Shanghai: A place for DTM drama

The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters returns to Shanghai for the season finale of 2010. The German series last visited the city in 2004 when Gary Paffett won the race.
“It was an extremely tough race. Following the first-corner incident I held a rather comfortable lead,” said Paffett to the official championship site.

Double DTM champion Mattias Ekström has also got fond memories from the Chinese city track.

“Racing here in Shanghai was big fun. I started from ninth position and due to the accidents that occurred in front of me, I crossed the line at the end of lap one in fifth position.

Then I passed Capello and Alesi to secure third position. Finishing third from ninth grid position represents a great result – particularly here in Shanghai,” said Ekström.

The event in 2004 was scheduled to hold two races, but it only became one due to flying manhole covers.

Due to the massive downforce from the cars, a manhole cover came loose when the entire field roared in to the first corner of the first race. The cover struck the Mercedes of Bernd Mayländer.

Fortunately Mayländer escaped unhurt and the race was restarted after a lengthy break to weld all manhole covers, meaning that the second race was cancelled.

One would assume that the manhole covers are firmly welded ahead of the 2010 DTM finale.