Schneider on first pole since 2005

Bernd Schneider took command during qualifying for the ninth round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters 2008. The touring car legend took his first pole since Zandvoort 2005.
“Today’s pole wasn’t necessarily what people could expect from me. It is the first time since Zandvoort in 2005 for me to be starting from first place again,” said Schneider.

“It has always been clear to me that I would make it back on pole one day. But I was a bit surprised myself that it happened here. Especially when you consider that I only set the fastest time on my final one of three laps in the last heat.”

Schneider was only 0.031 seconds faster than championship leader Timo Scheider.

“Congratulations to Bernd. He is always a driver to be reckoned with. I hope that the journalists don’t forget the decisive ‘n’ in the name, because Bernd really has deserved pole today. Fortunately, it is Bernd who is in front of me and my main rivals who are behind me,” said Scheider.

Paul di Resta qualified third in his Mercedes C-Class ahead of Martin Tomczyk and Jamie green.

“Third place on the grid is all right. However, it is annoying that I set the fastest lap time of the day, but unfortunately, I did so in the second heat, which doesn’t decide on the final grid positions. The situation for the race isn’t bad and we are working on being even further up to the front in the race than in qualifying,” said di Resta.