Di Resta and Spengler lock out front row for Mercedes-Benz
Klettwitz. A premiere in the Lausitz region: in qualifying for the fourth season round at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Paul di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) claimed his maiden pole position for a DTM race. On his fastest lap, the 22-year old set a fastest lap time of 1.17.628 minutes at the 3.478 kilometres long circuit in the Lausitz. Bruno Spengler completed the success for Mercedes-Benz by setting the second-fastest time. On Sunday, he will be starting second alongside di Resta into the 52 lap race. For Mercedes-Benz, it is the first pole in nine races. The last driver to claim pole for the manufacturer from Stuttgart was Bruno Spengler at the Norisring on July 23rd, 2007. The second grid row has been locked out by Audi: after three pole positions in a row, Timo Scheider only qualified third in the Lausitz. Reigning DTM champion, Mattias Ekstr?m will be starting fourth alongside Scheider. The first eight grid positions are being completed by Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz), Martin Tomczyk (Audi), Tom Kristensen (Audi) and Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz). An extensive press release with quotes from the drivers and motorsport directors will follow shortly.
Qualifying in detail
Air temperature: 25,4 ?C
Track temperature: 29,1 ?C
13:28 hrs Start of the first session of 14 minutes, Bernd Schneider is the first to go out, followed by Engel, Green, Spengler, di Resta
13:31 hrs Engel is the first driver to set a lap time: 1.20.677 minutes, Mike Rockenfeller counters with 1.19.523 and then Markus Winkelhock is first with 1.19.040
13:32 hrs Rockenfeller improves once more to 1.18.955
13:33 hrs Martin Tomczyk is fastest with 1.18.433
13:34 hrs Timo Scheider from sixth to second with 1.18.517
13:36 hrs Bruno Spengler is second with 1.18.508
13:36 hrs Kristensen off the track, continues
13:38 hrs Kristensen moves up to second with his first attempt: 1.18.507
13:39 hrs Currently, Ekstr?m is the only driver with a '08 car who is not in the top 14
13:40 hrs Ekstr?m moves up from 18th to first: 1.18.418
13:42 hrs Schumacher from 16th to 13th: 1.19.310. The following drivers have not made it into the second heat: Lauda, Engel, Paffett, Stoddart and Legge
13:43 hrs Ekstr?m remains fastest from Tomczyk, Kristensen, Spengler, Scheider, di Resta, Schneider, Green, Rockenfeller, Winkelhock
13:51 hrs Start of the second heat, after which the top eight drivers will make it through. Mattias Ekstr?m is the first driver to go out on the track. Fastest lap for Ekstr?m: 1.18.479
13:52 hrs Bernd Schneider is second: 1.18.544, but then Timo Scheider sets the fastest lap time: 1.18.227
13:53 hrs Martin Tomczyk is second with 1.18,344, then Ekstr?m improves to third with 1.18.408. Timo Scheider improves his own fastest time to 1.18.108
13:54 hrs Spengler second with 1.18.187, Di Resta is the first to crack the 1:18 barrier with 1.17.976
13:55 hrs Kristensen and Albers are the last two drivers to go out
13:56 hrs Kristensen is sixth with 1.18.433
13:57 hrs Ekstr?m from sixth to second with 1.18.048
13:59 hrs End of the session. Paul di Resta remains fastest from Ekstr?m, Scheider, Spengler, Tomczyk, Schneider and Kristensen
14:00 hrs The following drivers haven't made it: Jarvis, Rockenfeller, Winkelhock, Pr?mat, Schumacher, Albers
14:06 hrs Start of the third and final shoot-out session. Martin Tomczyk is the first driver out on the track
14:08 hrs Fastest time for Tomczyk, 1.18.375
14:09 hrs Timo Scheider on top: 1.17.954
14:10 hrs Paul di Resta is now fastest with 1.17.760
14:11 hrs Light drizzle sets in
14:14 hrs Bruno Spengler is now second with 1.17.892
14:15 hrs Paul di Resta improves his own fastest time to 1.17.628
14:16 hrs End of the session. Paul di Resta claims the first pole of the season for Mercedes-Benz and his own maiden pole, followed by Spengler, Scheider, Ekstr?m, Green, Tomczyk, Kristensen and Schneider
