Gary Paffett wins Premiere at Hockenheim

Briton Gary Paffett has won the first race of the season at Hockenheim, leading three other Mercedes’. Audi lost their opportunities to win the race due to a blown tire and a mistake in the pitstops.

At the start of the race, it was Martin Tomczyk who got quickest of the line, but he had to wait until the hairpin to take the lead. However, he could only enjoy his lead for 10 laps, when his left rear tire blew at the main straight and he had to limp back to the pits.

As Paffett inherited the lead back, Mattias Ekström had already made his first stop from fourth in the race. Unfortunately, he was called in one lap to early, as the pit window had not opened yet. This forced the Swede to make one more stop than all the other drivers, making his battle for the lead with Paffett later in the race meaningless.

Still he managed to finish the race in a decent position. Coming across the line in sixth, he was only 3.4 seconds down on the race winner.

Bruno Spengler finished the race in second, taking over that place from Jamie Green just a few laps from the end. As Green had to settle for third, Paul di Resta came closer but finished the race in fourth, making it a top four for Mercedes.

Mike Rockenfeller was the best Audi driver at the finish, coming home in fifth ahead of Mattias Ekström.

Reigning champion Timo Scheider drove an anonymous race, coming home in seventh. He was only half a second ahead of the surprise of the day; new comer Miguel Molina. The Spaniard took a point in his first DTM race by finishing in eighth.