From DTM and Audi

Audi showed a convincing performance in the fifth season round of the DTM at Oschersleben. Last year’s winner and reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider celebrated his maiden victory of the season and in total the 50th race win for the manufacturer from Ingolstadt in the DTM.

The 30-year old German had a margin of 5.417 seconds over his Audi team-mates Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk.

Best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver was Paul Di Resta in fourth place.

Points’ leader Gary Paffett had an impressive recovery with his AMG Mercedes C-Class. The Briton moved up from twelfth place on the grid to fifth.

At the halfway-point of the season, he is tied with Ekström in front of the points’ standings with 28 points. Scheider is only one point down.

Pole-sitter Tom Kristensen had a misfortune on the starting grid. He put his Audi A4 DTM a little bit too far forward in the starting box and therefore was given a drive-through penalty immediately after the start which made him drop back to 17th place.

He arduously made his way up again and, on the final lap, battled his way past Jamie Green and still scored one point for finishing eighth.

During the race, Mercedes-Benz broke Audi’s dominance in qualifying with seven cars in the top eight. After 48 laps and 177.408 kilometres, the team from Stuttgart scored valuable points in the battle for the championship.

Eventually, they had four cars in the top eight with Paul Di Resta, Gary Paffett, Bruno Spengler and Maro Engel.

Di Resta summed up his impressions: We got the best out of it and we were as strong as we could. We had a good car and I am quite happy with my speed. Now, we are looking ahead, because at the end of the year is when it matters.”

The action continues in a fortnight. The Nürburgring will be the venue for the sixth DTM race weekend of the year from August 14th till 16th.

Race Results:

1. Timo Scheider (All/Audi) en 1h08:39.064
2. Mattias Ekström (Suè/Audi) à 5.417
3. Martin Tomczyk (All/Audi) 9.603
4. Paul di Resta (G-B/Mercedes) 16.868
5. Gary Paffett (G-B/Mercedes) 17.338
etc.

Championship Standing:

1. Gary Paffett (G-B/Mercedes) 28 pts
2. Mattias Ekström (Suè/Audi) 28
3. Timo Scheider (All/Audi) 27
4. Bruno Spengler (Can/Mercedes) 23
5. Paul di Resta (G-B/Mercedes) 19
etc.