after the win in the opening race.”

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Fourth:

“My Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé was just terrific today. Augusto Farfus drove a fantastic race. I was behind him most of the time, but despite the great pace of my car, I couldn’t get past. Now the focus of my attention has to be on my home race at Brands Hatch where I’m hoping to get back on the podium again.”

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 10th:

“Our C-Coupé was pretty quick today. The car performed flawlessly and the same applies to the strategy and the pit stops. This enabled us to progress from 16th to 10th place. If I can get a better grid position in the next race, I’ll hopefully not get stuck in traffic and be able to compete with the front runners.”

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), 11th:

“We were not quite as quick as at the season opener in Hockenheim. There was a lot of dirt on the track which cost us more than we expected. It’s a bit annoying that we just missed a points finish, but hopefully things will go better for us in two weeks time at Brands Hatch.”

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 12th:

“I had to be careful at the start of the race not to collide with any other cars and make sure my car wasn’t damaged. I gave it my all and got the best possible result. I just couldn’t have managed any more than that.”

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 16th:

“I think the race went well but I would have preferred to have been further up the field. I’m hoping that things will be better for me at Brands Hatch given a bit more preparation.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 21st:

“I had a bit of a disappointing race. Straight after my first pit stop I realised that there was no way I could make any great progress in the race. I’ll just have to draw a line in the sand now and look to the future.”

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired

“Unfortunately I skidded off the track on lap 48. However, I have made some progress despite this. I’ll now focus all my efforts on Brands Hatch and hopefully pick up my first DTM points there.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Both Gary and Jamie had the speed to secure P1, but at this track it is not enough to simply go faster to be able to overtake. Gary started the race from third place, a mere 0.043 seconds adrift of pole position. He immediately moved up one position as the race began but was subsequently unable to get past the rear of Spengler’s car, which he was then forced to follow for about 50 laps.

Congratulations to BMW and Bruno Spengler on their victory and many thanks to our team for their sterling work since the beginning of the season, which has enabled us to head all three championship standings – the drivers’, the team and manufacturers’ championships.

As in Hockenheim, our C-Coupé and our drivers were highly competitive and we want to make a concerted effort to build on that.”

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won the 2012 DTM season opener at Hockenheim from sixth place on the grid with a 4.7- second lead on Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé). It was Paffett’s 18th Victory in the DTM and his fourth at Hockenheim. It was the British driver’s 26th podium in the 82nd DTM race of his career and his seventh in a DTM race at Hockenheim. With 18 wins and a winning rate of 22%, Paffett has achieved the greatest number of victories among those drivers currently contesting the DTM. Paffett and Green secured the 100th one-two victory for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM since 1988.

It was the sixth consecutive Mercedes victory at their home race in Hockenheim (opener and finale), and their third win in a row at a DTM season opener (Paffett 2010 and 2012, and Bruno Spengler, 2011). Overall since 1988, Mercedes-Benz has won 32 of 65 DTM races at the Hockenheimring. During the same period, Mercedes-Benz drivers were victorious 166 times in 343 DTM races.

Paffett’s victory was the first success in the new DTM era in the three-way battle between the three premium brands Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and the first victory for the new DTM Mercedes AMG C Coupé, the successor to the AMG Mercedes C-Class, which is the most successful vehicle in the history of the DTM with 85 victories in 159 races.

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) advanced from 15th on the grid to finish fourth. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) were also amongst the points, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) ended the day in twelfth and 14th positions. DTM rookie Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was forced to retire from the race.

Jamie Green set the fastest lap with a time of 1:34.901 minutes – the sixth time he has done so at Hockenheim. It is also the 36th time in 65 DTM races at this venue that a Mercedes-Benz driver has posted the fastest lap time. Nine of the last ten fastest laps here were set by a Mercedes-Benz driver.

A total of 142,000 fans attended the DTM opener at Hockenheim this weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun). Some 71,000 spectators were at the track for Sunday’s first race of the new DTM era.

Race summary

• The start: Jamie Green defends his P2 off the line. Gary Paffett moves up two places to fourth. Ralf Schumacher goes up from eleventh on the grid to eighth place.

• Lap 2: Paffett overtakes Edoardo Mortara (Audi) in front of the Mercedes-Benz grandstand.

• Lap 4: Green overtakes lead driver, Mattias Ekström (Audi), to move into P1. Paffett quickly follows him and is now in second place.

• Lap 6: Drive-through penalty for Ralf Schumacher. Christian Vietoris moves up to eighth position.

• Lap 8: Green and Paffett in the lead with a half-second gap between them.

• Lap 9: Vietoris overtakes Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) and is seventh.

• Lap 10: The pit stop window is now open. First mandatory stop for Vietoris. Green extends his lead on Paffett to 0.7 seconds and 4.5 seconds on Ekström.

• Lap 12: Schumacher pits for fresh tyres.

• Lap 13: Green and Coulthard come into the pits. Paffett now leads.

• Lap 14: First mandatory stop for Paffett. He retains his lead on Green.

• Lap 15: Fresh tyres for Susie Wolff and DTM rookie Robert Wickens.

• Lap 16: Mandatory pit stop for Roberto Merhi.

• Lap 18: Paffett has built up a lead of 1.2 seconds on Green and 8.7 seconds on Ekström.

• Lap 19 : Drive-through penalty for Wickens.

• Lap 20: At the half-way stage, three DTM AMG Mercedes C- Coupés are in the top 5: Paffett and Green in P1 and 2, Vietoris in fifth place.

• Lap 21: Second pit stop for Coulthard.

• Lap 22: Final mandatory pit stop for Schumacher and Wolff.

• Lap 24: Merhi and Wickens come in for second pit stop.

