Spengler on pole for the second time in a row at Norisring
N?rnberg. The Nuremberg street circuit seems to suit Bruno Spengler: after 2007, the Franco-Canadian secured himself the best starting grid position for the season highlight of the DTM for the second time in a row. With his AMG Mercedes C-Class, he claimed pole position for the fifth season round in a convincing way. With a fastest lap time of 47.785 seconds, he outpaced his team-mates Jamie Green and Paul di Resta, who were second and third respectively. For Spengler, it is the sixth pole of his DTM career. In 2006, Spengler celebrated his maiden victory in the most popular international touring car series at the Norisring. DTM points? leader, Timo Scheider was the fastest driver with an Audi A4 DTM in fourth place. The following drivers: Martin Tomczyk, Tom Kristensen (both Audi), Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz) and reigning DTM champion, Mattias Ekstr?m (Audi). At the Norisring, Ralf Schumacher scored his best DTM qualifying result to date. The Mercedes-Benz driver made it into the second qualifying heat without any problems and set the eleventh fastest time. An extensive press release with quotes from the drivers and motorsport directors will follow shortly.
Qualifying in detail
Air temperature: 23.4 ?C
Asphalt temperature: 27.3 ?C
13:28 hrs Qualifying starts with the first session of 14 minutes. Mike Rockenfeller is the first driver on the track.
13:34 hrs Many position changes, Spengler is currently leading with a fastest lap time of 48.183.
13:36 hrs Kristensen, Tomczyk and Ekstr?m are the last drivers who have yet so set a lap time.
13:37 hrs Green is now leading with 48.158, but then Di Resta is fastest with 48.074.
13:38 hrs Spengler is now on top with 48.007 - who will be the first driver to crack the 47-second barrier?
13:40 hrs With 2.30 minutes remaining, most drivers are in the pits. Spengler is fastest from Di Resta, Green, Ekstr?m, Lauda, Paffett, Scheider, Kristensen, Schneider and Jarvis.
13:42 hrs End of the first heat. Stoddart, Rockenfeller, Albers, Winkelhock and Legge haven't made it into the next heat.
13:43 hrs Spengler remains fastest from Di Resta, Green, Ekstr?m, Tomczyk, Lauda, Paffett, Scheider, Kristensen, Schneider, Jarvis, Pr?mat, Schumacher and Engel.
13:49 hrs Start of the second heat, Bernd Schneider is the first driver out.
13:54 hrs Tomczyk is fastest with 48.058 from Green with 48.060 and Spengler with 48.092.
13:55 hrs Spengler is on top with 47.997 seconds and is the first driver to crack the 48-seconds barrier.
13:56 hrs Timo Scheider is second with 48.029 from Tomczyk, Green, Ekstr?m, Di Resta, Kristensen and Schneider.
13:58 hrs Timo Scheider moves up into first place with 47.877, Bernd Schneider improves from eighth to third with 48.055.
13:59 hrs End of the session. Paffett, Pr?mat, Schumacher, Engel, Jarvis and Lauda aren't qualified for the final heat.
14:00 hrs Timo Scheider remains fastest from Bruno Spengler, Jamie Green, Bernd Schneider, Martin Tomczyk, Mattias Ekstr?m, Paul di Resta and Tom Kristensen.
14:06 hrs Start of the third and final qualifying heat of nine minutes.
14:07 hrs Bernd Schneider is the first driver to go out on the track.
14:09 hrs Jamie Green is leading with 48.228 seconds.
14:09 hrs Bruno Spengler on top: 47.994, Timo Scheider moves up into second place with 48.058.
14:13 hrs Jamie Green is now first with 47.963 seconds.
14:13 hrs Bruno Spengler counters and claims back the lead with 47.785 seconds.
14:14 hrs Behind Spengler and Green, Di Resta is third with 47.969.
14:16 hrs End of the session. Spengler claims pole from Green, Di Resta, Scheider, Tomczyk, Kristensen, Schneider and Ekstr?m.
