Over the course of 2014, Mercedes-Benz Classic will be celebrating “120 years of motor sport”. Activities will begin at the brand’s stand at the Rétromobile specialist exhibition in Paris (February 5 to 9, 2014), designed and implemented in close collaboration with Mercedes-Benz France. The focus here will be on the historic motor sport successes achieved by Mercedes-Benz in France. “Many of the most exciting motor racing stories associated with the three-pointed star and its predecessor brands took place on French soil,” according to Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. “Among the highlights, without doubt, are the very first automotive race ever to take place, the Grand Prix victories of 1908, 1914 and 1954, wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a whole series of more recent successes.”

The world’s first automobile race on July 22, 1894. The photo shows the car of Alfred Vacheron in the reliability trial between Paris and Rouen.

Mercedes-Benz Classic will reference the topic of “120 years of motor sport” at various points throughout the year, making it the key theme of its participation in a selected programme of events in the international classic vehicle calendar. The company will also initiate events of its own to mark a few extra-special highlights.

Since its invention in 1886, the automobile’s performance potential and reliability have been put to the test time and time again: right from the very early days, Daimler and Benz vehicles were taking part in all notable events in Europe as well as in other countries around the world. They won races and repeatedly set new speed records in record-breaking runs. Motor sport was born some 120 years ago in France – and the success of the winning vehicles was all down to their two-cylinder “Système Daimler” engines. These first moments of glory were followed by numerous other motor racing events that were to prove significant in the success story of the Mercedes-Benz brand. A look back over the company’s involvement in motor sport makes clear the extent to which this became the driving force behind the rapid developments made in motor vehicle technology.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic stand at Rétromobile 2014 (Hall 1, K64) will focus on the brand’s motor racing successes in France, with a display of historically important exhibits commemorating 120 years of motor sport history:

• Daimler two-cylinder V-engine, 1894. The “Moteur système Daimler” built under licence in France, propelled cars from Peugeot and Panhard & Levassor to victory in the Paris–Rouen and Paris–Bordeaux–Paris motor races.
• Mercedes Grand Prix racing car, 1914. In the French Grand Prix in Lyon, the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (Daimler Motor Company) achieved the first one-two-three victory in the history of motor sport with vehicles of this model.
• Mercedes-Benz W 196 R “Streamliner”, 1954. The Silver Arrows marked their comeback after the Second World War in dramatic style: with a double victory in the French Grand Prix in Reims.
• Sauber-Mercedes C 9, 1989. This Silver Arrow won the prestigious 24-Hour race of Le Mans.
• McLaren Mercedes MP4-15, 2000. The vehicle in which David Coulthard won the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.
• Mercedes-Benz DTM C-Class, 2009. Gary Paffett’s winning vehicle in the DTM race at Dijon-Premois.

Rétromobile 2014: the Mercedes-Benz Classic exhibits

In the world’s first automobile race from Paris to Rouen (126 kilometers) in 1894, cars with Daimler engines emerged as the winners. Benz cars also competed in this race successfully.

Daimler two-cylinder V-engine, 1894

The automobile powered by a combustion engine was just eight years old on 22 July 1894 when it took part in the first public race, a 126-kilometre reliability run for “horseless carriages”, between the French cities of Paris and Rouen. The selection process ahead of the race was tough: of 102 vehicles that applied for a place in the starting line-up, only 21 were admitted. Of these, 17 would go on to reach the finishing line, 9 of them powered by a Daimler engine built under licence, including the winning vehicles. The 2.6 kW (3.5 hp) engines, built according to original designs by Gottlieb Daimler, gave the cars an average speed of up to 20.5 km/h. First place in this first-ever motor sport event was shared by a vehicle built by Panhard-Levassor and one by the Peugeot brothers, both of them powered by a “Moteur système Daimler”. The day was a great cause for celebration for Gottlieb Daimler, for incontrovertible proof had been provided to the general public, and to the world of European motor racing, that his universally applicable, high-speed petrol engine was the one to have prevailed in the highly competitive field of automotive propulsion systems.

Mercedes Grand Prix racing car, 1914

On 4 July 1914, Mercedes celebrated a triumphant one-two-three victory in the French Grand Prix by Christian Lautenschlager, Louis Wagner, and Otto Salzer. The race was held over a 37.6-kilometre circuit south of Lyon. The vehicle entered by the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft was its newly developed Grand Prix racing car. Some 20 laps over the tricky course, or a good 750 kilometres, were the order of the day, and Mercedes was up against apparently almost unassailable competition – above all from Peugeot and Delage from France, Sunbeam from England, and Fiat from Italy. Theodor Pilette and Max Sailer were forced to retire with technical problems, but Christian Lautenschlager, Louis Wagner, and Otto Salzer took the remaining cars on to finish the race at the front of the field after more than seven hours: the first one-two-three victory in the history of motor sport had been achieved.

The regulations limited engine displacement to 4.5 litres. The Mercedes Grand Prix racing car featured a completely redesigned four-cylinder engine with an overhead camshaft and two intake and two exhaust valves per cylinder – making this the first Mercedes engine to make use of four-valve technology. The racing engine delivered a peak output of 78 kW (106 hp) at a – quite literally – revolutionary 3,100 rpm.

French Grand Prix in Reims, July 4, 1954. At the wheel of streamlined Mercedes-Benz W 196 R racing cars: Juan Manuel Fangio (start number 18), the winner of the race, and Karl Kling (start number 20) who finished in second place. Behind them Hans Herrmann with start number 22.

Mercedes-Benz W 196 R “Streamliner”, 1954

The W 196 R racing car, which appeared initially with a futuristic-looking streamlined body, featured a naturally aspirated engine with a displacement of 2497 cc and desmodromic (positively closing) valve control. At the beginning of the season, it delivered a peak output of 188 kW (256 hp), with a top speed at this initial stage of around 275 km/h. The new “Streamliner” lined up for its first start at the French Grand Prix in Reims. Even in training the W 196 R vehicles with their fully enclosed bodywork achieved the fastest times; in their racing debut on 4 July in Reims they surpassed all the expectations of both the public and their competitors. Indeed, newly appointed Argentinian driver Juan Manuel Fangio, the World Champion of 1951, and Karl Kling delivered a triumphant double victory. This sensational success is also historically significant in that it is now exactly 40 years since Lautenschlager/Wagner/Salzer drove to triple victory in Lyon.

The heat of success: the Sauber-Mercedes C9 with the classic Silver Arrows paintwork on course for victory in 1989.

Sauber-Mercedes C9, 1989

The late 1980s and 1990s marked the return of Mercedes-Benz to the race track: the first vehicles to sport the three-pointed star were Group C racing sports cars. The 530 kW (720 hp) Sauber-Mercedes used since 1987 also underwent some visual modifications for the 1989 season: the hitherto virtually all-black livery gave way to a silver paint finish, identifying the cars unmistakeably as Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows. Between 1989 and 1990, the new racing cars brought home 16 victories from a total of 18 races. These included the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which took place on 10 and 11 June 1989, in which the Mercedes-Benz drivers Jochen Mass/Manuel Reuter/Stanley Dickens and Mauro Baldi/Kenny Acheson/Gianfranco Brancatelli secured a double victory with Silver Arrows in their C9 guise – 37 years after that outstanding win with the first Silver Arrow of the post-war period: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194).

McLaren-Mercedes MP4-15, 2000

In the 2000 race season, Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard became runners-up in the constructors’ championship in the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-15, while Häkkinen took second place in the drivers’ championship behind Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari, and Coulthard third. The McLaren-Mercedes MP4-15 differed visually as well as technically from its predecessors: it had a flatter nose section, additional head protection to either side of the cockpit and an engine that was shorter by 2 centimetres, the three-litre FO 110J V10-engine with an output of 600 kW (816 hp). The powertrain, a completely new design, took into account the findings of development work undertaken over the course of the previous season. Compared with the previous version the new engine was more compact and lighter in weight, yet at the same time offered better driveability and improved performance. Also new was the seven-speed transmission, developed in-house by McLaren. The Silver Arrows were victorious in 2000 in Spain, Austria, Hungary, and Belgium (Häkkinen), and also in Great Britain, Monaco, and France (Coulthard). The vehicle on display at Rétromobile is the one in which David Coulthard won the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours on 2 July 2000. He considers the race he won there to have been one of the best of his career.

AMG-Mercedes C-Class DTM 2007

DTM AMG-Mercedes C-Class (model series 204), 2009

The new C-Class of the model series 204 was a new arrival on the circuits for the DTM races of 2007. The Hans Werner Aufrecht (HWA) racing car construction team began building the first DTM vehicle of the new model series in December 2006 in Affalterbach. As there was a ban on further development of the engines, the only work permitted and possible was their ongoing optimisation. Since 2000, the DTM regulations have stipulated a 4.0-litre V8-engine with four valves per cylinder, in which the intake of air is limited by two air restrictors with a diameter of 28 millimetres. Power is transmitted to the axle drive with a differential lock via a uniform transaxle transmission with sequential gearshift. The biggest differences between this and the previous racing car lay in the modifications to the body and the design of the wheel suspension. On 11 October 2009, driving the vehicle displayed, Gary Paffett, who would subsequently become season runner-up, won the penultimate round of the DTM at Dijon-Premois.