• Lap 26: Vietoris pits from fourth position.

• Lap 27: Lead driver Paffett pits for second time.

• Lap 28: Last pit stop for Green. Paffett defends lead from team-mate. Vietoris in fifth place.

• Lap 32: Schumacher overtakes Miguel Molina (Audi) to secure eighth place.

• Lap 34: Vietoris overtakes Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) to move into fourth place.

• Lap 35: Schumacher goes up into P7, in front of Coulthard.

• Lap 38: Merhi retires in the pits.

• Final lap (Lap 40): After 40 laps and a total distance of 182.96 kilometres, Gary Paffett wins the 2012 DTM season opener at Hockenheim from Jamie Green. Christian Vietoris, Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard finish in P4, P7 and P8 respectively.

Comments after the race:

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Winner:

“What a fantastic start to the new DTM era. Many thanks to the team for their hard work – my THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé was tuned perfectly. After a difficult season in 2011, I am pleased to have found the way back to the podium top spot. I’ve always believed in the team and my speed and that’s now paid off. The scrap with Jamie was really exciting and always very fair, which is exactly how racing should be, simply terrific!”

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:

“Second place on the podium – what a great way to start the 2012 season! The setup of my Mercedes AMG C-Coupé was perfect for today’s race, so a big ‘thank you’ to my team. I got off to a great start and was able to overtake Mattias Ekström early on to take the lead. The contest with Gary was exciting and always very fair. His first pit stop was even faster than mine, so he came out of the pit lane ahead of me. Even so, I’m well satisfied with my second place and am delighted with the one-two win for Mercedes-Benz in the first race of the season.”

Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Fourth:

“I had a terrific race at the season opener. After qualifying, I would never have dreamt that I could move up from 15th position to fourth, but my C-Coupé was really well prepared and very fast. The pit crew too did their work brilliantly. Overall, it was a great team effort and I’m also very pleased for Gary and Jamie and their one-two victory.”

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Seventh:

“This was a thrilling and exciting start to the new DTM era. I think that the race made exciting entertainment for the many fans in the stands and at home watching on TV. My result could have been better, but I made a mistake and got a penalty, which I have to accept. My pace was good, so I’m really looking forward to the race next weekend at the Lausitzring.”

David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Eighth:

“A P8 finish and three points in the first race of the season is a good result for me. After all the uncertainty in the winter, it was good to actually drive the car under race conditions and to find out where we are relative to the opposition. The one-two victory for Gary und Jamie shows that our C-Coupé is very fast. However, this competition is very tight and there is still everything to play for.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Twelfth:

“What a great start to the season for Mercedes-Benz! I’m very happy for Gary and Jamie, and our team result – five C-Coupés in the Top 8 – was just fantastic. My race was predetermined to some extent since I couldn’t do much from my position on the grid, but a twelfth place from the last row is not a bad result. At the next race in Lausitz, I want to secure a better grid position and improve my placing.”

Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 14th:

“I didn’t manage to finish in the points today, unfortunately. But personally, I think 14th place at the start of the season is quite an achievement for a rookie, especially in such a hard-fought competition as this. I have learned a lot from this first race and I’m sure it will put me in good stead for the rest of the season. I’m pretty sure that with the superb support of the Mercedes team, I will continue to improve as the year progresses.”

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), retired:

“Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the best of starts in my first DTM race. To add to that, after just five laps, I had a collision with two other cars – my car was damaged and so I was no longer able to match the pace.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Our new C-Coupé was really on song today. This one-two finish for Gary Paffett and Jamie Green is the best possible reward for everyone who has worked so hard on the design and construction of our new DTM C-Coupé. My thanks to everyone – that was some of the best motor racing ever. It just does not get any better, especially Jamie’s and Gary’s overtaking. Super! This represents our 100th one-two victory in the DTM. Five Mercedes AMG C-Coupés finished in the Top 8, and 65% of all the available points went to our drivers and teams. We’ve made a solid start to the new DTM. We will now focus on the race at the Lausitzring next weekend, but first, we have a little celebrating to do with everyone who has worked so hard.”

It’s been announced that the new Mercedes AMG C-Class Coupe will be the Safety Car for the 2012 DTM season. The Mercedes C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series will provide all the necessary safety for the DTM series, the world’s most popular touring car series. With a maximum output of 380 kW (517 hp), this two-seater is the most powerful C-Class of all time. The German Touring Car Masters (DTM) gets underway at the Hockenheimring on 29 April 2012.

The Safety Car is deployed under the direction of the German Motorsport Association (DMSB), which is responsible for implementing safety measures, ensuring compliance with safety standards and discharging the attendant official sporting functions in accordance with the DTM rules. The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series Safety Car driven by racing driver Jürgen Kastenholz (44) is intended to ensure maximum safety for racing drivers, spectators and track marshals in case of dangerous situations, such as extreme weather conditions, accidents or other incidents. In response to a radio message from the race organisers, the Safety Car enters the track and leads the DTM field around the circuit until normal racing can be resumed.

The most powerful C-Class of all time stands for spectacular design, technology transfer from the field of motorsport and driving dynamics of the very highest calibre. As such, the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series only required modification to a few points of detail for deployment as the DTM Safety Car. The most striking feature distinguishing it from the series production version is the aerodynamically optimised light bar on the roof. Energy-efficient, fast-response LEDs in green and orange keep the DTM racing drivers informed of the current situation.

Green: the two central green lights on the front and rear are always active when the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series enters the field at the beginning of a Safety Car phase. Continuous green is the signal for all DTM drivers to overtake the Safety Car.

• Orange: as soon as the Safety Car is in position in front of all DTM vehicles, the green LEDs are switched off and the orange LEDs are activated. The flashing orange lights at the outer ends of the light bar indicate that overtaking is absolutely prohibited.

