Paul di Resta wins in Spain from Timo Scheider
Barcelona. The decision in the battle for the 2008 DTM championship title remains exciting: in the ninth season round at the Circuit de Catalunya, Paul di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) claimed his second victory of the season. Timo Scheider (Audi) crossed the finish line in second place, 4.5 seconds behind the Scot. On the 19th of 58 race laps, di Resta passed Scheider and remained in front of the German until the finish. As a result, the battle for the title remains exciting. Prior to the tenth round at Le Mans (October 5th, 2008), Scheider remains first with 62 points. After his victory, Paul di Resta was able to close up to seven points. The final podium slot in Spain was taken up by DTM record champion Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz), who finished third. Behind Schneider, Audi drivers Martin Tomczyk, Mike Rockenfeller and Alexandre Pr?mat all finished in the points. Ralf Schumacher claimed his second DTM championship point for finishing eighth behind Jamie Green (both Mercedes-Benz). Mattias Ekstr?m was given a drive-through penalty after the race, because he had caused an avoidable collision with Jamie Green on the final lap. The penalty was turned into a 50 seconds? time penalty. This made Ekstr?m drop back from fifth to ninth, the drivers in between moved up one place. An extensive press release with quotes from the drivers and motorsport directors will follow shortly.
The race in detail
Spectators during the race weekend: 35,800
Weather: sunny
Air temperature: 26.2 ?C
Asphalt temperature: 36.3 ?C
Start Scheider takes the lead from di Resta, Schneider drops back to third from Tomczyk. Winkelhock off the track.
Lap 1 Rockenfeller had a good start and is already fifth. Kristensen into the pits. Susie Stoddart cuts off the chicane.
Lap 2 Race order: Scheider is leading from di Resta, Schneider, Tomczyk, Rockenfeller, Green, Pr?mat, Spengler, Ekstr?m and Paffett.
Lap 3 Drive through penalty for Susie Stoddart because of leaving the track.
Lap 4 Lauda and Legge collide. Stoddart and Lauda into the pits - Lauda retires.
Lap 6 Drive through penalty for Katherine Legge because of pushing another car. At the end of the lap, Legge comes into the pits.
Lap 7 Scheider is 0.3 seconds clear of di Resta, who, in turn, is 1.7 seconds clear of Schneider and Tomczyk. Engel into the pits.
Lap 13 Scheider has extended his lead over di Resta to 0.5 seconds, Schneider is 2.1 seconds behind the Scot.
Lap 14 Di Resta attacks race leader Scheider in the first corner, but Scheider remains in front. Start of the pit stop window. The first drivers to come in are Scheider, Tomczyk, Rockenfeller, Green, Spengler, Paffet, Jarvis, Albers, Schumacher.
Lap 15 The tank can got stuck on Rockenfeller's car. Pit stops for di Resta, Schneider, Pr?mat, Winkelhock, Stodddart, Legge.
Lap 16 Di Resta re-joins just behind Scheider, Schneider re-joins just ahead of Tomczyk.
Lap 17 Ekstr?m is the only driver not tet having made his first stop. Spengler comes in drives straight into the garage. The cooler of his car was blocked by thrown-up gravel.
Lap 19 Kristensen into the pits. Legge off the track at Revolt Campsa. Di Resta overtakes Scheider and is now second behind Ekstr?m, who still has to come in.
Lap 20 Paffett, Jarvis into the pits.
Lap 21 Ekstr?m is 4.9 seconds clear of di Resta. Albers into the pits.
Lap 23 Green, Engel into the pits.
Lap 24 Drive through for Oliver Jarvis: not respecting pit lane speed limit. Schneider, Stoddart, Jarvis into the pits.
Lap 25 Ekstr?m comes in for his first stop.
Lap 26 Stoddart's car is being pushed into the pits - retired.
Lap 27 Di Resta is leading from Scheider, Tomczyk, Rockenfeller, Pr?mat, Ekstr?m. Winkelhock comes in for his second stop.
Lap 28 Schumacher into the pits.
Lap 29 Scheider into the pits for his second stop.
Lap 30 Scheider re-joins just ahead of Bernd Schneider and is now sixth. Pr?mat, Kristensen into the pits.
Lap 31 Di Resta, Tomczyk, Rockenfeller , Engel into the pits
Lap 32 Ekstr?m is leading, but is the only driver who still has to come in for his second stop. He is 1.7 seconds clear of di Resta. Scheider is third from Schneider, Tomczyk, Green, Rockenfeller, Pr?mat, Paffett and Albers.
Lap 33 Winkelhock puts Albers under pressure for tenth.
Lap 37 Di Resta is lapping 0.3 seconds faster than Ekstr?m and is closing up to the Swede. Winkelhock has overtaken Albers and is now tenth.
Lap 40 Blue flag for Ekstr?m, Di Resta gets past him. Ekstrom comes in for his second stop.
Lap 41 Ekstr?m re-joins behind Rockenfeller and just ahead of Pr?mat.
Lap 42 Race order after all drivers have made their two pit stops: di Resta is leading from Scheider, Schneider, Tomczyk, Green, Ekstr?m, Pr'?mat, Paffett and Winkelhock.
Lap 43 Winkelhock pushes Paffett, who spins. Schumacher overtakes Albers.
Lap 44 Drive-through penalty for Winkelhock, who comes in at the end of the lap.
Lap 49 As Kristensen makes way to let Scheider through, Winkelhock goas past as well. Jarvis and Paffett collide.
Lap 50 Paffett, Jarvis under investigation.
Lap 51 Jarvis attacks Albers for tenth and goes past. No further action against Jarvis and Paffett.
Lap 58 Final lap. Ekstr?m collides with Green in the first corner. Ekstr?m under investigation. Di Resta claims his second DTM victory of the season from Scheider, Schneider, Tomczyk, Ekstr?m, Rockenfeller, Pr?mat, Green, Schumacher, Jarvis.