Rétromobile 2014: the brand ambassadors

David Coulthard, former Formula One racing driver on McLaren-Mercedes, with McLaren-Mercedes MP4-15 and Mercedes-Benz C 320 (203 series). Photo from 2000.

David Coulthard – Born on 27 March 1971 in Twynholm, Scotland

David Coulthard began his go-carting career at the young age of 11. He was junior go-carting champion in Scotland from 1983 to 1985. After racing in various Formula categories, in 1994 he joined the Williams Formula 1 team. In 1995 David Coulthard came 3rd in the Formula 1 World Championship. At the beginning of the 1996 season the Scot moved to McLaren Mercedes, teaming up with Mika Häkkinen (Finland). At the Australian Grand Prix in 1997, Coulthard secured Mercedes-Benz its first Formula 1 win since 1955. In 2001, Coulthard came 2nd to Michael Schumacher in the World Championship. From 2005 to 2008 he raced for Red Bull Racing; in 2008, Coulthard ended his Formula 1 career. In all, David Coulthard competed in 246 Grand Prix races between 1994 and 2008, including 150 for McLaren Mercedes. He notched up 13 wins, 12 of which were for McLaren Mercedes. From 2010 to 2012, David Coulthard raced for the Mücke Motorsport team in the DTM at the wheel of an AMG-Mercedes C-Class. He ended his active racing career in October 2012. The Scot has now taken up an involvement in historic racing as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Classic. His start in the 2013 Eifel race at the wheel of the 220 SE (W 111) “Fintail” racing car belonging to Mercedes-Benz Classic marked the first time ever that a Formula 1 championship runner-up had started in the Dunlop FHR Endurance Cup.

Hans Herrmann – Born on 23 February 1928 in Stuttgart, Germany

Following his motorsport debut, 25-year-old Hans Herrmann was engaged by Mercedes-Benz racing manager Alfred Neubauer for the 1954 season with the Daimler-Benz AG works team. In the Swiss Grand Prix on 22 August 1954, Herrmann took 3rd place. The Avus race on 19 September 1954 ended in a one-two-three victory for the Mercedes-Benz drivers in their W 196 R “Streamliner” vehicles, in the finish order Karl Kling, Juan Manuel Fangio, Hans Herrmann.

In the 1955 racing season, Herrmann competed in 8 sports car races and 10 Formula 1 races. At the Monaco Grand Prix he stood in for Kling and was badly injured in an accident. Despite making a full recovery Herrmann never raced for Mercedes-Benz again, due to the company’s withdrawal from motor sport in October 1955, which put an end to his active involvement with Mercedes-Benz.

In the years that followed, he would go on to compete once again in motor sport and sports car racing. After driving in Formula 2 and Formula 1, he ended his racing career in 1970, steering a Porsche to victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Even to this day, Herrmann is regularly to be found taking the wheel for Mercedes-Benz at classic events.

Jochen Mass – Born on 30 September 1946 in Dorfen near Starnberg, Germany

Jochen Mass, originally a seaman by profession, began his varied career in motor sport in 1968, racing touring cars for Alfa-Romeo and as a works driver at Ford between 1970 and 1975. During this period he won the Spa-Francorchamps 24-Hour race (1972). At the same time, he also took part in Formula 2 (1973) and in 105 Formula 1 Grand Prix races (1973/74 with Surtees; 1975 to 1977 with McLaren; 1978 with ATS; 1979/80 with Arrows; 1982 with March). After winning the German Racing Car Championship in 1985 and a stint until 1987 as a works driver at Porsche, he joined the Sauber-Mercedes team as a works driver. He drove for this team in Group C until 1991. In the new Silver Arrow – the Sauber-Mercedes C9 – Jochen Mass won the 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens and came second in the 1989 World Championship. Three years later Mass moved into team management in the DTM. Sir Stirling Moss described him as “a driver with a great feeling for racing cars and a high level of expert knowledge, who is familiar with all eras of racing history”. It is therefore hardly surprising that Jochen Mass should still be found lining up for Mercedes-Benz Classic at classic racing events. Whether it is the W 125 “Silver Arrow” or the legendary SSK supercharged racing car – Jochen Mass knows and drives them all.

Gary Paffett – Born on 24 March 1981 in Bromley, England

The foundations of Gary Paffett’s career were laid in the world of karting. With several championship wins and the title “McLaren Mercedes Kart Champion of the Future” of 1996 under his belt, he went on to win the Formula Vauxhall Junior Winter Series in 1997 and 1998, and received the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1999. Advancing to Formula 3, the Briton dominated the BRDC Formula 3 Scholarship Class of 2000 and became the youngest driver ever to receive the BRDC Silver Award – the promotion of young talent by the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) in various racing series and through a range of programmes thus found its full justification in him and in the various career steps he has taken. In 2001, he moved to the German Formula 3, coming 6th in the overall classification at the end of the season in his debut year – a success capped by his becoming German Formula 3 Champion in the following season, 2002. His first drive in the DTM was in 2003. In 2004, he became runner-up in the DTM championship, driving an AMG-Mercedes C-Class. The 2005 season then saw him win the championship, following five wins and four pole positions. Since 2006 Gary Paffett has also been a test driver for Formula 1 – and an obvious candidate for a seat in the cockpit in this, the premiere class of motor sport.

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, drive of a Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, finished the seventh race of the DTM Season at Zandvoort in fourth place and improved his position to second place championship standings The Zandvoort race was won by Edoardo Mortara fromAudi.

Overall championship leader Gary Paffett, driver of a THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, finished the race in seventh place after a tough race. He was in grid position eight for the start of the race and had reached fourth place when, at the start of lap 27, Martin Tomczyk (BMW) caused him to spin and drop back down to eleventh place. During the remaining 16 laps, championship leader Paffett again moved up the field four positions to finish seventh.

Paffett heads the DTM drivers’ championship, having secured 109 points, and has a 16-point lead on team-mate Green in second position with 93 points. THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG lead the team standings with 133 points. Mercedes AMG are second on 101 points. Mercedes-Benz on 256 points holds the top spot in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished the seventh race at Zandvoort in tenth position. Roberto Mehri (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) came home in P11 and 12 respectively. David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) and Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) did not finish.

Paffett posted a 1:34.054, the fastest time of the 43 laps. For the championship leader, this was the eighth fastest race lap in his DTM career and his second at Zandvoort. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have secured a total of 166 fastest race laps, including six at Zandvoort and four this season.

The race at Zandvoort was the 350th DTM race for Mercedes-Benz. Since the first works entry in 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have achieved 168 victories, 111 pole positions and 166 fastest laps. With ten drivers’, thirteen team titles and nine manufacturers’ titles, Mercedes-Benz is the most successful manufacturer in DTM history.

A total of 37,000 spectators attended the DTM race weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) at Zandvoort, an increase of 27.5% on the previous year (2011: 29,000).

Race summary

The start: Gary Paffett moves up the field at the start from P8 to P5, Jamie Green sixth. The safety car is out after an accident on the first lap. Robert Wickens und Christian Vietoris retire after colliding. David Coulthard goes up from 22nd to P13.

Lap 4: The safety car turns off into the pits. Green overtakes Paffett on the re-start in a scrap for fifth place.

Lap 5: Green overtakes Filipe Albuquerque (Audi).

Lap 6: Timo Scheider (Audi) loses his bonnet on the start/finish straight. The safety car is back out on the track and leads the field into the pit lane to allow the track to be cleaned.

Lap 10 : After the second re-start: Green in fourth place, Paffett sixth.

Lap 11: The pit stop window is open. Paffett is the first C-Coupé driver to come in for a change of tyres.

Lap 12: First pit stop for Green.

Lap 13: Ralf Schumacher completes his first mandatory pit stop.

Lap 14: Paffett overtakes Mattias Ekström (Audi) in the battle for sixth place.

Lap 17: First pit stop for Coulthard.

Lap 20: After the first round of pit stops: Paffett in third place, Green seventh. Schumacher pits from tenth place to change tyres.

Lap 22: Second mandatory pit stop for Green.

Lap 23: Paffett in the lead comes in for second time. Coulthard retires in the pits.

Lap 26: Roberto Merhi completes second pit stop. It’s begun to drizzle with rain.

Lap 27: Paffett is put into a spin on turn one and drops down to P11.

Lap 28: Green overtakes Bruno Spengler (BMW) to move into fifth place.

Lap 29: Green overtakes Adrien Tambay (Audi) and moves into fourth place.

Lap 38: Paffett overtakes Dirk Werner (BMW) in the battle for ninth place.