• The stroboscope-like flashing LED lights on the front and rear remain active throughout the Safety Car phase. The license plate with Safety Car lettering which is illuminated by LEDs on the boot lid provides for better visibility in poor weather.

Engine, power transmission, chassis, suspension and brake system corresponding to series production variant

The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine corresponds to the series-production engine: with a maximum output of 380 kW (517 hp) and maximum torque of 620 Newton metres it even tops the roughly 377 kW (500 hp) V8 engine in the Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé which is being used in the DTM. The high-speed naturally aspirated engine enables acceleration to 100 km/h from a standing start in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h (electronically limited). With the spectators at the race track and the TV audience in mind, the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series Safety Car is fitted with a modified AMG sports exhaust system. The special rear silencer guarantees a distinctive AMG V8 sound.

Engine cooling, power transmission, chassis and suspension, brake system – these areas have been honed to perfection and did not require any modification. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with four drive programmes, double-declutching function and RACE START guarantees direct and fast gear-shifting. As is customary in motorsport and typical for a Black Series model, the AMG sports suspension is designed as a coil-over suspension. It covers a broad range of adjustment options for an individual race track set-up. The standard-fit AMG rear-axle differential lock with locking effect in acceleration and deceleration mode combines with the 3-stage ESP® for reliable traction. The AMG high-performance braking system featuring motorsport-tested compound brake disks at the front offers extremely short stopping distances and fade-resistant deceleration performance.

Optional equipment from the AMG Performance Studio

The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series DTM Safety Car is equipped with the AMG Track package, the AMG Aerodynamics package, the AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package and forged AMG light-alloy wheels. The AMG Track package comprises active rear axle gear cooling and sports tyres. The radiator is positioned in front of the diffuser insert in the rear apron, where it effectively takes in the air stream. The specially developed Dunlop Sport Maxx Race sports tyres in size 255/35 R 19 at the front and 285/30 R 19 at the rear are fitted on forged AMG wheels which are painted matt black with a high-sheen rim flange.

The AMG Aerodynamics package includes so-called flics and a functionally designed genuine carbon-fibre front splitter on the front apron, plus a fixed carbon-fibre rear aerofoil with adjustable blade. All three components provide the vehicle with a sharper profile while optimising its aerodynamic balance. The AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package covers exterior mirror housings, the inserts in the side sill panels and a diffuser insert in genuine carbon fibre. All optional equipment items come from the AMG Performance Studio and are available ex-factory for every C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series.

Functional race-track atmosphere in the interior

The interior also corresponds to the series production model, with a few exceptions. The two AMG sports bucket seats ensure optimum lateral support for driver and co-driver. In view of the intended deployment on the race track, four-point seat belts are used. Optimum control of the vehicle is guaranteed by the AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA with flattened top and bottom rim sections and aluminium gearshift paddles.

AMG carbon-fibre trim featuring the “AMG Black Series” logo underscores the functional race-track atmosphere. For communication with the race organisers, the Safety Car is equipped with a two-way radio system and TV monitor. The camera located next to the rear license plate provides the co-driver with a view of the DTM cars following the Safety Car. Under the monitor there are four buttons in blue, green, orange and silver for operating the light bar, the stroboscope-type flashing LED lights and the horn.

DTM Safety Car provided by Mercedes-AMG since 2000

Mercedes-AMG has been providing the Safety Car ever since the beginning of the “new” DTM in 2000, alternating with Audi from race to race – and since 2012 with BMW also. In the Formula 1 World Championship, an SLS AMG is deployed as an Official F1 Safety-Car and a C 63 AMG Estate serves as an Official F1 Medical Car.

MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS driver Nico Rosberg’s first Formula 1 win at the Chinese Grand Prix last week was also the first for a works Silver Arrow since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix. The victory in Shanghai, China came exactly 20,671 days after five-time Formula 1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio won the world championship at Monza in his Mercedes-Benz W196. In the 55 years between 1955 and 2010, there was no such thing as a thoroughbred works Silver Arrow in Formula 1. Rosberg’s win came in the 41st Grand Prix of the new era.

To thank his German fans for their incredible support, Rosberg will be performing demonstration laps around the Hockenheim ring in Juan Manuel Fangio’s race-winning Silver Arrow from the 1955 season.

This will be Rosberg’s second visit to the DTM season opener at Hockenheim: last year, he volunteered his services as a DTM ‘taxi driver’ at the wheel of the THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C‑Class. Rosberg’s involvement in last season’s DTM extended to the first ever Show Event in Munich: on that occasion, he drove a Formula 1 Silver Arrow around the temporary circuit in the Olympic Stadium.

Nico will not be the only prominent guest at Hockenheim; his MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team-mate Michael Schumacher is also keen to be present for the opening race of the world’s most popular touring car series and will be in Hockenheim on Sunday, April 29th. Like Rosberg, the seven-time Formula 1 champion will be bringing a Silver Arrow to the event, namely the 2011 MGP W02 in which he will complete a sequence of demonstration laps.

Nico Rosberg: “I have great memories of the DTM. The earliest date back to when my father was still racing. Then I started competing in the various junior classes that are staged as part of the DTM race weekend as I started out on my own motorsport career. A lot has happened in the meantime, and the highlight so far was obviously my win in China one week ago. I am absolutely delighted to be returning to Hockenheim as a Grand Prix winner. Last year, I was able to drive a classic Silver Arrow on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, so now I’m really looking forward to climbing into the cockpit of Juan Manuel Fangio’s phenomenal W196 streamliner from Monza in 1955 and driving a few laps at Hockenheim. It means a lot to me that we have written a new chapter in the wonderful history of Mercedes in motorsport – and that there is plenty more still to come.”

