Bruno Spengler Runner-up in the 2007 DTM
Jamie Green Won the Exciting Finale
- Seven victories for the C-Class in the season's ten races
- 141st race win for Mercedes-Benz in the brand's 300th DTM/ITC race
- A record crowd of 152,000 during the weekend
§ Jamie Green (2007 Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) won the exciting
finale of the 2007 DTM in Hockenheim and achieved his second consecutive
victory in the championship after his first win in Barcelona three weeks
ago. It was the seventh win for the C-Class in the tenth race of the year
and the 141st win for Mercedes-Benz in the brand's 300th DTM/ITC
race since 1988. After 37 laps, Jamie came home 3.6sec ahead of Timo
Scheider (Audi).
§ Bruno Spengler (2007 DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG Mercedes C-Class) came
home fourth and ended the season runner-up like last year. The Canadian
missed the championship by three points; the new Champion Mattias Ekstrom
has now 50 points, Bruno is second with 47.
§ Bernd Schneider (2007 Genuine Parts AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home
fifth, Alexandros Margaritis (2006 stern AMG Mercedes C-Class) was
seventh ahead of Paul di Resta (2005 JAWA4U.de AMG Mercedes C-Class).
§ The results of the other C-Class drivers: Daniel la Rosa (2006 TrekStor
AMG Mercedes C-Class) tenth ahead of Mathias Lauda (2006 Trilux AMG
Mercedes C-Class); Susie Stoddart (2005 TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes
C-Class) 14th; Mika Hakkinen (2007 AMG Mercedes C-Class) 17th. Gary
Paffett (2006 Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class) retired with a damaged
undertray following a spin.
§ A crowd of 152,000 attended the 2007 DTM season finale, more than ever
before at a DTM event.
The start: Jamie Green started fourth on the grid whilst Bruno Spengler
had qualified sixth. At the start, Green dropped to fifth; however, he
improved to third place at the hairpin. Here Gary Paffett spun and
retired due to a damaged undertray. The Safety Car was deployed for one
lap.
Lap 3: Jamie Green overtook Tom Kristensen at the hairpin and improved to
second behind Mattias Ekstrom. Bruno Spengler was fifth ahead of Bernd
Schneider and Alexandros Margaritis.
Lap 6: Bruno Spengler and Mika Hakkinen came in for their respective
first pit stops.
Lap 9: Jamie Green passed Mattias Ekstrom at the hairpin and took the
lead. Bernd Schneider was fourth ahead of Paul di Resta.
Lap 15: Following his early pit stop, Bruno Spengler charged through the
field. He passed Tom Kristensen on lap 12 and Markus Winkelhock on lap
15.
Lap 17: First pit stop of Bernd Schneider.
Lap 21: The two leaders, Jamie Green and Mattias Ekstrom pitted. Green
maintained first place ahead of Timo Scheider, Mattias Ekstrom, Bernd
Schneider and Bruno Spengler. Ekstrom and Spengler were within four
seconds.
Lap 24: Bernd Schneider came in for his second stop and Bruno Spengler
was fourth.
Lap 28: Jamie Green, Alexandros Margaritis and Bruno Spengler made their
respective second pit stops. Green resumed in first position, Schneider
was now sixth behind Ekstrom, Spengler followed in seventh place, 2.9sec
behind the Swede.
Lap 32: Bruno Spengler overtook Bernd Schneider and was fourth close
behind Mattias Ekstrom with a gap of 1.5sec.
Finish (lap 37): Jamie Green crossed the finish line first, Bruno
Spengler came home fourth 0.4sec behind Mattias Ekstrom. Bernd Schneider
ended up fifth.
Jamie Green, 2007 Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class, winner: "I enjoy
today's win even more than the first one in Barcelona. It is
something really special to win in front such a great crowd with so many
of my Mercedes-Benz colleagues. I am very proud. The car was perfect and
I didn't make any mistakes -- this was the key for my success
today."
Bruno Spengler, 2007 DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG Mercedes C-Class, fourth:
"It is not too bad, to finish runner-up twice in two years;
however, I am of course disappointed that I was not able to clinch the
title. Our team did a great job and the car ran very well, either with
used or with new tyres. Today a better result should have been possible,
and then there would have been a better chance in the championship.
Congratulations to Mattias Ekstrom on the title win."
Bernd Schneider, 2007 Genuine Parts AMG Mercedes C-Class, fifth:
"The race was OK, although there have been some actions by Mike
Rockenfeller and Tom Kristensen which I did not agree with. Third place
would have been possible today. But now I want to congratulate Mattias
Ekstrom on the championship."
Alexandros Margaritis, 2006 stern AMG Mercedes C-Class, seventh: "A
perfect race. I started very well and improved to seventh. After my early
pit stop I was able to finish the race almost without traffic."
Paul di Resta, 2005 JAWA4U.de AMG Mercedes C-Class, eighth: "After
my 16th place in qualifying I am quite happy finishing eighth. It's
nice to end the season in the points."
Daniel la Rosa, 2006 TrekStor AMG Mercedes C-Class, 10th: "A better
result was possible today. On the first lap I spun after somebody had
pushed me. Due to my late first pit stop my tyres faded and I was not
able to improve."
Mathias Lauda, 2006 Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class, 11th: "I gave it
my all and made my way up from 16th on the grid to 11th at the chequered
flag. I might have scored points today, but my tyres were worn in the end
and I could not do better."
Susie Stoddart, 2005 TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class, 14th: "My
team did a great job and my car ran very well. Unfortunately, I was not
able to make the best out of it -- I am disappointed."
Mika Hakkinen, 2007 AMG Mercedes C-Class, 17th: "A difficult race.
I gave it my all, but because of my 20th grid position due to my
unjustified penalty I had no hopes for a good result. It was just not
possible."
Gary Paffett, 2006 Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class, retired following a spin
when he damaged his undertray: "At the hairpin exit I drove over
the kerbs and when I came back on the track I slid into a hole next to
the tarmac and spun. This damaged my undertray severly and I had to
retire."
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
"Congratulations to Mattias Ekstrom, Abt-Audi and Audi Sport on
their title win -- a great race won by Jamie Green and the
Mercedes-Benz C-Class as well as a turbulent season are behind us.
Including Jamie's victory today we won seven out of the
year's ten races, in the end Bruno missed the championship win by
three points. We showed a strong performance today and I want to thank
all team members for how we presented ourselves in the 300th DTM and ITC
race of the brand Mercedes-Benz in which we achieved our 141st victory.
We provided the spectators at the venue and in front of the TV with
exciting sport in front of a record crowd in picture book weather. Thank
you to the HWA team headed by Gerhard Ungar and Hans-Jurgen Mattheis as
well as to the teams of Ingmar Persson and Peter Mucke. Now we have a
deserved break, but will not rest for long ..."
-credit: daimler.com
