Photo: DTM Media

Possible title decider at Oschersleben

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Oschersleben hosts the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters race this weekend, a race that can prove to be decisive for the title race between Audi and Mercedes.

If championship leader Bruno Spengler wins the race and Timo Scheider, Audi’s best placed driver in the championship, does not finish better than sixth, the title will go to Mercedes.

But Scheider is not the sole hope for Audi, his team mate Mattias Ekström is just one point behind in the championship and hopes to stop Mercedes from getting an exclusive on the title race.

“It’s the track on which we can postpone the title decision this year once more. That’s got to be our aim,” said Audi-driver Mattias Ekström.

The statistics are in favor of Audi and Ekström’s team mate Scheider. The reigning championship has won the DTM races at Oschersleben for the past two years, crowning it with an Audi 1-2-3 last year.

The last time a Mercedes-driver won a race at Oschersleben was in 2007 with Gary Paffett ahead of Paul Di Resta. Best placed of those two in this year’s championship is Di Resta, currently second after a strong win at Brands Hatch two weeks ago.

“I want to take advantage of the momentum from my win at Brands Hatch and narrow Bruno’s lead at Oschersleben. Racing on a track with so many corners is very strenuous and demands full concentration and good car balance. It’s also important to watch out for the angular kerbs to avoid damaging your tyres,” said Di Resta.