Michael Schumacher: “After a busy start to the Formula 1 season with four flyaway races in succession, it will be nice to come back to Germany for the DTM season opener at Hockenheim on Sunday. I’m especially looking forward to the chance to give the fans a taste of a Formula 1 Silver Arrow in action.

This will be my first visit to a DTM race in 20 years, and I hope that my brother and his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers will get their season off to a great start.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “DTM begins a new era this weekend in Hockenheim, with a brand-new and exciting generation of cars. To mark the occasion, we wanted to give the spectators at the circuit something extra, and both our F1 drivers were immediately right behind the idea. Following his victory at the Chinese Grand Prix ten days ago, Nico Rosberg will complete demonstration laps in the Silver Arrow W 196 streamliner, with which Juan Manuel Fangio won at Monza in 1955. On Sunday, just before the start of the race, Michael Schumacher will complete a demonstration run in last year’s F1 Silver Arrow.

It’s a throwback to the start of the DTM, which now features three premium manufacturers, and a way of saying thank you to the loyal DTM fans and to our Mercedes colleagues, thousands of whom will be in the Motodrom this weekend, accounting for a high proportion of the 55,000 pre-sold tickets. We are delighted to be able to offer the fans these additional attractions and Nico and Michael are excited to be attending on one of their few free weekends, for which I sincerely thank both of them.”

Former Formula One driver David Coulthard retains his place in the Mercedes-Benz line-up for the 2012 DTM season. The 40-year-old Scot is about to start his third year in the DTM as a member of Team Mücke Motorsport. Coulthard was Formula One championship runner-up in 2001. He won a total of 13 races during his F1 career, twelve of which were for McLaren Mercedes, including the first victory of the new Silver Arrows era on 9th March 1997 in Melbourne (Australia).

When he made his DTM debut in 2010, Coulthard quickly established himself as a fan favourite in the paddock. He scored his first DTM point in the 2010 season finale in Shanghai, where he also set fastest lap.

Prior to the DTM phase of his racing career, Coulthard competed in 246 Formula One races between 1994 and 2008. Twelve of his 13 Grand Prix victories were during his time at McLaren-Mercedes, with whom he also won the constructors’ title in 1998 and finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship in 2001. Since 2009, Coulthard has attended all Formula One races as a member of the BBC television team covering F1. His expert opinions are rated highly by viewers and professional colleagues alike.

Coulthard is one of the founding ambassadors for Wings for Life. The Scot has worked unstintingly for the charity foundation over a number of years, spreading the message worldwide and helping to generate donations to finance its research projects. Founded in 2004 by Heinz Kinigadner and Dietrich Mateschitz, this registered non-profit foundation promotes research into finding a cure for paraplegia caused by injuries to the spinal cord. With the agreement of sponsor Deutsche Post, Mercedes-Benz has made available advertising space on the bodywork of Coulthard’s car to draw media attention to Wings for Life and to its driver’s role as ambassador for the organisation, thereby helping boost fund-raising impact.

In his first two years in the DTM, Coulthard drove the AMG Mercedes C-Class, the most successful car in series history with 85 victories from 159 races.

David Coulthard: “In 2012, the DTM enters a new era. New cars, new technical regulations and a third manufacturer promise to make the championship more exciting than ever before. That’s why I’m looking forward even more to my third year with Mercedes-Benz in this highly competitive championship. The popularity of the DTM and the huge enthusiasm of the fans make this yet another excellent platform to draw attention to Wings for Life, the charity organisation for which I have been such a committed advocate over many years. I now have two years of DTM experience to draw on. My first impressions of our DTM Mercedes AMG C‑Coupé are very positive – especially the paddle shift on the steering wheel which I know very well from my time in Formula One. In the past two years, I’ve had to learn a lot about the engineering, the driving technique and about DTM racing in general. I know my team well now and, after 15 years as a member of the Mercedes-Benz family, I feel really at home. In 2012, I want to continue my progress and post some respectable results.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “David Coulthard is one of the best-known and most popular drivers in the DTM. He has played a prominent role in Mercedes-Benz motorsport history since winning the first race with the then brand-new McLaren Mercedes Silver Arrow in the 1997 Australian Grand Prix. David went on to record a dozen more Formula One victories with us, including several Monaco GPs and also the classic race at Spa in Belgium. In 2001, he was Formula One World Championship runner-up with McLaren Mercedes. In 2012, David Coulthard will be contesting his third DTM season, and this time he has set his sights even higher. Last year, there were several races in which David was amongst the very fastest in the field over the entire distance. As soon as David can turn this speed into better grid positions and quicker starts, he will be a real contender. And this is our shared goal for 2012.”

Jamie Green, driver of the AMG Mercedes C-Class, won the 2011 DTM season finale at Hockenheim by 7.6 seconds from Martin Tomczyk (Audi) after starting from second place on the grid. It was Green’s seventh DTM victory and his second at Hockenheim. This was the 17th podium for the British driver, his sixth in a DTM race at Hockenheim and podium number 480 for a DTM driver at this track.

It was the fifth consecutive victory Mercedes-Benz at their home race in Hockenheim. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz has won a total of 31 out of 64 DTM races at the Hockenheimring. In the ‘new DTM’ since 2000, a Mercedes driver has won nearly three-quarters of all races at the circuit (19 victories in 26 races).

The season finale was the last race for the AMG Mercedes C-Class, the most successful vehicle in DTM history (85 wins in 159 races). Since 1988, more than half (51%) of the 165 Mercedes-Benz wins have been secured with the C-Class.

To make a direct comparison with Audi, from 202 races, Mercedes-Benz has won 109 times and Audi 62.

Jamie Green set the fastest race lap in Hockenheim – 1:34.114 – for the fifth time at this track. In all, since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have set the fastest lap in 35 of 64 DTM races at Hockenheim. Since the revival of the DTM in 2000, a Mercedes-Benz has set the fastest race lap in 76% of all races (20 of 26 races).

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished his 80th DTM

race in fifth position after starting from seventh on the grid. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) came home ninth. Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished 11th and 12th. Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class), Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) and David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) crossed the line in 14th, 15th and 17th positions respectively. Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) was forced to retire from the race.

A total of 120,000 spectators attended the DTM finale (Fri, Sat, Sun) in Hockenheim.

Race summary

The start: Jamie Green overtakes pole-sitter Miguel Molina (Audi) at the start of the race and goes into the lead. Gary Paffett moves up one position to sixth place.

Lap 4: Green extends his lead on Martin Tomczyk (Audi) to more than two seconds.

Lap 10: The pit stop window is now open. Paffett is the first C-Class driver to pit. David Coulthard and Christian Vietoris also come in.

Lap 11: Bruno Spengler and Renger van der Zande complete their first mandatory pit stop. Vietoris retires.

Lap 12: Ralf Schumacher and Susie Wolff pit for the first time.

Lap 13: Green comes in for his first stop with a five-second lead.

Lap 18: Second mandatory pit stop for Paffett.

Lap 19: Schumacher and Wolff come in for the second time.

Lap 20: Green has a six-second lead after the first round of pit stops. Van der Zande comes in for the second time.

Lap 21: Coulthard pits for the second time.

Lap 22 : Final mandatory pit stop for Engel.

Lap 24: Spengler pits lying in sixth position.

Lap 26: Green comes in for his final pit stop in the lead.

Lap 29: The pit stop window has now closed. Green leads by 8.6 seconds.

Final lap (Lap 38): Jamie Green wins the 2011 DTM season finale at Hockenheim after 38 laps and a total race distance of 173.812 km. Gary Paffett climbs two positions from seventh place on the grid to finish P5.

Comments after the race:

Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Winner:

“I feel very proud to have won this race which is also the final outing for the AMG Mercedes C-Class, the most successful car in DTM history. My car was perfect and I’m so pleased to have won here at Hockenheim for the second time. Now I can start the winter break on a high as a race winner this year. Many thanks to my team for all their work today and throughout the season. I’m looking forward to the new DTM era which starts in 2012. I’m sure it will be just as exciting as the old one, if not more so…!”

Gary Paffett (AMG Mercedes C THOMAS SABO-Class) – Fifth:

“That was a good race – I started from seventh place, and moved up two positions to fifth. My C-Class ran really well and I would like to have got past Mike Rockenfeller, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. Nevertheless, it was a good finish to a difficult season. I’m already looking forward to 2012.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) – Ninth:

“Unfortunately, my bid to end the season as runner-up in the championship didn’t quite come off, but all the same, I take satisfaction from having won two races and having started from pole position in four. That’s much more important than finishing second in the standings. So all in all, this has been a good year for us. The team worked really hard and, right up to the final lap, we gave it everything. I was faster than Oliver Jarvis and Timo Scheider today, but they proved too difficult to overtake.”

Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Eleventh:

“Congratulations to Jamie on his victory in our home round of the championship – he drove a great race. Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage a points finish today because I started from too far back on the grid. I’m satisfied with the way my season has gone, and from now on, I’ll be focusing all my attention on developing and testing the new DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé that we’ll be driving in 2012. You can be sure that we’ll be back on the attack then.” Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Twelfth:

“Twelfth place is a decent result for me. I was running really well today and was able to keep up with Ralf. The atmosphere in the stands was terrific – especially in the Motodrom and at the Mercedes grandstand. Overall, I’m pleased with my first DTM season, particularly since my form improved significantly towards the end of season.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 14th:

“I had obviously been hoping for better than P14 in the last race of the season, but I was boxed in by a lot of other cars on the first couple of laps, which cost me several positions. That was just bad luck. I’m very pleased for Jamie. It’s nice to have given the C-Class a fitting send-off in its last race.”

Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 15th:

“I had, of course, hoped to do better than 15th place in my first race as Susie Wolff, but it was tough to move up the field more than a couple of places from P17 on the grid. Like all the team, I’m pleased for Jamie and his victory – the 85th for the C-Class – I love this car!”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 17th:

“This was an unlucky race for me – my first pit stop wasn’t brilliant, unfortunately. After that my race was more or less over, since I had no chance to move up the field. I would of course have wished for a better result for the end of the season.”

Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) – retired:

“Unfortunately, this wasn’t the end to the season that I had hoped for. My pit stop didn’t go as intended: the right front wheel wasn’t on properly, which can happen. Up until that point, I had been very satisfied with the way the race was going. I was the best driver of an old-model Mercedes-Benz and had good pace. Too bad that I didn’t finish the final race of the season.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“That was the final race to be contested under the current DTM regulations, and for Jamie Green to have won it in such a convincing manner today is a tremendous achievement. Well done to everyone who played their part in making it happen. This is a victory that will go down in the record books and Jamie showed his true calibre today. With our C-Class, we have now won 85 out of 159 races – more than half, in fact – which makes this car the most successful and victorious in DTM history. Since the DTM was revived in 2000, Mercedes-Benz has won 19 races out of 26 at Hockenheim – a fabulous win rate for our home race. Next year, the DTM will welcome a third competitor, BMW, and that affirms the good work done over the last six years by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, the ITR, the DMSB and all our sponsors and TV partners, who always believed in the success of this remarkable championship. At the end of an era, thank you to everybody who has made the third generation of the DTM possible from the start of 2012.”

