Photo: DTM Media

New Mercedes C-Class makes debut

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Bernd Schneider (Original-Teile AMG Mercedes), five-time and reigning DTM Champion, Mika Häkkinen (AMG Mercedes), double Formula One World Champion, Bruno Spengler (DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG Mercedes), 2006 DTM runner-up and Jamie Green (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes), 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion, will race in Hockenheim with the new C-Class for the first time.

At the wheel of last year’s AMG Mercedes C-Class: Gary Paffett (Laureus AMG Mercedes), 2005 DTM Champion and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver in Formula One, Alexandros Margaritis (stern AMG Mercedes), Daniel la Rosa (TrekStor AMG Mercedes) and Mathias Lauda (Trilux AMG Mercedes).

In the 2005 C-Class: Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes), who is one of two ladies in the DTM and Paul di Resta (JAWA4U.de AMG Mercedes), 2006 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion.

Until now, more than 40,000 grandstand tickets have been sold. The Mercedes grandstand with 6,521 seats is sold out already; however, there are still plenty of seats in the Motodrom. In October 2006, a DTM record crowd of 149,000 attended the season finale.

Statistics: Bernd Schneider will start in his 40th DTM race in Hockenheim. He won 13 races there; his most recent victory was in last year’s season opener on 9th April 2006. Additionally, he achieved six podium positions, which means he has finished almost every other race in Hockenheim on the podium.

Since 1984, 58 DTM and ITC races have been staged in Hockenheim. Mercedes-Benz drivers won 25 of these events. Bruno Spengler achieved the most recent Mercedes-Benz victory when he won the 2006 season finale – his fourth race win last year. Audi achieved five victories at Hockenheim so far. Mercedes-Benz drivers have won 13 out of the 16 Hockenheim DTM races since 2000, which is more than 80 percent. Since the last race of the 2002 season, Mercedes-Benz remained unbeaten in Hockenheim with nine victories in a row.

TV: TV broadcasts for the new season have been extended. German channel ARD will show the qualifying session of every race live on Saturday from 13:30 until 14:30 h, which is on average about 30 minutes more race coverage than last year. The live broadcast from the race will usually start Sunday at 13:45 h, 15 minutes prior to the start of the race.

Weight distribution: In the 2007 season, the new DTM cars like the new AMG Mercedes C-Class of Bernd Schneider, Bruno Spengler, Jamie Green and Mika Häkkinen will start with a weight of 1,070 kilograms. The 2006 AMG Mercedes C-Class 2006 of Gary Paffett, Alexandros Margaritis, Daniel la Rosa and Mathias Lauda will have 1,060 kilograms and the 2005 cars like the AMG Mercedes C-Class of Paul di Resta and Susie Stoddart will weigh 1,040 kilograms.