Photo: DTM Media

Qualifying comments from Mercedes-drivers

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Best qualified Mercedes-driver of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters opener at Hockenheim was Bruno Spengler in third. Despite Audi getting the top two slots, Mercedes admitted that the qualifying session went better than they expected. Here follow comments from all Mercedes-drivers.

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class 2008), third (1:33.034): “A tough fight. I had a problem with oversteer at the first sector, but with my best time in the second sector I made it up. We should be in good shape in race trim tomorrow and I want to fight for victory.”

Paul di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class 2008), fourth (1:33.075): “Fourth on the grid is not too bad. I tried to get the maximum out of the car, but I was not able to do better. Tomorrow I want more.”

Jamie Green (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class 2008), sixth (1:33.418): “Not an optimum qualifying, I had expected a better grid position. However, already in yesterday’s tests and in Free Practice this morning we had problems to find the best set-up. I will give it my all tomorrow to improve.”

Bernd Schneider (Genuine Parts AMG Mercedes C-Class 2008), ninth (1:33.731): “Unfortunately I didn’t manage to put my best sector times together in one lap. Although there are almost no chances to win the race, my ninth grid position is not so bad. I want to score as many points as possible, and, who knows, maybe a podium finish is possible.”

Gary Paffett (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class 2007), 10th (1:33.891): “Of course, I would prefer a place among the top-eight, but row five is still quite ok. The car has a good balance and I am confident for the race.”

Ralf Schumacher (Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class 2007), 15th (1:34.425): “This was close. I was 15th and unfortunately missed the second round of qualifying by less than a tenth in my first DTM qualifying. My qualifying laps were not the best ones. Now I look forward to my first DTM race. I hope to make no mistakes and want to improve lap by lap.”

Maro Engel (JungeSterne AMG Mercedes C-Class 2007), 16th (1:34.458): “Unfortunately, I missed the second part of qualifying, but with a gap of about one tenth behind 14th I can still be satisfied. I look forward to the race.“

Susie Stoddart (TV-Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class 2007), 17th (1:34.574): “The team did a great job repairing the car after yesterday’s fire. I tried hard to reach the second qualifying round, but it didn’t work out. The accident was my fault.”

Mathias Lauda (Pixum AMG Mercedes C-Class 2007), 18th (1:34.725): “What a mess. On my final run, I made a mistake under braking at turn three and lost the rear of my car. Clearly my mistake.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “Three Audis and three Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars will start from rows one to three, five each from the first five rows. Today, our best placed C-Class was fifth in qualifying 1, fourth in qualifying 2 and third in qualifying 3. Hopefully we will improve in the same rhythm tomorrow. Congratulations to Timo Scheider and Abt-Audi on the first pole position of the new season. In last year’s finale, three Audis started ahead of us and we won; perhaps we will manage this tomorrow with one competitor less in front of us. There is an interesting fact concerning Ralf Schumacher’s DTM debut: With his last year’s car, he posted a time, which had been good for second on the grid here in the DTM premiére a year ago, 56 thousandths behind pole.”