Gary Paffett, driver of the THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class, placed the highest among all Mercedes-Benz drivers during the eighth race of the season at Oschersleben. Following technical problems in qualifying, the British driver started 18th on the grid, moving up 14 places during the race to finish in fourth place overall.

Christian Vietoris, Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class driver, took fifth place, scoring four points for the first time in his DTM career. After being moved back to 17th on the grid, he improved by twelve places to finish fifth.

Driver of the GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class, Maro Engel, finished seventh, and so was also in the points. David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished tenth and eleventh respectively.

Bruno Spengler, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class driver, retired on lap 43 with a technical problem. Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) also failed to finish his 40th DTM race. Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) were forced to retire during the race’s early stages.

Across the race weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), a total of 65,000 spectators visited the Oschersleben circuit to watch the DTM race.

Race summary

The start: Rain began to fall about an hour before the start of the race, so drivers posted two parade laps in order to adjust to the wet track conditions. The race distance has been shortened by one lap to 49 laps. Bruno Spengler moves into the lead from second place on the grid. Ralf Schumacher goes up three positions into P4.

Lap 3: Susie Stoddart retires after a spin.

Lap 4: Spengler leads the field. Schumacher in fourth place. Jamie Green, Renger van der Zande and Christian Vietoris currently in positions seven to nine.

Lap 5: Renger van der Zande forced to retire after an exit onto the grass as a result of a collision.

Lap 7: Mattias Ekström (Audi) overtakes Spengler and is in the lead.

Lap 10: Schumacher retires after a spin and a collision with Filipe Albuquerque (Audi).

Lap 12: The pit stop window is now open. Gary Paffett is the first C-Class driver to make a mandatory pit stop.

Lap 17: Jamie Green and Christian Vietoris come in for their first pit stop at the same time.

Lap 22: Gary Paffett moves up one position into eighth place. Vietoris, Paffett and Green in places seven to nine.

Lap 23: Green pits for his second mandatory pit stop.

Lap 26: First pit stop for Maro Engel.

Lap 27: Spengler pits for the first time and reemerges in P2.

Lap 30: Spengler pits for second time.

Lap 36: Gary Paffett comes in for his second mandatory pit stop and reemerges in fourth place.

Lap 43: Spengler retires due to a technical problem.

Final lap: After 45 laps and a total distance of 166.320 km, Gary Paffett is the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver in fourth position at the eighth race of the season in Oschersleben. The race was ended after the maximum duration of 70 minutes, because of the heavy rain. Christian Vietoris was fifth, securing his first DTM points. Maro Engel in P7 also finishes in the points.

Comments after the race:

Gary Paffett (AMG Mercedes C THOMAS SABO-Class) – fourth:

“I’m very satisfied with fourth place considering that I started from 18th position. Before the race, I hadn’t expected to be the best-placed C-Class driver. The conditions were very difficult, just like at Brands Hatch, and the race was very chaotic at times, which helped me to make good so many places. The car’s performance was also excellent. If I hadn’t spun on the first turn, I could possibly have come home before Martin Tomczyk. I’m very sorry for Bruno and his DNF, but all is not lost – the title race is not yet decided.”

Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) – fifth:

“I’ve finally achieved my first points in the DTM. My team did a super job – they were faultless. We’ve had the speed plenty of times before, but today we were able to convert that into points. The rain suited me, because I like driving in challenging conditions. Now I’m hoping to rack up some more points in the last couple of races.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) – seventh:

“More would definitely have been possible than a seventh place. Oliver Jarvis gave Jamie a shove, which then made him drive into me. That caused me to spin – but for that I would certainly have finished further up the field. The car worked very well. The team have done a good job today, and our strategy was the right one.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 10th:

“It was an action-packed race here today, and the weather conditions were far from easy. One minute, I was making good progress up the field, then I dropped back again – in the end tenth place is a reasonable result.”

Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 11th:

“The first lap was very eventful – four cars spun in front of me. Oliver Jarvis forced me over to the outside, causing me to hit Maro. My C-Class was damaged slightly and I no longer had the speed to keep up with the race leaders. An error on the first turn cost me more time, but unfortunately, I simply wasn’t fast enough.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) – retired:

“It was just bad luck – nothing you can do. Unfortunately, something suddenly went wrong with the front of the car, and then it wasn’t as drivable as at the start. We don’t yet know exactly what the problem was. I tried to keep going, because there still might have been a chance of securing some points, but I had to retire. It’s unfortunate, but it’s not the end of the world. There are still two races to go and we’re certainly not about to give up. There’s still plenty to fight for.”

Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) – retired:

“Conditions were very difficult. We had a problem with the rear axle, but at the same time, we had to drive on the limit in order not to drop too far back and lose connection with the rest of the field. The rear wheels locked up going into the first turn. That shouldn’t really happen, but sometimes does in these circumstances – too bad. Martin Tomczyk was generally a bit faster than me, but under normal circumstances wouldn’t have got past me. I don’t actually know what went on in the collision with Filipe Albuquerque. He made contact with my rear off-side, but I didn’t really notice, because I was focused on what was happening in front of me.”

Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) – retired:

“I’m very disappointed, because there was a real chance of some points today. I had a very good start and was lying seventh. Conditions were tricky, but the car felt good. After contact with another driver, I slid off onto the grass and crashed into the wall.”

Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) – retired:

“Sadly, my race was over far too soon. In the difficult conditions I misbraked, skidding off into the gravel. Overall, driving today wasn’t all that easy. Now I’m just looking forward to the next race.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Bruno was on course to secure the championship lead when he was lying second. Had he finished in that position, he would’ve gone into the lead at the top of the table. But a problem with the front end of the car – which we still have to investigate – prevented him. We now have to make good a nine-point deficit in Valencia und Hockenheim.”

