16th October, 2010
Timo Scheider on pole for final DTM season round in Germany
DTM
Hockenheim. Fans at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg witnessed a thrilling DTM qualifying with heavy rain and huge surprises. Reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider claimed pole position for the final DTM race weekend of the season on German soil. In wet conditions, the 31-year old completed the lap at the new shorter circuit lay-out of 3.736 kilometres in 1:37.399 minutes. “It is nice that we were able to show how strong we are in conditions like these, too. I am very happy to be starting from first place for the German finale, especially because Hockenheim is something very special for me”, said Scheider, who has now achieved nine pole positions in the DTM. After 22 years, the Hockenheimring doesn’t host the season finale for the first time, as two more DTM races at Adria and Shanghai are still on the calendar.
Scheider’s fellow Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller secured himself a very good second grid position, making him the best-placed driver of a 2008-spec car. British driver Gary Paffett is in the best position in the battle for the title, having qualified third. In the drivers’ standings, the Mercedes-Benz driver is currently in third place as well. “In these difficult conditions, making a mistake is easy. But being in the top four is already very good. Of course, I would have liked a position on the front row. Admittedly, my chances of winning the title aren’t particularly good anymore, but we are trying everything”, said Paffett, who already won the DTM title in 2005. Paffett’s fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Paul Di Resta (GB), currently second in the drivers’ standings, ended up fifth behind Frenchman Alexandre Prémat (Audi). Points’ leader Bruno Spengler had a major setback. The Canadian Mercedes-Benz driver failed to cope with the adverse conditions and will only be starting from tenth place. “Today, I am the loser of the lottery, because qualifying in the rain always has something to do with luck, too. I hope for better conditions on Sunday and I will do everything to move up to the front”, said Spengler.
Bad luck for Martin Tomczyk: the Audi driver was sixth in qualifying, but because of an infringement of the sporting regulations, he will be dropped five places on the grid. All the following drivers move up one place. The infringement: in second free practice on Saturday, Tomczyk had improved his own personal best sector time. Audi driver Mattias Ekström had a sad premiere: for the first time this season, the Swede failed to make it into the second heat of the four-part shoot-out qualifying and will only be starting from 15th place behind David Coulthard (GB/Mercedes-Benz).
The ninth DTM round of the season will cover 47 laps and will start at 14.00 h. ARD is broadcasting live from 13.45 h.
