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Timo Scheider claims pole for Audi at Hockenheim

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Timo Scheider has claimed pole position for Audi in tomorrow’s DTM season opener at Hockenheim.

The Abt Audi driver claimed pole with a 1m35.918 on a drying track, 0.116s ahead of BMW’s Augusto Farfus. Mercedes’ Christian Vietoris, who set the pace in Q3, will line up third after being an outside bet for the top spot earlier in the session.

Mercedes’ stablemate Robert Wickens finished fourth despite having his time disallowed. This still keeps him ahead of Abt Sportsline Audi’s Mattias Ekstrom and Gary Paffett, who achieved his pre-qualifying goal of finishing in the top-10 with sixth position. Reigning champion Bruno Spengler finished seventh, one place ahead of Mercedes debutante, Pascal Wehrlein. The 18 year old underlined his impressive pace from this morning’s free practice by topping the time sheets in Q2 and at one point it seemed he would make it into the pole position shootout. Joey Hand and Mercedes rookie, Daniel Juncadella, rounded out the top-10.

Q2 saw some high profile names drop out with Martin Tomczyk and new BMW arrival, Timo Glock, failing to make the final round of qualifying. They will line up 11th and 15th respectively. The Audis of Jamie Green and Adrien Tambay, also failed to break out of Q2 and will start in 12th and 13th, one place ahead of Mike Rockenfeller’s Audi.

BMW’s Andy Priaulx will line up 17th after being pipped at the last minute by Juncadella for the final spot in Q2 in the closing seconds of the first qualifying session. The Audis of Miguel Molina and Edoardo Mortara finished 18th and 19th, one place ahead of Roberto Merhi who failed the make the cut after shunting his Mercedes going into the stadium section. The two BMWs of Marco Wittman and Dirk Werner completed the field in 21st and 22nd.