Gary Paffett driver of the THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes-Benz C-Class, finished the seventh round of the 2011 DTM series at Brands Hatch, which was also a home race for Paffett, in 4th place after starting from second position. Paffett started and finished the race as the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver.

• Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) scored points with P5 and P7

• Eighth-placed Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) secured the final point at his 70th DTM race. Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) also finished in the Top 10

• David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class), Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class), Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished in positions twelve to fifteen

Race summary

The start: The race begins in wet conditions. Because of the rain, the drivers complete two parade laps and the race distance is reduced by one lap to 97 laps. Gary Paffett finishes lap one in fifth place, while Ralf Schumacher maintains P6. Christian Vietoris moves up one place and is tenth. David Coulthard moved up three places to 13th.

Lap 4: Bruno Spengler overtakes Miguel Molina (Audi) and moves into eighth position. Vietoris also passes Molina to take ninth place.

Lap 10: Coulthard now in P11.

Lap 12: Spengler overtakes Jamie Green and is seventh.

Lap 16: Vietoris moves up into P9.

Lap 24: The pit stop window is now open, and both Green and Coulthard come in to make their first stops.

Lap 26 : Maro Engel makes his first mandatory pit stop.

Lap 32: Vietoris pits for the first time.

Lap 36: Susie Stoddart comes in for her first pit stop and draws up in front of her crew.

Lap 43: Schumacher makes his first pit stop lying in sixth place.

Lap 45: The rain is now falling heavier again. Paffett, currently in P4, comes in to make his first mandatory pit stop, and reemerges ahead of Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and Schumacher.

Lap 46: Schumacher overtakes Rockenfeller. Green pits for the second time.

Lap 56: Third-placed Spengler comes into the pit lane to make his first mandatory pit stop.

Lap 70: Paffett, Schumacher and Coulthard come in for a second set of fresh tyres.

Lap 71: Spengler comes in for his second and final mandatory pit stop.

Lap 85: Green gets the better of Oliver Jarvis (Audi), moving up into eighth position.

Final lap: After 88 laps and a total distance of 169.752 km, Gary Paffett comes home as the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver in P4 at the seventh race of the season in Brands Hatch. Owing to heavy rain, the race ran to the 70-minute time limit rather than the full planned distance. Ralf Schumacher gained one position from sixth on the grid to finish in fifth place. David Coulthard gains four places in the course of the race to finish twelfth.

Comments after the race:

Gary Paffett (AMG Mercedes C THOMAS SABO-Class) – Fourth:

“Fourth place is obviously not ideal, but given the circumstances, it’s a decent result. I was fastest this morning in warm-up, so it could have gone better for us in the dry, but it was a tough race in the wet. I dropped down a couple of places at the start and after that, couldn’t initially keep up with the pace of the leaders. In the second half of the race we were more competitive, and I kept closing on Edoardo Mortara in third place, but unfortunately in the end it wasn’t enough.”

Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Fifth:

“Although the rain made conditions tricky, this was a good race for me – I’m more than satisfied with fifth place. My C-Class was really quick today, and the crew did some excellent work – so a special thanks to them.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) – Seventh:

“Unfortunately the heavy rain really didn’t suit me – starting eighth on the grid, the spray meant I had very poor visibility out on track. That’s why I drove carefully in the beginning to avoid taking any risks, and not make any mistakes. Many thanks to my team for their quick work in the pits, which enabled me to move up a place – that won me two valuable points in the overall standings. I’ll be back on the attack over the next three races, aiming to score as many points as possible.”

Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Eighth:

“I’m of course not too happy with eighth place in the race, in view of starting from fourth position on the grid. It was an eventful race for me – on the first stint I went into the gravel, then I spun: both incidents cost me a lot of time. Still, I fought my way back into the points and I overtook Oliver Jarvis just before the finish for eighth place.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Tenth:

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get away well. Timo Scheider forced me over to the outside of the track in turn one, causing me to drop down the field a few places. My C-Class had plenty of speed after that and I moved up a couple of positions. Unfortunately, my car sustained some damage in a collision with Miguel Molina. It wasn’t easy to drive from that point onwards. My team did a great job and we had a good strategy – but today unfortunately, more just wasn’t possible.” David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Twelfth:

“I moved up four places during the race, but all in all I had a poor day. Racing in the wet is certainly more entertaining for the spectators, but I always prefer dry conditions. It’s a shame, because my C-Class was quick today.”

Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 13th:

“Sadly, the race didn’t go according to plan for me – even though I’d hoped for rain. I got off to a decent start from eleventh on the grid and moved up a few places. Unfortunately, I lost some time in a pit stop and then later on I received a drive-through penalty – after that, 13th was the best I could achieve.”

Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 14th:

“The heavy rain meant this wasn’t an easy race for any of the drivers. The conditions were so bad that at times I had problems keeping the car on the track. At least I had an exciting duel with Renger van der Zande, but overall I’m afraid this wasn’t a good weekend for me.”

Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 15th:

“Unfortunately, I just wasn’t quick enough today. Actually, I fancied my chances more in the wet than yesterday in the dry, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way. We must now sit down together and analyse the data to find the cause.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Our performance in the wet today wasn’t as strong as usual, but the points standings are now almost level at the top of the table with just three races to go this season. The battle for the title starts here and Bruno Spengler is in with an excellent chance. Congratulations to Audi on their one-two-three finish.”

Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class Driver, Bruno Spengler, was the best Mercedes-Benz driver in the sixth race of the season at the Nürburgring in second place. The Canadian driver extended his lead in the DTM drivers’ standings to 47 points, and leads the table by seven points.