Lap 39: Championship leader Paffett overtakes Augusto Farfus (BMW), moving into eighth place behind Schumacher.

Lap 40: Paffett moves up one position and is seventh.

Final lap (lap 43) : Jamie Green is fourth after 43 laps and a total distance of 185.201km. Gary Paffett finishes the 350th DTM race for Mercedes-Benz in seventh place.

Comments after the race:

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

“It was an eventful afternoon, which got better for me as rain began to fall during the race. Unfortunately, I was stuck in traffic after my two stops, otherwise I might have done more than fourth place. It’s time now to focus on the remaining races. We are in the top positions, P1 and 2, in the championship so Gary and I have a very good platform for the last three races of the season.”

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

“Seventh place is not the outcome I had planned for this weekend at Zandvoort. I was extremely disappointed after the contact with Martin Tomczyk and the subsequent incident when I spun, but at least we did a little catching up in the closing stages to limit the damage. Finishing ahead of Jamie in the drivers’ standings was one of the weekend’s more positive aspects, as was our good race pace.”

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

“The conditions were very difficult today. Anyone who avoided making a mistake in these conditions has done a great job. I was able to secure a point with tenth place, so I’m happy, even though I ended up losing a few places in the end.”

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

“Sunday was a disappointment for me. I gave it my all over 43 laps, and it was a close call, but unfortunately, it was not enough in the end to secure my first points-scoring finish. Still, eleventh is my best DTM result so far. That really gives me a boost to make sure I am in the points for the first time in the next race at Oschersleben.”

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

“I started well and began to feel hopeful for a good race thanks to the changing weather conditions. The steering on my C-Coupé was damaged after contact with another car. I gave it my all right up to the very end of the race, but the damage prevented me from doing more.”

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

“Today’s race was certainly action-packed thanks to the conditions. Using my many years of racing experience, I moved up the field at the start into P13. I lost a few places at the re-start, sure, but was still optimistic. After contact with another car, an Audi rear-ended my C-Coupé, bringing my race to an end.”

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

“Of course, I’m really disappointed with having to retire early, because a good result from grid position nine would have been possible, given the conditions. I got away well at the start, but the rear axle broke in the collision on turn three, and so my race was over all too soon.”

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

“I had intended doing a lot today, but my race was soon over, unfortunately. I don’t know exactly what happened. I had a good start, but was rear-ended on the third turn. The impact was so great that it broke one of the wheels.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Gary was on course for a podium and faster than the drivers in front of him when he was pushed into a spin, which should never happen, of course, but it cost him points to the tune of double figures compared to his rivals.

His subsequent charge showed Gary’s class and his speed. He secured the best possible result under the worst of circumstances.

The same applies to Jamie. He had the speed to do more than fourth place but lost time in the pits.

After seven of ten races, Gary and Jamie are ranked first and second in the championship table, which is a good basis for the final three races of the season.

Congratulations on their victory and podium to Edoardo Mortara, Audi Sport and their teams.”

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.”

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.”

Gary Paffett, the most successful active driver in the DTM, will remain a Mercedes-Benz driver for the long term after agreeing a new contract extension with the three-pointed star.

Since 2003, Mercedes-Benz and Gary Paffett have achieved significant milestones together. In 2005, Paffett became the first British driver ever to win the DTM championship at the wheel of the AMG Mercedes C-Class, taking five wins from 11 races. The following year, with the support of Mercedes-Benz, he was promoted to the role of McLaren-Mercedes F1 test driver, before returning to the DTM for 2007. In that season, he became the first driver in series history to win a race with a year-old car, at Oschersleben.

Gary Paffett has now scored a total of 17 wins from 73 starts, a winning record of more than every one in five races, and has taken podium finishes in more than one in three of the races he has started in the DTM (25 podiums in total, or 34% of his DTM races).

Gary Paffett: “I am delighted to continue my relationship with Mercedes-Benz for the long term – we have worked together for a long time, enjoyed a lot of success and I feel a big part of this successful racing family. Thank you to Norbert and Gerhard Ungar for putting their faith in me and to my management, Mark Blundell and 2MB, for their hard work to make it happen. Next year, the DTM will enter a new era and the competition will be even tougher. It’s a big challenge to try and make our future as successful as we have been in the past – and I am sure experience and continuity will play a big role in achieving that. I’m very excited to be part of this new era of the DTM and the fact that I now have a long-term contract in place with Mercedes gives me a solid basis on which to perform even better.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “Gary is a vital part of our very successful history in the DTM. He is a racer in the purest form: straight and tough but always fair. On behalf of Mercedes-Benz, I would like to thank Gary for all his hard work and the success he has had until now. This new contract will take us into a second decade together, and we will work hard to ensure it will be just as successful as our first – or even better.”

The third race of the 2011 season sees the DTM make a welcome return to Austria after an eight-year absence. The DTM raced in Spielberg three times between 2001 and 2003. All three races were won by a Mercedes-Benz driver: in 2001, the victory went to DTM record breaker Bernd Schneider; in 2002 and 2003, the win went to Marcel Fässler.

The circuit at Spielberg was officially re-opened as Red Bull Ring in April 2011 and represents a combination of the most sophisticated standards and a legendary racetrack.

Currently, Bruno Spengler, driver of the Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class, leads the championship with 18 points after the first two races of the season.

Comments on the third race of the 2011 DTM season:

Bruno Spengler (27, Canada, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class):

“One win and a second-place finish in the first two races – no matter which way you look at it, it’s been a good start to the season. Obviously, I would have preferred to win in Zandvoort, but the most important thing is that we were genuine contenders there. This is a good omen for the upcoming races and for the title chase. I’m looking forward to driving my C-class at Spielberg on a track that I know well from the past. I’m convinced that we’re going to have a lot of fun driving on this circuit and – who knows – maybe I can take another win here like I managed in the past. In any case, I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got.”

Ralf Schumacher (35, Germany, Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class):

“I live with my family in Salzburg, so the DTM race in Austria is like a home race for me. Spielberg is a really beautiful circuit that is in perfect harmony with the wonderful Styrian landscape. It has now been updated as a modern and safe track with generous run-off areas, and the pit complex has been completely rebuilt. The layout offers some good overtaking opportunities, so we can expect some wheel-to-wheel battles and overtaking, especially through the first few corners.”

Gary Paffett (30, England, THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class):

“I have good memories of Spielberg from Formula 3 and from DTM. In 2003, which was my DTM debut season, I drove my best race of the year in Austria and finished in sixth place with a year-old car. That was a great result at the time. Spielberg is a track I really enjoy driving: the circuit is very close to the mountains and features lots of elevation changes. It also has a good mix of fast and slow corners, and the tight hairpins should offer overtaking opportunities. After a difficult start to the season, I would like to build on my good results from previous years and get on the podium for the first time this season – hopefully on the top step.”

David Coulthard (40, Scotland, Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class):

“I’m very familiar with Spielberg from my time in Formula One. I competed in all seven Grands Prix there between 1997 and 2003, and I won the race in 2001 with McLaren-Mercedes. Because of my connections to Red Bull and the Wings for Life charity, the DTM race at the Red Bull ring is a sort of home race for me, which I’m really excited about. The test day on Thursday before the race is my chance to get the setup of my C-Class right for the track conditions, so that I can achieve the best possible result.”

Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug:

“It’s wonderful to see this circuit available for use again and to have it back on the DTM calendar. Following the renovation work, the whole venue is much improved, so the Red Bull Ring is certain to make its return to racing in front of a packed house. The races are more competitive in the 2011 DTM season, and the entire field is closer together than ever before. In the curtain-raiser at Hockenheim, the fastest laps posted by 17 of the 18 starters were within one second of each other – you won’t find that in any other racing series in the world, and it will be an equally close contest at the Red Bull Ring. We want to finish the first race at this modernised circuit in the same way that we finished the last DTM race staged at Spielberg in 2003 – with a win.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) will start the first race of the 2011 DTM season in Hockenheim on Sunday from pole position. (Start: 13:00 BST, broadcast live on ARD TV commencing at 12:45 BST). Bruno set a time of 1:34.270 on the final lap of single-lap qualifying. This is his eighth DTM pole and his second at Hockenheim since the start of the 2007 season. For the 106th time in DTM, a Mercedes-Benz driver is on pole position.

In the first single-lap qualifying of the season Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), set a time of 1:34.577, which placed him third, and he will start from the second row of the grid.

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) qualified seventh for the season opener in 1:34.386. DTM rookie Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) will start ninth with a time of 1:34.445 in his first DTM qualifying session. His time during the second part of qualifying was just two tenths slower than eighth-placed Maro Engel.

Qualifying, part 1: the first part of qualifying was suspended after seven minutes following a spin by Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class). The winner of the 2010 DTM season opener was unable to continue with qualifying and will start from 18th position on the grid. All the remaining drivers progressed automatically to the second qualifying segment.

