Audi driver Scheider defends DTM lead

With a cleverly clinched second place, Audi driver Timo Scheider defended his overall DTM lead at Barcelona. Before the last two rounds, the 29-year-old German has a seven-point advantage over the Scot Paul di Resta (Mercedes) and thus the chance of securing the champion’s title early at the next race at Le Mans on 5 October.

In summer temperatures of 26 degrees in the shade Scheider won the starting duel against the quickest in qualifying, Bernd Schneider, and entered the first turn as the front runner. Up to the 19th lap he maintained his position in front of the subsequent winner, Paul di Resta, before the latter squeezed past the DTM leader with slight body contact. Scheider chose not to massively defend himself in order to keep from jeopardising his second place and thus the eight valuable points awarded for a second-place finish. Scheider thus managed the leap onto the podium for as much as the sixth time this year.

With Martin Tomczyk, Mike Rockenfeller and Alexandre Prémat in positions four, five and six, three further Audi drivers scored points. Rockenfeller and Prémat, who had won the title in the European-based Le Mans Series with the Audi R10 TDI, were the best drivers of cars from last year. In addition, it was the best result both have achieved in the DTM so far this season.

Title defender Mattias Ekström crossed the finish line in fifth place, but was later excluded after a tussle with Mercedes driver Jamie Green on the last lap. Green was also penalized. In the starting commotion Ekström’s A4 had lost important rear aerodynamics components, which deprived him of the chance to attack more forcefully and to advance further.

Ninth place went to Oliver Jarvis, who had to sit a drive-through penalty after exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane, as did Markus Winkelhock after a collision with Gary Paffett. Christijan Albers in the two-year-old Audi A4 DTM positioned himself between Jarvis and Winkelhock. All three were engaged in gripping mid-field duels.

After qualifying, Tom Kristensen was moved to the last position on the grid due to a violation of the rules. The Dane set a new lap record for DTM vehicles (1m 08.422s) but lost all chances of scoring possible points as early as on the first lap after contact with Susie Stoddard’s car, which caused a cut in the front right-hand tyre of his Audi A4 DTM.

Katherine Legge collided with Mathias Lauda in the starting phase and later retired after slipping into the gravel trap.

Before the last two races of the season at Le Mans (5 October) and Hockenheim (26 October) four drivers - Timo Scheider (62 points), Paul di Resta (55), Jamie Green (47) and Mattias Ekström (44) – still have chances of winning the title. In the teams’ standings Audi Sport Team Abt is the runner-up with a two-point gap.