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More Racing
DTM: Paffett Leads Mercedes 1-2 At Hockenheim Opener
The 31-year old Mercedes-Benz driver crossed the finish line ahead of fellow Mercedes-Benz driver and compatriot Jamie Green.
Mercedes DTM pilot and McLaren F1 test driver Gary Paffett topped the DTM season opener at Hockenheim. (Photo: LAT)
On Sunday 71,000 spectators celebrated the three-way battle between the premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and race winner Gary Paffett (GB).
The 31-year old Mercedes-Benz driver survived the turmoil after the start and after great duels, he crossed the finish line to finish first from his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver and compatriot Jamie Green.
Paffett said about his 18th race win in the DTM: “Last year was really bad for me. Nevertheless, I didn’t lose my self-confidence. Great, the way it has started now. At the start, I managed to stay out of traffic and the duel with Jamie was really fair.” Mercedes-Benz scored its sixth consecutive race win at Hockenheim.
Third place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg went to Swede Mattias Ekström with the Audi A5 DTM. The 33-year old started from first place, but lost two positions after locking up under braking and wasn’t able to make up for this. “Of course, it is disappointing. Today, we simply weren’t quick enough and I have made a mistake. The result hurts a little bit, but surely, we will get chances to win”, said Ekström.
British driver Andy Priaulx was the best-placed BMW driver in sixth position. With his BMW M3 DTM, he finished behind the two Germans Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) after 40 laps.
“When somebody would have offered me sixth place before the weekend, I would gladly have accepted it. It was great fun, we had a fantastic crowd and we have seen that BMW is on the right way”, the 38-year old said.
The other drivers to score points were Ralf Schumacher (D) and David Coulthard from Scotland, both with a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, aw well as Spaniard Miguel Molina and Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque (both Audi).
After the great joy for BMW because of the good qualifying result on Saturday, they were quite unfortunate after the start on Sunday. Werner, who had started thurd, initially lost three places, spun after a collision with Ralf Schumacher and dropped back to the end of the field. Werner finished the race in 17th place. Defending champion Martin Tomczyk (D) and BMW’s new signing Bruno Spengler (CDN) retired after various collisions on the first four laps.
American Joey Hand finished 13th in his BMW after being spun by a competitor, and Canadian Robert Wickens finished 15th on his debut for Mercedes.
In the DTM, a new points’ scheme has come into force for this season, equal to that of Formula 1. Accordingly, Paffett is leading the drivers’ standings after the opening round with 25 points, followed by Green (18 points) and Ekström (16 points). The second DTM weekend of the year already takes place in one week’s time at the Lausitzring near Dresden from May 4th till 6th.
The 31-year old Mercedes-Benz driver survived the turmoil after the start and after great duels, he crossed the finish line to finish first from his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver and compatriot Jamie Green.
Paffett said about his 18th race win in the DTM: “Last year was really bad for me. Nevertheless, I didn’t lose my self-confidence. Great, the way it has started now. At the start, I managed to stay out of traffic and the duel with Jamie was really fair.” Mercedes-Benz scored its sixth consecutive race win at Hockenheim.
Third place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg went to Swede Mattias Ekström with the Audi A5 DTM. The 33-year old started from first place, but lost two positions after locking up under braking and wasn’t able to make up for this. “Of course, it is disappointing. Today, we simply weren’t quick enough and I have made a mistake. The result hurts a little bit, but surely, we will get chances to win”, said Ekström.
British driver Andy Priaulx was the best-placed BMW driver in sixth position. With his BMW M3 DTM, he finished behind the two Germans Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) after 40 laps.
“When somebody would have offered me sixth place before the weekend, I would gladly have accepted it. It was great fun, we had a fantastic crowd and we have seen that BMW is on the right way”, the 38-year old said.
The other drivers to score points were Ralf Schumacher (D) and David Coulthard from Scotland, both with a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, aw well as Spaniard Miguel Molina and Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque (both Audi).
After the great joy for BMW because of the good qualifying result on Saturday, they were quite unfortunate after the start on Sunday. Werner, who had started thurd, initially lost three places, spun after a collision with Ralf Schumacher and dropped back to the end of the field. Werner finished the race in 17th place. Defending champion Martin Tomczyk (D) and BMW’s new signing Bruno Spengler (CDN) retired after various collisions on the first four laps.
American Joey Hand finished 13th in his BMW after being spun by a competitor, and Canadian Robert Wickens finished 15th on his debut for Mercedes.
In the DTM, a new points’ scheme has come into force for this season, equal to that of Formula 1. Accordingly, Paffett is leading the drivers’ standings after the opening round with 25 points, followed by Green (18 points) and Ekström (16 points). The second DTM weekend of the year already takes place in one week’s time at the Lausitzring near Dresden from May 4th till 6th.
DTM Zandvoort
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