Three AMG Mercedes C-Class drivers finished in the Top Ten: After 49 laps, Spengler’s team-mate Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home in sixth place, securing three championship points. Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class) moved up five positions from 13th place on the grid to finish the race in eighth place.

Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) missed the Top Ten by a whisker; the DTM rookie came home in eleventh place. Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class), Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished in P13, 14 and 15. David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) had to make an extra pit stop after a collision, and was 17th at the finish. Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired on the first lap of the race.

Coulthard posted the fastest lap, 1:25.588 minutes, his second in DTM and the 29th for Mercedes-Benz at the circuit in the Eifel. Since 2006, Mercedes-Benz drivers have secured the fastest race lap four times at the Nürburgring.

Across the race weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), a total of 86,500 spectators visited the Nürburgring circuit to watch the DTM race.

Race summary

The start: Bruno Spengler moves up one position to third place. Gary Paffett goes up from P13 to P9. Maro Engel up three places to finish the first lap in 14th place.

Lap 1: Ralf Schumacher retires after a collision.

Lap 5: David Coulthard pits for a new front engine cover after a collision.

Lap 9: Renger van der Zande wins an exciting scrap with fellow Mercedes-Benz driver, Paffett, and moves up into P10.

Lap 12: The pit stop window is now open. Paffett is the first Mercedes-Benz driver to pit. Van der Zande also comes in for fresh tyres.

Lap 13: Jamie Green and Susie Stoddart make their first mandatory pit stop.

Lap 15: Spengler comes into the pits in third place for his first stop. Fresh tyres also for Christian Vietoris.

Lap 20: Four Mercedes-Benz drivers in the Top Ten: Spengler third, Green seventh. Paffett and van der Zande in P9 and 10.

Lap 23: Green is the first driver to make his second and final pit stop of the race.

Lap 25: Van der Zande pits for a second time for fresh tyres. Coulthard also comes into the pit lane.

Lap 27: Vietoris pits for a second time and then overtakes Rahel Frey (Audi).

Lap 28: Gary Paffett and Stoddart pit for fresh tyres. Coulthard posts the fastest race lap so far.

Lap 30: Third-placed Spengler comes into the pit lane for the second time, and subsequently maintains his position in the race.

Lap 35: Coulthard makes his final mandatory pit stop.

Lap 39: Spengler reels in Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) in the fight for second place. The Mercedes-Benz driver is just 0.3 seconds down on Rockenfeller.

Lap 47: Rockenfeller misjudges his braking in the Mercedes Arena und Spengler sails past to secure second place two laps before the finish.

Finish (Lap 49): After 49 laps and a total distance of 177.821 km, Spengler is best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver, securing a podium place in P2. Green comes home in P6, Paffett in P8.

Comments after the race:

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) – Second:

“I’m happy with my second place. I overtook Mike Rockenfeller just two laps before the finish. My C-Class was very fast today, but I couldn’t use all the speed, as I couldn’t find a way past Mike for quite a time. Many thanks to the team for a great, consistent car.”

Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Sixth:

“I had intended to be challenging for victory today. I started the race from second on the grid but lost a couple of positions straightaway. Then, a less than perfect pit stop cost me additional time. It was a bit frustrating because I got stuck in heavy traffic for quite a while, which meant I wasn’t able to use the excellent pace of my C-Class to best advantage.”

Gary Paffett (AMG Mercedes C THOMAS SABO-Class) – Eighth:

“Considering I started from 13th on the grid, a P8 finish is quite an achievement. I made good five positions today – the field was so tightly bunched, that there was scope to have done even better. I really enjoyed the race. My C-Class was fast and I made good progress through the field.”

Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) – Eleventh:

“Unfortunately, I just missed out on the Top Ten. That’s annoying, because I know I could have done better today – my car had excellent pace. The target for this race was to get into a points position, but on the first couple of laps, I got into a few scrapes with other cars and sustained damage to my C-Class. Anyway, I’ll be pushing hard again in the next race and trying to score points.”

Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 13th:

“Unfortunately, I was forced into a spin during the jockeying for position at the start and was placed last after the first round, so we had to change strategy a bit and adapt to conditions. I was nevertheless able to pass a few cars in the remaining part of the race and was very satisfied with lap times in my C-Class.”

Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 14th:

“That wasn’t an easy race for me. I got into a lot of scraps and made many attempts at overtaking on the first few laps. Oliver Jarvis collided with my C-Class just as he was exiting the pit lane. My car was damaged and proved difficult to drive afterwards, which probably prevented me from finishing higher up the field.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 15th:

“Of course, I’m not at all satisfied with 15th place. I hope that in future races, I can once again show the speed of my C-Class. The incident with Christian Vietoris was unfortunate – I think I just got a little too close to him.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) – 17th:

“I’d like to thank my team for delivering such a powerful C-Class for me to drive today. Sadly, I had an unfortunate collision right at the start of the race and then lost a lot of time on an unscheduled pit stop. From last in the field, it was difficult to make progress and get into a points-scoring position. I hope that things go better for me next time.”

Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) – retired:

“It’s a pity that I had to retire early. I had a scrap with David, each of us seeing an opportunity. I braked a bit too late perhaps and made contact with him. It was a fair fight; we both wanted to maintain position. As fellow Mercedes drivers, we did everything we could, though, and gave no quarter, but it’s no big deal, in a close-run race, these things happen.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“The race result was decided by the grid positions from qualifying when the weather conditions kept changing. Bruno Spengler got the worst of it yesterday, but the main thing is finishing second in the race has increased his championship lead by a further four points. So from that aspect, he can claim to be one of the winners on the day.”