Ekström continues Audi dominance in Spain

Mattias Ekström converted his pole position to a dominant DTM win in Valencia, leading home teammate Martin Tomczyk for an Audi 1-2. The Audi pair were well clear of third placed finisher Bruno Spengler, who inherited the final podium spot after Oliver Jarvis retired towards the end of the race.

Ekström built a comfortable from fellow front row starter Spengler to lead early on, but thanks to the tactic of leaving his pitstops later than much of the rest of the field, Tomczyk was able to leap his way up from ninth to pressurise the leader in the closing stages.

The Swede kept his cool in the heat though to hold on for victory, with Tomcyzk following him across the line 0.435 seconds behind.

Spengler was the only Mercedes in the top five, as Audi continued to rule in Valenca. Alexandre Prémat was another driver to benefit from his pit strategy, with the Frenchman hauling his 2008-spec Audi up into fourth place behind the Canadian.

After not enjoying the best of Saturday’s, Timo Scheider’s Valencian weekend improved despite being leapfrogged during the stops by Prémat. The reigning champion brought his A4 home in fifth, a five place improvement on his qualifying slot to secure valuable points towards his title defence.

Behind Scheider came Paul Di Resta and Mike Rockenfeller, with Gary Paffet securing the one point for eight.

After topping the timesheets in Sunday morning’s practice session, hopes were high for home racer Miguel Molina, but the Spaniard suffered towards the end of the race, with Gary Paffett pipping him to the final point on the last lap.

Katherine Legge, who qualified 18th, was withdrawn from the race on Sunday morning by her team due to an infection.