Qualifying, part 2: Ralf Schumacher was best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver in P4 in a time of 1:34.220 minutes. The two newcomers to DTM, Christian Vietoris and Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class, 1:34.475 minutes), finished their first DTM qualifying in P9 and P11 respectively. David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home in 13th place in a time of 1:34.698 minutes. Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) was 14th in 1:34.720 minutes, and Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished in 16th position with a time of 1:34.778 minutes.

Quotes about qualifying:

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) pole position (1:34.270):

“Pole position is brilliant. After practice, I wouldn’t have thought it possible because I did so little running this morning. Pole is a great reward for the crew’s fabulous work. Let’s hope it continues for the race.

Ralf Schumacher (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) third (1:34.577):

“So far, this weekend has gone very well for me. I almost managed to get on the front row, but didn’t quite pull it off. The guys in the team have worked well. It was a long, hard winter but it appears to have paid off.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) seventh (1:34.386):

“The team did a great job, simply brilliant. Perhaps there was another tenth of a second to be had, but I’m very happy with P7. I can’t wait for the race.”

Christian Vietoris (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth (1:34.445):

“Ninth position is a good way to start in DTM, but it’s a pity that I just missed going through to the third part of qualifying. I was only two tenths adrift. I’m very pleased with my first DTM qualifying.”

Renger van der Zande (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) eleventh (1:34.475):

“On the whole, I’m very happy with my first DTM qualifying, although I think I could have done a bit better. Unfortunately, I made a mistake otherwise I could have made the top eight perhaps.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home in 13th place in a time of 1:34.698 minutes.

“All in all, I’m very satisfied. During qualifying, we improved the car’s balance, and I posted a reasonable time. It wasn’t possible to do much more today.”

Jamie Green (AMG Mercedes C-Class) 14th (1:34.720):

“This isn’t the grid position that I expected. Last year in qualifying, I was nowhere, but despite that I was in the top eight in the race. I’ve got the same goal for tomorrow.

Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 16th (1:34.778):

“I was unlucky in qualifying. My hot lap was interrupted by another car in the final sector. I hope now I can have a good race from 16th place on the grid. Last year, in the second round at Hockenheim, I moved up from 17th to 7th.”

Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Cass) 18th (no lap time set):

“What happened in the first part of qualifying was a big disappointment for me. Unfortunately I selected the wrong gear and went off into the gravel trap. My THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class was running very well and I was going for pole. It’s a shame that I must now start from last position. I’ll do everything I can to fight my way up to the front.”

Nico Rosberg (MERCEDES GP PETRONAS) guest driver at Hockenheim.

“I feel very much at home – altogether, I’ve spent three years here with DTM and ADAC Junior Formula 3. Of course, I’m really pleased with the performance of my Mercedes DTM team-mates. A brilliant performance from Bruno with this pole position, and I’m particularly pleased for Ralf. He was wrongly criticized but Mercedes, Norbert and Ralf’s HWA-Team stuck by him and he stood by them. That’s our spirit, and that’s how we do it in Formula One too.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

“What an incredible pole for Bruno. This morning, owing to the damage to his floor, he didn’t get a proper lap in; then this afternoon, he put the car on pole. For his part, Ralf produced a response where it matters most: on the track, with a strong lap. Our young drivers also performed well: Maro Engel will start seventh, with Christian Vietoris and Renger van der Zande ninth and eleventh.”

A new DTM season gets underway at the official launch event in Wiesbaden: there will be nine drivers racing for Mercedes-Benz in the ten races that count towards the championship, plus the new show event scheduled for the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The newcomers to this year’s Mercedes-Benz squad are Christian Vietoris (22, Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) from Germany and Renger van der Zande (25, stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) from the Netherlands.

During the 2010 season, 22-year-old Vietoris competed in GP2, the supporting series to Formula One. He had previously competed in the Formula 3 Euro Series for Mücke Motorsport in a Mercedes-Benz-powered Dallara car in 2008 and 2009, finishing as runner-up in his second season with four wins. 25-year-old van der Zande competed in the 2010 GP3 series (also a supporting race event on GP weekends), having contested before the German Formula 3 Championship, the Formula 3 Euro Series and the British Formula 3 Championship in MB-powered cars under the wing of the Mercedes-Benz young driver scheme between 2006 and 2009.

Lining up for the HWA team are: Gary Paffett (30, THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class), DTM Champion in 2005, DTM runner-up in 2004, 2009 and 2010, test driver for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team; Ralf Schumacher (35, Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), the third-most successful German Formula One driver ever with six Grand Prix victories under his belt; Bruno Spengler (27, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class), DTM runner-up in 2006 and 2007 as well as third-placed driver in 2010. Returning to the HWA team is Jamie Green (28, AMG Mercedes C-Class) from Leicester (England), Formula 3 Euro Series champion in 2004 and winner of the last three races at the Norisring in Nuremberg with the same car.

Vietoris and van der Zande will not be the only drivers racing a 2008-spec C-Class: they will be joined by Susie Stoddart (28, TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class), Maro Engel (25, GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) and David Coulthard (40, Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class).

The 2009 AMG Mercedes C-Class that will be raced by the four HWA drivers starts the forthcoming season with real pedigree, having scored eight victories in the eleven races of the 2010 season. Reigning DTM champion Paul Di Resta and runner-up Gary Paffett claimed three victories each. Third-placed Bruno Spengler contributed two more wins for Mercedes-Benz, with the ninth coming from Jamie Green driving for the Persson team in a 2008 AMG Mercedes C-Class at the Norisring – this marked the car’s third consecutive victory at the track.

The Mercedes-Benz DTM driver line-up for 2011

Gary Paffett (30, England):

• With 17 victories to his credit, Paffett has won more DTM races than any other driver currently contesting the series.
• The former DTM champion (2005) and runner-up (2004, 2009 and 2010) was honoured with the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award in 1999 and also won the German Formula 3 Championship in 2002.
• Since the start of the 2005 season, Paffett has been test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team.

Gary Paffett: “The DTM season 2011 brings new challenges, especially those that come with the change of tyre supplier to Hankook. Our tests with the new tyres have been very promising, and I am fully motivated about the upcoming season with our new sponsorship partner THOMAS SABO. My objective this time round is to improve on last year’s result by one position.”

Bruno Spengler (27, Canada):

• In 2011, Bruno Spengler will be racing for his seventh DTM season in an AMG Mercedes C-Class. He finished as runner-up in 2006 and 2007, and came third overall in 2010.
• Since 2003, the Canadian has been a regular member of the Mercedes-Benz squad, first in Formula 3, then in DTM.
• Spengler notched up his first DTM victory at the Norisring in 2006 at the age of 22 years and 334 days, making him one of the youngest winners in DTM history.

Bruno Spengler: “I’m really looking forward to my seventh DTM season with Mercedes-Benz. Over the winter, I spent almost a month at home in Canada recharging my batteries and getting ready for the new season. There is no guarantee of success, especially in such a fiercely competitive championship as DTM, but I will do my best again this year and make an aggressive contribution to the campaign.”

Ralf Schumacher (35, Germany):

• Ralf Schumacher is about to embark on his fourth season in DTM and his third as a member of the HWA team. His best DTM result was a P5 finish in Dijon (2009). In the 2010 race in Nuremberg, he secured his first ever DTM pole position.
• Between 1997 and 2007, Schumacher competed in 180 Formula One races, recording six wins and six pole positions. In the 2001 and 2002 F1 seasons, he finished fourth in the championship.
• With a total of six GP wins, Ralf Schumacher is the third-most successful German Formula One driver of all time behind his brother, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver Michael Schumacher, and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel

Ralf Schumacher: “After three years in DTM and two seasons as a member of the HWA team, I feel comfortable driving the AMG Mercedes C-Class and am aiming to move up a gear in my fourth DTM season. I’m aiming for a marked improvement in performance this year, and maybe even a few podiums.”

Jamie Green (28, England):

• Jamie’s connections with Mercedes-Benz go back 14 years. In 1997 he was already a member of the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz junior talent scheme.
• Green took the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series title driving a Dallara Mercedes for the ASM team, winning seven out of the 20 races that season.
• Jamie has won the DTM race at the Norisring in Nuremberg in each of the last three seasons – each time with the same Young Stars AMG Mercedes C-Class.

Jamie Green: “It’s a great feeling to know that Mercedes-Benz have decided to reward my efforts in recent years – including those three victories in Nuremberg and my performance as best driver in a year-old car in 2009 and 2010 – by giving me a current AMG Mercedes C-Class. I’m aiming to repay the confidence they have shown in me by turning in some good results this year.”

Susie Stoddart (28, Scotland):

• Susie Stoddart is about to start her sixth DTM season with Mercedes-Benz. In her very first race back in 2006, she finished a respectable tenth.
• Susie scored her first DTM points with a P7 finish at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in the 2010 season. She repeated the feat at Hockenheim.

Susie Stoddart: “My first DTM points last season were long overdue. When you’re driving last year’s model, it’s by no means easy to finish among the points, but once again, I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got.”

