Bruno Spengler wins at the Nürburgring

After his success at the Norisring, this was the second DTM victory in a row for Bruno Spengler. Third place was occupied by Martin Tomczyk with the Audi A4 DTM. Ex-Formula 1-driver Jean Alesi was the best-placed driver with year-old machinery in fourth place. In the championship standings, Bernd Schneuder (46 points) extended his points lead. After the sixth DTM round, Bruno Spengler is now equal on points with Tom Kristensen. Both drivers are tied in second place with 34 points. A more extensive press release with quotes from the drivers and the motor sport directors will follow shortly.

The race at a glance
Spectators on race weekend: 116.000
Air temperature: 28,1 °C
Track temperature: 34,3 °C

Before
the start All drivers on rain tyres
Start  Ekström stalls, Abt has a good start, Spengler takes the lead
Lap 1  Spengler is leading from Abt, Schneider, Green, Mücke, Tomczyk, Kristensen and Frentzen. Ekström dropped back to 14th
Lap 2  Spengler is leading, Schneider is now second from Green, Tomczyk, Kristensen and Abt. Kiesa off the track at the entry of the Mercedes-Arena. Alesi has overtaken Mücke and is now tenth.
Lap 3  Häkkinen takes the exit at the chicane, Margaritis pushes Mücke into a spin, Mücke drops back to 18th.
Lap 6  Green and Tomczyk battle for third place, Tomczyk gets past at the Conti-Spange. Drive through penalty for Margaritis for pushing another car. He comes in at the end of the lap
Lap 7  Tom Kristensen attacks Green for fourth and gets past, Green also under attack from Scheider, Abt drops back to ninth and battles with Alesi. Frentzen past Green for sixth
Lap 9  Alesi passes Green
Lap 10 Abt attacks Green and gets past for eighth place, Häkkinen gets past the Brit as well
Lap 11 Race leader Spengler is already 6.7 seconds ahead of Bernd Schneider
Lap 12 Häkkinen attacks Abt for eighth and gets past on the main straight.
Lap 13 Vanina Ickx spins at the Mercedes-Arena, but continues
Lap 14 Lauda attacks Kaffer for 14th and gets past. Kristensen, Alesi through the grass at the chicane. Kaffer is the first driver to come in for the pit stop
Lap 15 Alesi has moved up to sixth and attacks Timo Scheider for fifth place
Lap 16 Alesi and Scheider side-by-side through the Mercedes-Arena, Alesi has the upper hand. Häkkinen overtakes Frentzen under braking for the chicane. Ekström into the pits
Lap 17 Alesi attacks Kristensen at the Conti-Spange and gets past. The Frenchman is now fourth. Kristensen, Green, Abt, Stippler, Margaritis into the pits. La Rosa and Mücke collide in the Mercedes-Arena.
Lap 18 Spengler, Schneider, Tomczyk, Alesi, Frentzen, Mücke, Kiesa into the pits. Ekström straight on at the chicane
Lap 19 Abt and Mücke side-by-side. Häkkinen, Scheider, Lauda, Ickx into the pits. Scheider overtakes Häkkinen in the pits. Problems with the fuel can during Häkkinen's pit stop
Lap 20 Stoddart into the pits. Race order after the first range of pit stops: Spengler leading from Schneider, Tomczyk, Kristensen, Alesi, Frentzen, Scheider, Häkkinen, Ekström and Green.
Lap 22 Margaritis takes the escape route through the chicane after a collision with Stippler in the battle for 16th
Lap 23 Stippler's right front wheel is damaged, he comes into the pits. Kaffer also into the pits
Lap 24 Kaffer into the pits
Lap 26 Ekström into the pits
Lap 27 Green, Stoddart into the pits. Ickx in the gravel trap
Lap 28 Kristensen, Alesi, Abt, Mücke into the pits
Lap 29 Stoddart off the teack at Mercedes-Arnea. Schneider, Tomczyk, Scheider, La Rosa into the pits
Lap 30 Spengler, Frentzen, Lauda, Kiesa into the pits. Spengler's stop takes almost nine seconds
Lap 31 Margaritis into the pits
Lap 32 After the second range of pit stops, Spengler remains in the lead from Schneider, Tomczyk, Kristensen, Alesi, Frentzen, Ekström, Häkkinen, Scheider and Green
Lap 34 Black and white flag (warning) for Heinz-Harald Frentzen for leaving the track
Lap 36 Kristensen locks up under braking going into the Mercedes-Arena, runs wide and spins, but cotinues. Drops back to fifth. Häkkinen into the pits for another refuel
Lap 40 The order remains unchanged, Spengler is leading Schneider by 11.1 seconds
Lap 42 Penultimate lap, Spengler is on course towards his second victory in a row
Finish Starting from pole, Bruno Spengler led all the way and claimed his second consecutive victory from Bernd Schneider and Martin Tomczyk. Mercedes-driver Jean Alesi was a strong fourth with his year-old car, leading home two further Audi-drivers, Tom Kristensen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen