DTM: Spengler wins at the Nurburgring
Posted 19th August, 2012 in Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Motorsport | Leave a comment
Bruno Spengler has given BMW its second DTM win of the season, turning up the heat on Gary Paffett in the 2012 title race.
Starting from pole, the 28-year-old Canadian had already built a one second lead within the first lap, controlling the race until the end, finishing 6.7s ahead of Audi’s Edoardo Mortara and positioning himself 20 points behind Paffett (103 points). The Mercedes driver could only manage sixth today after a problematic rear wheel change saw him lost three seconds in the pits.
Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller had been pressing Mortara during the early stages, but was passed first by Martin Tomczyk, who occupied the third step of the podium for BMW, then by Jamie Green during the second set of stops, eventually finishing in fifth place.
“My car was fantastic today. I had to push unbelievably hard, particularly in the first stint, as the opposition really applied pressure. However, I was able to defend my lead. I’d like to say a big thank you to BMW Team Schnitzer,” said an ecstatic Spengler.
DTM Nurburgring result after 49 laps:
1. B Spengler Schnitzer BMW 1h11m12.847s
2. E Mortara Rosberg Audi + 6.703s
3. M Tomczyk RMG BMW + 10.802s
4. J Green HWA Mercedes + 22.019s
5. M Rockenfeller Phoenix Audi + 23.054s
6. G Paffett HWA Mercedes + 23.765s
7. R Wickens Mucke Mercedes + 25.041s
8. F Albuquerque Rosberg Audi + 29.601s
9. T Scheider Abt Audi + 30.422s
10. A Farfus RBM BMW + 33.686s
11. M Ekstrom Abt Audi + 35.436s
12. D Werner Schnitzer BMW + 40.828s
13. R Schumacher HWA Mercedes + 42.526s
14. R Frey Abt Audi + 43.105s
15. M Molina Phoenix Audi + 46.558s
16. C Vietoris HWA Mercedes + 53.240s
17. S Wolff Persson Mercedes + 1m09.036s
18. J Hand RMG BMW + 1m12.214s
19. A Priaulx RBM BMW + 1m25.739s
20. D Coulthard Mucke Mercedes + 1 lap
[Source: DTM]