Christian Vietoris (22, Germany):

• Christian Vietoris drove cars powered by Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engines in the 2008 and 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series. He won five races, took twelve pole positions and finished his second season as runner-up.
• In 2010, Vietoris embarked on his debut season in the F1-linked GP2 series, winning one race and finishing tenth overall.

Christian Vietoris: “DTM is one of the most prestigious racing series in the world. The switch from a single seater to a touring car is a huge challenge, but I feel I have adjusted quickly to the C-Class and settled in well with the team during the tests. I would like to continue along this learning curve and be successful in my debut season.”

Maro Engel (25, Germany):

• Maro Engel scored his first DTM points in the season opener at Hockenheim in 2009. His best race result to date is a sixth-place finish.
• Before moving up to DTM, Engel was runner-up in the 2007 British Formula 3 Championship, driving a car powered by the Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engine.

Maro Engel: “Unfortunately, we didn’t meet our target last season. I’m determined to change that this time and get back to where I was in 2009. In that season, I showed that it was possible to achieve decent results, even with last year’s model.”

David Coulthard (40, Scotland):

• Coulthard made his DTM debut in 2010, driving a Mercedes-Benz. In the final race in Shanghai, he scored his first championship point and set the fastest race lap.
• The Scot competed in 150 Formula One races for McLaren Mercedes. It was during this period that he posted twelve of his 13 Grand Prix wins, including a first victory for McLaren-Mercedes in Australia (1997).
• Together with team-mate Mika Häkkinen (Formula One world champion in 1998 and 1999, Mercedes-Benz DTM driver 2005-2007), Coulthard won the 1998 Formula One Constructors’ Championship. In 2001, he was runner-up in the drivers’ standings.

David Coulthard: “My first DTM season was a learning year. My year of apprenticeship is over – now I’m looking to make some real progress. After scoring my first DTM point in the grand finale in Shanghai in 2010, I’m hoping to please my fans this season with more point-scoring finishes.”

Renger van der Zande (25, Netherlands):

• Renger van der Zande was part of the Mercedes-Benz young driver scheme, contesting not only the Formula 3 Euro Series but also the German and British Formula 3 championships.
• While driving in these junior classes, van der Zande worked closely with the Radboud University and applied himself assiduously to the Mercedes-Benz sports medicine programme, building up his physical fitness in spectacular fashion.

Renger van der Zande: “Obtaining a DTM cockpit with Mercedes-Benz is a dream come true. I know that I face a big challenge, but I will be doing my very best to acclimatise myself to DTM racing and to master the stern AMG Mercedes C-Class in the fastest possible time.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“The 2010 DTM season was a highly successful one for our brand as well as for our teams. Securing nine wins in eleven races, the team championship and the top three positions in the drivers’ championship, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was quite literally in a class of its own. Current title holder Paul Di Resta has built on this success to make the step up to Formula One where he will still be driving a Mercedes engine for his new team, Force India.”

“The new season brings a new tyre partner for the DTM series by the name of Hankook, so I’m sure that the cards will be well and truly reshuffled as a result. From our perspective, we certainly don’t have any divine right to victory and, as ever, we will have to work hard to earn every good result. Everyone in our teams is full of enthusiasm for the challenge ahead.”

The watch and jewellery company THOMAS SABO headquartered in Lauf an der Pregnitz will become a partner of Mercedes-Benz in the DTM. 30 year-old Briton Gary Paffett, DTM champion in 2005, will enter his eighth DTM season at the wheel of the THOMAS SABO AMG Mercedes C-Class in 2011.

Paffett started his DTM career with Mercedes-Benz in 2003 and graduated to a new C-Class for his second season. The Englishman has scored a total of 17 DTM victories out of 70 races (more than any other active DTM driver), finished three times as runner-up in the championship (2004, 2009 and 2010) and won the title in 2005. He has also been a test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team since 2006.

Thomas Sabo founded his eponymous jewellery company in 1984. Since then, it has developed into a strong, internationally recognised brand. The lifestyle label is also a personal sponsor of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg.

Gary Paffett: “Racing with THOMAS SABO as the new title sponsor on my AMG Mercedes C-Class is a real pleasure for me and, above all, it gives me a few brownie points with my wife before a wheel has even turned in the new DTM season! THOMAS SABO is also a fashionable brand in the UK. I think it’s a great move by the company’s management to fly the flag and compete in the DTM. The 2011 DTM season brings new challenges, most notably with a new tyre partner in Hankook. Our tests with the new tyres were promising and I am fully motivated to start the new season with our new partner. My target, if possible, is to improve by one position over last year.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “We are very pleased to welcome such a renowned new title sponsor as THOMAS SABO to our team and to the DTM. The THOMAS SABO brand perfectly matches the dynamic lifestyle of motorsport and the DTM. THOMAS SABO and Mercedes-Benz Motorsport will share the DTM stage and we want to be present in an enthusiastic way on and around the racetrack. With Gary Paffett, one of the best established drivers, and the most successful of the current DTM, sits behind the wheel of the new THOMAS SABO Mercedes C-Class. The combination of Gary Paffett-THOMAS SABO-Mercedes-Benz aims to compete with the best in the DTM.”

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) is the 2010 DTM champion. The Scotsman finished the 11th and final round of the 2010 DTM at Shanghai, China in second place and took the title with 71 points.

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) won the final race on a temporary street circuit in Shanghai’s district Pudong and ended the championship runner-up with 67 points. This victory was the ninth for Mercedes-Benz in 2010 out of the 11 races. Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class), overall leader before the race after eight podiums out of the previous 10 races, had started 17th on the grid after a qualifying accident and ended up 13th in the race and third in the championship with 66 points.

It is Paul Di Resta’s first DTM championship title after he had been runner-up in 2008. For Mercedes-Benz, it is the 10th drivers’ title since the brand entered the DTM as a works outfit in 1988: Before this year’s title win, Bernd Schneider took six championships, Klaus Ludwig two and Gary Paffett one.

Salzgitter/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG with Spengler/Paffett are first in the team ranking already since Hockenheim six weeks ago; they have now 133 points.

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished sixth. David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home eighth and scored his first championship point in the final race of his first DTM season. Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) ended up 10th ahead of Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class). CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished 15th ahead of Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class).

The race was red-flagged after 50 of 60 scheduled laps, after the track was blocked momentarily following a short coming-together of Susie Stoddart and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi).

• The start:The race was started behind the Safety Car which drove ahead of the field for three laps. After that, overtaking was allowed only after turn three. For the fourth time this year, Paul Di Resta started from pole position, followed by Gary Paffett and Jamie Green. Due to an accident in the first qualifying, Bruno Spengler lined up 17th on the grid.
• Lap 15:Bruno Spengler was 15th when he pitted for the first time.

• Lap 17:Paul Di Resta came into the pits from the lead, followed by Susie Stoddart (ninth) one lap later.

• Lap 20:David Coulthard (fifth) came in for the first time; Bruno Spengler (17th) came in for the second time.

• Lap 21:Respective first pit stops by Jamie Green (second) and Ralf Schumacher (fifth). Maro Engel pitted one lap later.

• Lap 23:Gary Paffett (leader) pitted for the first time; Susie Stoddart came in for the second time.

• Lap 29: Gary Paffett (fourth) completed his second stop followed by CongFu Cheng (second) for his first stop one lap later.

• Lap 31:Second stop by Jamie Green (third).

• Lap 33:Paul Di Resta (second) came in for the second time.

• Lap 38:CongFu Cheng received a 5sec pit stop penalty because of driving through the working zone during his first pit stop.

• Lap 39: Second pit stop by David Coulthard (second). When he resumed, he stalled the engine and lost several seconds.

• Lap 43:Second pit stop by CongFu Cheng (fourth). One lap later, Ralf Schumacher (second) was the last driver to complete his second stop.

• Lap 44:All drivers had completed their two mandatory pit stops. Gary Paffett was in the lead ahead of Paul Di Resta.

• Lap 50:After a short coming-together of Susie Stoddart and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), the road was blocked for a moment and the race was red-flagged for good. Gary Paffett won ahead of Paul Di Resta who took the title. Full points were awarded as more than 75 per cent of the scheduled 60 laps had been completed.

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) winner: “It was a tough race and with my win I achieved everything possible. However, I had lost a few points during the season; otherwise the fight with Paul today would have been more exciting. Congratulations to him, he had a great season and deserves the championship.”

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) second and champion:”I am really happy about my DTM title win – a dream came true. I thank my entire team and everybody at Mercedes-Benz for this great season.”

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) sixth: “Sixth place is ok, although third position was in reach. Unfortunately, I got stuck in traffic after my first pit stop so we decided to pit again early, but so I lost a few places. However, I am the best driver with a last year’s car, like I was in 2009, so I have reached my target for this year.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) eighth: “Yesterday, I was sixth and achieved my best qualifying result in the DTM, today I scored my first point and posted the fastest lap of the race. This is a nice end of my first DTM season. Unfortunately I lost a few places in traffic – an even better result would have been possible today.”

