Photo: DTM Media

Two races left – 20 points to fight for

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Bernd Schneider needs three more points out of the final two races of the 2006 season in order to clinch his fifth DTM championship title. Prior to the ninth race of the season at Le Mans this coming weekend, Schneider leads the table with 62 points followed by Tom Kristensen 18 points behind.

In Le Mans and the season’s final at Hockenheim two weeks later, a driver can score a maximum of 20 points. If both drivers are tied, the majority of race wins will count. Both Schneider and Kristensen won two races each so far this year; Schneider at Hockenheim and at the Lausitzring, Kristensen at Oschersleben and Zandvoort. Bruno Spengler (DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG-Mercedes C-Class) is third overall with 43 points; he is one point behind Kristensen.

Statistics: Bernd Schneider has good memories of France. When the DTM/ITC first came to the French circuit of Magny-Cours 11 years ago, on 8 October 1995, Bernd won both races and the ITC Championship title, his second title in a touring car. Three weeks before that, he had won the German Championship.

One year later, Alfa Romeo driver Alessandro Nannini won both ITC races at Magny-Cours. In that event, Dario Franchitti was the best Mercedes-Benz driver coming home sixth and fourth respectively. Bernd retired from the first race and ended up eighth in the second one.

50: The race in Le Mans will be the 50th DTM race for Jean Alesi (stern AMG-Mercedes C-Class). Since his debut in the series in 2002, Jean has won on four occasions and achieved two pole positions. Also Stefan Mücke (TV Spielfilm AMG-Mercedes C-Class) will start into his 50th DTM race at Le Mans. Fourth place at the Norisring this year was the best result for the German so far.

The new weight distribution: 2006 AMG-Mercedes C-Class (Schneider, Green, Häkkinen, Spengler): 1,070 kilograms; 2006 Audi A4 DTM: 1,070 kilograms; 2005 AMG-Mercedes C-Class of Jean Alesi, Daniel la Rosa, Alexandros Margaritis, Stefan Mücke: 1,060 kilograms; 2004 cars like the AMG-Mercedes C-Class of Mathias Lauda and Susie Stoddart: 1,020 kilograms.