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) 10th:”The circuit was a real challenge and the organizers did everything for the safety. It was a good decision to start behind the Safety Car. For this season, I had wished for more good results. My speed was always there, but if you start too far in the back of the field, it is not easy to show that.”

Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 11th: “An uneventful race for me. Without yesterday’s crash and with a better grid position points would have been possible today. Well done to Paul on his championship win and thank you to my Persson team and Mercedes-Benz for the great support throughout this season.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) 13th: “I look back to a good season; however, in the last event I made a mistake in qualifying which almost decided the championship already before the race. I suffered from understeer today which was probably a consequence of my accidents on Friday and Saturday. Congratulations to Paul on his title win.”

CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) 15th:”Unfortunately, I made a mistake during my first pit stop and received a time penalty. Otherwise, a result between 10th and 12th positions would have been possible; my speed was not bad. I thank my team for a great first year in the DTM and congratulations to Paul on the title win.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) 16th: “It is like a little victory that I was able to start the race, following my accident on Friday. I thank my team for the great job fixing the car in time for the race.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:”A difficult final of a great 2010 DTM season with Paul as the deserved Champion and Gary as the Shanghai winner – for the second time after he had won also the so far only race here in 2004.

“This season, Paul did the best job of all – Bruno Spengler who arrived here as the overall leader would have deserved as well as Gary Paffett – but in the end Paul achieved the well-deserved title win.

“A cordial thank you for the first three places in the championship and nine wins out of 11 races to everybody in the HWA team under Gerhard Ungar, to the Mücke and the Persson team.

“I also want to thank all active and hardworking colleagues who are usually not on the front row – our specialists of organisation, media, marketing and controlling – and, of course, also the ladies in our office, who are always working at real “race speed” day-to-day and always precisely.

“There are no great victories without a great team, and we have a great team.”

Paul Di Resta, the 2010 DTM Champion

Paul Di Resta (24) is the 2010 DTM Champion. He won the title with second place in the season’s finale which had been staged at Shanghai for the first time. Paul thus overtook his team mate Bruno Spengler who had started the final race as the points leader. The race in China was Paul’s 42nd DTM race. He won six of them, started from pole position six times and posted seven fastest race laps.

Paul Di Resta is a cousin of former Mercedes-Benz DTM driver Dario Franchitti, who won the US IndyCar series for the third time and the Indy 500 for the second time in 2010. Paul began racing karts at the age of eight. In 2000, he won the McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future kart series. Three years later, he took part in his first car race in the British Formula Renault. In 2004, he won the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award and became a Mercedes-Benz Junior.

Racing for English team Manor Motorsport, Paul Di Resta entered the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2005, finishing his debut year 10th overall after three pole positions and one podium place. In the following year, he won five races and clinched the championship ahead of the 2010 Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel.

In 2007, Paul moved up to DTM and finished his second race in the championship in second place – with a last year’s car. At the end of that year he was fifth overall. One year later, now racing a new model, Di Resta took his first DTM race win and finished the year runner-up. In 2009, Paul Di Resta was third overall in the DTM and also became test and reserve driver for Force India Mercedes in Formula One.

Like at Brands Hatch two weeks ago, Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) won the 2010 DTM’s eighth round at Oschersleben; like two weeks ago, Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) finished second. After 50 laps (184.800 kms), Paul came home 1.271sec ahead of Bruno.

Mercedes-Benz achieved their 75th victory of the new DTM 117 races since 2000. It is the 159th DTM win out of 328 races for the brand since Mercedes-Benz entered the championship as a factory team in 1988 and the seventh out of eight races this season – the sixth in a row. Paul Di Resta took his fifth win in his 39th DTM race.

Bruno Spengler clinched his seventh podium finish out of eight races 2010, the 21st of his DTM career, and maintained the overall lead with 60 points. Paul is second with 53 points ahead of Gary with 44 points. Mattias Ekström (Audi) is fourth on 34 points. In the final three races. A driver can score a maximum of 30 points.

A first decision was made in the team ranking: Salzgitter/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG with Spengler/Paffett lead with 104 points ahead of Laureus AMG Mercedes (Di Resta/Schumacher) with 56 points. Audi Sport is third on 42 points which means that the title can be won only by a Mercedes-Benz team, as a team cannot win more than 54 points in the three races still to come.

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) who had started 10th ended up a strong fourth despite a penalty. Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home seventh. Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) missed a points finish and ended up ninth ahead Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class). Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) and David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home 12th and 14th respectively.

CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired due to an accident on lap 2.

A total of 62,000 spectators attended the DTM race at Oschersleben during the weekend.

The start: For the third time this year, Paul Di Resta started from pole position whilst Bruno Spengler had qualified second. Paul accelerated in to an immediate lead followed by Bruno, whilst Gary Paffett improved from 10th on the grid to seventh. Maro Engel spun off at the second corner, but was able to continue at the back of the field.

Lap 2: CongFu Cheng retired after he had spun off and hit the tyre wall..

Lap 7: Gary Paffett overtook Martin Tomczyk (Audi) for sixth place.

Lap 8: Because of an alleged illegal move, race control asked Gary Paffett to change positions with Martin Tomczyk again.

Lap 11: Bruno Spengler (second) pitted for the first time. Ralf Schumacher (12th) followed one lap later.

Lap 13: First pit stop by Gary Paffett (fifth); he resumed behind Martin Tomczyk.

Lap 14: Susie Stoddart (seventh) pitted. David Coulthard (seventh) came in one lap later. Again, Gary Paffett passed Martin Tomczyk.

Lap 16: Maro Engel pitted from sixth place.

Lap 19: Jamie Green (fifth) completed his first stop.

Lap 20: Paul Di Resta (first) pitted, but lost more than three seconds due to a problem with the air lance. His stop lasted more than twice as long as usual and he rejoined the race immediately behind Bruno Spengler.

Lap 26: Second halt by leader Bruno Spengler. He lost time and thus dropped behind Timo Scheider. Jamie Green (fifth) pitted one lap later.

Lap 29: Maro Engel (seventh) and Susie Stoddart (eighth) came in for their respective second stops. David Coulthard (ninth) pitted one lap later.

Lap 32: Gary Paffett (third) and Ralf Schumacher (sixth) pitted again.

Lap 34: Bruno Spengler overtook Timo Scheider at the first corner. Paul Di Resta completed his second stop and maintained the lead ahead of Bruno.

Lap 35: All drivers had completed their two stops – Paul Di Resta held the lead ahead of Bruno Spengler, Gary Paffett was fourth and Jamie Green seventh.

Lap 44: Maro Engel overtook Oliver Jarvis (Audi).

Finish (lap 50): Paul Di Resta won ahead of Bruno Spengler; Gary Paffett came home fourth.

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) winner: “My second win within two weeks – fantastic. Thank you to my team – you gave me a perfect C-Class which I realised already in this morning’s warm-up. When I lost time during my first pit stop I felt my heart beat, but I managed to move up to the front again. Me first and Bruno second – if we continue like this, the championship battle will be really exciting. I am very confident.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) second: “Second place and eight points are a good result. I thank my team for a great job. During the last stint I was faster than Timo and I put a lot of pressure on him; the fight was over when he suffered from a puncture. As I had lost time behind him, Paul was able to move in front of me. I am now looking forward to the next race in Hockenheim.”

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) fouth: “I was much faster than Martin Tomczyk and I cannot understand what should have been wrong with my first overtaking manoeuvre. We tangled briefly, but this is normal in a race. At least I showed that overtaking is possible in Oschersleben.”

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) seventh: “This circuit does not suit our car so much; therefore, seventh place and two points are not too bad. I hope for more in Hockenheim.”

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth: “To end up ninth from 15th on the grid is quite ok. Unfortunately, I missed a points finish, but this I ruined already in yesterday’s qualifying.”

Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 10th: “My start was not so good but I was faster towards the end, so I am quite happy with my 10th-place finish.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) 12th: “After spinning on the opening lap I was able to catch up, but the drive-through penalty because of pit lane speeding ruined my race.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) 14th: “Another nice Sunday excursion. I tangled right after the start and afterwards, I struggled with my car’s balance. But I made more valuable experience.”

CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired due to an accident: “I was hit by another car, hit the tyre barrier and that was it.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “We almost tripped ourselves up today, when Paul’s first pit stop lasted twice as long as planned and Bruno dropped behind Timo Scheider due to a not ideal stop – the big advantage both had after 20 laps was suddenly gone. But Paul and Bruno fought back and achieved the 1-2 victory. Without his tyre problem, Timo Scheider would have had something to say about first place. I’m sorry for him; when you want 10 points and end up with zero, it hurts. Gary Paffett showed a great drive – without his penalty, which I don’t understand at all, third place instead of fourth would have been possible: strong, considering Gary started 10th on the grid.

“There will be no internal critics today after our not ideal stops: The guys – and the girls – all work so hard and do most of their jobs always right. We now look forward to Hockenheim and the DTM’s German finale. It would be very nice if we could manage a good star performance like today in our home race attended by thousands of Mercedes-Benz colleagues.”

Mercedes-Benz C-Class driver Gary Paffett won the 2010 DTM’s sixth round at Zandvoort after finishing third two weeks ago during the fifth round at Nürburgring. After 42 laps (112.4 miles), he came home 0.396sec ahead of Paul Di Resta. Overall leader Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class), coming off a win at Nürburgring,finished the race in seventh.

In the direct comparison with Audi in the years 1990 until 1992 and since 2000, Mercedes-Benz achieved the 101st win out of 185 races in this period of time. It is the 157th DTM win out of 326 races for the brand since Mercedes-Benz entered the championship as a factory team in 1988 and the fifth out of six races this season.

After five continuous podium finishes including two wins this year, Bruno missed the podium for the first time this season; however, he maintained the overall lead with 44 points. Gary is second overall with 35 points ahead of Paul with 33 points each. Salzgitter/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG with Spengler/Paffett leads the team ranking with 79 points.

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home ninth ahead of Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class). David Coulthard (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) ended up 12th, Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished 15th ahead of CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class).

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired on lap two due to a broken front right suspension.

A total of 39,000 spectators attended the DTM race at Zandvoort during the weekend.

The start: Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) started second on the grid ahead of Paul Di Resta; Bruno Spengler had qualified seventh and Ralf Schumacher eighth. Whilst pole sitter Timo Scheider (Audi) stopped briefly, Gary took the lead followed by Paul; Bruno improved to sixth place.

Lap 2: Maro Engel pitted with a broken front right suspension and retired.

Lap 7: Ralf Schumacher made a mistake under braking into the Tarzanbocht and dropped to ninth behind Scheider.

Lap 11: Bruno Spengler (sixth) completed his first mandatory stop. Ralf Schumacher (eighth) followed one lap later.

Lap 14: Gary Paffett pitted from the lead, so did Paul Di Resta (1st) on the following lap.

Lap 16: Jamie Green (third) and David Coulthard (eighth) came in for their first stops.

Lap 17: CongFu Cheng (12th) completed his first stop. Susie Stoddart (ninth) pitted on lap 18. Bruno Spengler defended fifth position against Scheider who just exited the pits. Gary Paffett was in the lead ahead of Paul Di Resta.

Lap 23: Jamie Green (ninth) came in for his second routine halt. David Coulthard (11th) and Susie Stoddart (14th) followed one lap later.

Lap 25: Bruno Spengler (fourth) pitted.

Lap 27: Gary Paffett (leader) completed his second stop. Paul Di Resta (first) came in on lap 28, Ralf Schumacher (fourth) on lap 29 and CongFu Cheng (15th) on lap 30.

Lap 31: After the second round of pit stops, Gary Paffett held the lead with 1.6sec ahead of Paul Di Resta. Overall leader Bruno Spengler was the third C-Class driver in eighth place.

Lap 32: Bruno Spengler tried to pass Mike Rockenfeller (Audi); both cars tangled and Rockenfeller spun. Bruno was seventh.

Lap 37: Ralf Schumacher overtook Jamie Green and improved to ninth. One lap later, he challenged Martin Tomczyk (Audi) for eighth place.

Finish (lap 42): Gary Paffett clinched his second win of the year; Paul Di Resta ended up second and Bruno Spengler scored two points in seventh place.

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) winner:

“I just like this track. I got the maximum out of the car and driving here was great fun. I thank my team for a great job during the weekend. Like Bruno, I have won two races this year and I am ready to challenge him for the championship.”

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) second:

“A good race for me and for Mercedes-Benz. I came close to the lead, but could not manage to pass Gary. Well done to him on his race win. I scored eight points today and the fight for the championship is open again.”

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

“A difficult race for me and our team. With all the Audis around me it was not easy to find the right strategy. Our guys did their best and in hindsight you always know better. We made the best out of the situation. Congratulations to the entire Mercedes-Benz team and to Gary and Paul on their 1-2 victory.”

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth:

“Unfortunately I made a mistake when I battled with Martin Tomczyk and drove briefly through the gravel; therefore I lsot eighth place. In the end I overtook Jamie and was almost able to take eighth place and one point.”

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) 10th:

“My car’s performance in the race was better than in qualifying; however, I still lacked grip. In the end, I lost ninth place to Ralf. Now I look forward to my home race at Brands Hatch in two weeks where I want to do better again.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) 12th:

“For the first time I had quite a good start and improved by three positions. However, I struggled with oversteer throughout the race and therefore could not move up.”

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

“I did a very late first pit stop and after that I had many cars in front of me which had already pitted. So I had too much traffic and that was my race.”

CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) 16th:

“I had two lengthy pit stops due to a problem with a wheel nut. Therefore, I was not able to achieve a better result.

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired on lap 2 with a broken front right suspension:

“I had a slight coming-together during the start – we will have to analyse if this was the reason for the damage.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“Gary and Paul were a class of their own here. As the championship leader, Bruno lost a bit more ground than necessary after a lengthy pit stop, but being the old and the new overall leader he can get over it.  We will go into the upcoming races focused and enthusiastically and with a trio of Bruno Spengler, Gary Paffett and Paul Di Resta on top of the leader board. Thank you to all the hard-working employees in our teams HWA headed by Gerhard Ungar, Persson with Ingmar Persson and Mücke with Peter Mücke – all of you did a great job.”

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) won the 2010 DTM’s fourth round at Nuremberg’s Norisring. After 82 laps (188.600 kms), he came home 0.591sec ahead of Mattias Ekström (Audi). It is Jamie’s third win at the Norisring in a row – all three of them he achieved with the same car which is a new record for the DTM.

Mercedes-Benz achieved the eighth continuous Nuremberg victory and the 13th at this circuit out of 30 races since 1988. It is the 155th DTM win for the brand since Mercedes-Benz entered the championship as a factory team in 1988.

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) ended up third whilst Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished sixth.

Achieving his fourth continuous podium finish, Bruno maintained the overall lead with now 32 points. Jamie improved to second overall with 22 points ahead of Ekström with 21 and Gary with 19 points. Salzgitter/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG with Spengler/Paffett leads the team ranking with 51 points; this can be compared to the Constructors’ Championship in Formula One.

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) who had started from pole position for the first time in the DTM, received a drive-through penalty because of a jump-start and therefore ended up 11th despite posting the fastest lap of the race (48.616sec on lap 65). David Coulthard (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) who lost the left door due to a collision without own fault came home 13th.

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished ninth ahead of Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class). CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) ended up 14th ahead of Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class).

A total of 132,000 spectators attended the DTM race at the Norisring during the weekend.

The start:For the first time in the DTM, Ralf Schumacher started from pole position, followed by Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green. Ralf led the field to the Grundig hairpin followed by Jamie and Bruno. Paul Di Resta was pushed into a spin by Alexandre Prémat at the Esses and dropped to the back of the field.

Lap 5: Drive-through penalty for Ralf Schumacher because of a jump-start.

Lap 7:Ralf Schumacher drove through the pit lane whilst Jamie Green took the lead ahead of Bruno Spengler. Ralf dropped to 18th and last position.

Lap 15:David Coulthard passed Markus Winkelhock at the Grundig hairpin. When Martin Tomczyk overtook David at the Dutzendteich corner, Winkelhock crashed into David’s left door which he lost shortly afterwards.

Lap 21:Gary Paffett (fifth) came in for his first pit stop, followed by Paul Di Resta (11th) one lap later.

Lap 25: Bruno Spengler (second) pitted for the first time.

Lap 29: Susie Stoddart (ninth) completed her first routine halt.

Lap 35:Pit stops by Maro Engel (fourth) and CongFu Cheng (ninth). David Coulthard (fifth) followed two laps later.

Lap 42:Jamie Green pitted from the lead. One lap later, Ralf Schumacher (fourth) was the last C-Class driver to make his first stop.

Lap 48:Maro Engel (eighth) completed his second stop. Paul Di Resta (tenth) followed one lap later and Susie Stoddart (12th) another lap later.

Lap 52:CongFu Cheng (11th) pitted again.

Lap 53:Bruno Spengler (third) made his second mandatory stop; David Coulthard (eighth) followed one lap later.

Lap 55:Gary Paffett (fifth) came in for his second stop.

Lap 57:Jamie Green pitted from the lead and maintained the top spot ahead of Mattias Ekström. Ralf Schumacher (second) came in for his second stop one lap later.

Lap 59:After the second round of pit stops, Jamie Green held a lead of 2 sec ahead of Mattias Ekström. Bruno Spengler was third ahead of Oliver Jarvis, Timo Scheider and Gary Paffett.

Finish (lap 82):Jamie Green won with half a second ahead of Mattias Ekström whilst Bruno Spengler came home third and Gary Paffett sixth.

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) winner: “We cannot play football, but at least we can win races. However, it was tough. Mattias Ekström was pushing throughout and I had to stay totally focussed until the chequered flag. On this track it is so easy to make mistakes. Therefore, I am even happier to achieve this hat trick here at the Norsiring and my sixth DTM win in total. Thank you to everybody in our Persson team – their hard work made this win possible, and particularly the fastest pit stop of the race.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) third: “I am quite happy with third position. Of course, a better finish would have been nice but six championship points are ok. In the end, my C-Clas was faster and faster and with a few laps more I would have had a chance to challenge the leaders.”

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) sixth: “I struggled with understeer throughout the race; therefore I was not able to attack. I just lacked a bit of speed. At least I scored three points.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth: “I am happy to finally experience a race without incidents again. So, ninth place is quite reasonable, but a points finish would have been better, of course.”

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) 10th:”My race was over on the opening lap when Prémat pushed me into a spin. I fought back to finish 10th but you don’t get points for this place.”

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) 11th: “Today I gave away a possible race win. I am awfully sorry for my team that we were not able to show how strong our C-Class was here at the Norisring. Shortly before the start I was looking for the clutch’s bite point when the car made a brief move whilst the light was still red. My speed was very good which is also demonstrated by my fastest race lap. This weekend motivates us even more for the next race at the Nürburgring and for the rest of the season.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) 13th: “Despite losing the door early on when I was hit by another driver, I tried to race as fast as I could and in these circumstances I think my race was quite ok. I only struggled at the last sector which just doesn’t suit me. Anyway, I enjoyed the many fans and the fantastic atmosphere.”

CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) 14th:”The first half of my race was not bad but then I lost my pace. Therefore I was not able to push. This was my first DTM race on a temporary street circuit – a good foretaste of the season finale at Shanghai.”

Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 15th: “As a consequence of a first-corner collision, my right door was damaged which caused significant vibrations. I was not able to improve and just tried to finish the race.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:”What a race! Jamie Green won at the Norisring for the third time in a row – and this with one and the same car. Congratulations to Jamie and the Persson team on this success. Such a hat trick has not happened in the DTM before. We are all happy about the eighth continuous Mercedes victory at the Norisring and tonight we will celebrate – and certainly not only a little bit.”

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) finished the 2010 DTM’s second round at Valencia, Spain in second place and was the best Mercedes driver. After 45 laps. Bruno crossed the line third, 3.547 seconds behind winner Mattias Ekström (Audi); however, after the stewards of the meeting excluded Martin Tomczyk (Audi) from the race, he moved up one position.

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) ended up fifth and Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class), the winner of the season opener at Hockenheim four weeks ago finished sevenhth.

Spengler, second at Hockenheim, achieved his second consecutive podium finish and took the overall lead with 16 points. Ekström is second on 13 points and Paffett third with 12 points.

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home ninth ahead of Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class), Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) and CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class).

Former Formula One drivers David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired; David on lap 38 from 14th place with a broken gear shift control and Ralf on lap 24 from 14th position due to misfire as the consequence of an electronic engine control failure.

A total of 21,000 spectators attended the DTM’s racing premiere at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo during the weekend.

The start:

Starting second on the grid, Bruno Spengler was second at the first corner. Paul Di Resta improved from fifth to fourth whilst Gary Paffett, fourth in qualifying, dropped to eighth place following a coming-together with Alexandre Prémat (Audi). Maro Engel was pushed into a spin and was 17th at the end of the field after the opening lap.

Lap 11: Gary Paffett (ninth) came into the pits for his first routine halt. Bruno Spengler (fourth) and Maro Engel (15th) followed one lap later.

Lap 14: Paul Di Resta (first) pitted and so did David Coulthard (ninth) and CongFu Cheng (13th).

Lap 15: Ralf Schumacher (fith) and Susie Stoddart (sixth) completed their respective first stops.

Lap 19: Second pit stop by Maro Engel (17th).

Lap 21: Gary Paffett (11th) pitted for the second time.

Lap 24: Bruno Spengler (fourth) came into the pits for his second stop, followed by David Coulthard (12th). Ralf Schumacher was 14th when he retired in the pits due to misfire. One lap later, Paul Di Resta (sixth) and Susie Stoddart (10th) completed their second stops.

Lap 26: Jamie Green (second) pitted for the first time.

Lap 29: Second pit stop by CongFu Cheng (13th).

Lap 35: Jamie Green (first) is the last driver with a routine pit stop.

Lap 36: After the second round of pit stops, Bruno Spengler was the best C-Class driver in fourth place.

Lap 38: David Coulthard had improved to 12th place when he had to pit with a broken gear shift control.

Finish (lap 45): Bruno Spengler took the chequered flag third; Paul Di Resta ended up sixth and Gary Paffett eighth. After Martin Tomczyk was excluded, they all moved up one position respectively.

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

“The track was very slippery and the conditions had changed completely after this morning’s warm-up. Ekström was faster here today, after we had dominated in Hockenheim, but that’s what happens in the DTM. I am happy to take the overall lead and of course I would like to say this again after another eight races. I will now focus on the next race at the Lausitzring in two weeks.”

Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class) fifth:”

My start was very good; however, I struggled with the balance of my car and had a lot of oversteer.”

Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) seventh:

“I lacked speed and downforce from the very beginning. Then I was hit hard four or five times and my car was damaged. All in all a difficult race for me, but at least I scored two points.”

Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class) ninth:

“After the start I got stuck in traffic and lost time. When I had a clear track, I was faster, but it was already too late to improve.”

Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) 10th:

“10th place is not so bad. In the beginning, I was following David and hoping for a chance to pass him, but he was too fast for me.”

Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) 11th:

“On the first lap I was pushed into a spin, my engine stalled and when I continued I was 20sec behind the field. That was it.”

CongFu Cheng (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) 12th:

“After a good start I had problems with my first set of tyres, which disappeared after my first pit stop. Then I had a coming-together, my car was damaged and I was not able to improve.”

David Coulthard (Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired:

“I started very well and gained a few positions; however, afterwards I was pushed wide and lost again same places. My race was pretty uneventful until on lap 38, when I retired due to a broken gear shift control.”

Ralf Schumacher (Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired:

“When the misfire began the team told me to try and continue, but the problem became worse and I lost more and more speed – it just didn’t make sense.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

“A race with little excitement, in which we were not able to produce the speed of the two previous days and thus contributed our part to the lack of thrill. Bruno Spengler is the overall leader and we are also first in the team ranking. Some incidents looked a bit strange to me and were completely unnecessary – this has to change in the future. We now look forward to the next race at the Lausitzring and I hope that there we will present speed good enough for winning during three days.”

The second round of the DTM Season will be held in Valencia this weekend, May 23rd and as Norbert Haug put it, it is the “premiere of DTM”..  Valencia’s circuit is new and state-of-the-art. Following its opening, on 19th September, 1999, it quickly established as a popular and renowned motor-racing venue. You can see nearly the entire racetrack from every grandstand. Turn one is particularly fast and on the way to turn two, the drivers are offered overtaking opportunities that are just as good as the ones in the infield.

Below, a selection of statements from the Mercedes-Benz DTM Team before the second race of the 2010 DTM season.

Gary Paffett, DTM Champion in 2005, runner-up in the 2009 season, and winner of the first DTM race of the 2010 season in Hockenheim:

“Winning the season opener at Hockenheimring gave me a perfect start into the new season. The course in Valencia confronts us with challenges which are partly different from those in Hockenheim. Valencia has many twists and turns that are very demanding on car and driver. After many laps of Formula 1 testing, I am very well acquainted with the circuit and it would be ideal if I could defend my lead in the standings there.”

Jamie Green took third place as best driver of a past-year model in the first DTM race of the 2010 season in Hockenheim:

“Hockenheim showed that I can compete with the best, and my third-place finish was a good start. The differently banked curves make the circuit in Valencia especially demanding, and finding a good setup is the key to success.”

Ralf Schumacher, fastest driver on all four test days in March 2010 in Valencia:

“I am especially looking forward to Valencia. The course suits me well and I clocked good times here during the winter tests. We shall see what they are worth up against competition. I’d like to make up for the mishap in the qualifying in Hockenheim with a good result here.”

David Coulthard, competing in his second DTM race in Valencia:

“Although my showing in my first DTM race was anything but impressive, I really enjoyed my debut in Hockenheim. Together with the team I analyzed the mistakes I made and where I have to improve. I definitely want to work on my qualifying performance – a good starting position is important to get a good result on the narrow course. I am very familiar with the circuit from many Formula 1 tests, but that doesn’t mean to say that this will be a big advantage to me in the DTM car.”

Norbert Haug:

“For Valencia this is the premiere of the DTM, but the course isn’t new to drivers and teams since pre-season tests took place there. We’ve won seven of the last ten DTM races and will try to deliver a good piece of work in Valencia too.”