On Sunday, DTM championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) will be in P16 on the grid for the ninth DTM race in Valencia (live at 1.45pm on ARD television).
Paffett has held the overall lead in the DTM without a break since the first race of the season at Hockenheim. He is eleven points up on Spengler. Augusto Farfus (BMW / 1:26.446) will be on pole in Sunday’s race.
Mercedes junior Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:27.128) secured 14th place on the grid in the second part of qualifying.
Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:27.377), Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:27.380), Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé / 1:27.454), Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:27.533), David Coulthard (DHL Mercedes AMG C-Coupe / 1:28.012) and Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 1:28.090) will be in positions 17 to 22 respectively on the grid at Valencia for the penultimate race of the season.
The top sixteen drivers were separated by only eight tenths of a second in the first qualifying segment.
Comments on qualifying:
Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 14th (1:27.128): „The qualifying session left me with mixed feelings. Of course, I'd love to be placed further up on the grid but I was today’s best Mercedes driver, which does not leave me overjoyed, considering my position. Nevertheless, I’m on an upward learning curve.“
Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 16th (1:27.288): „16th on the grid is disappointing for me. Luckily, my championship rival, Bruno Spengler, did not have a good qualifying either. The car’s balance was good today both in practice and in qualifying.
Unfortunately, the fresh tyres did not provide enough grip in qualifying. We’ll have to analyse the data this evening, but I am confident that our race pace will be stronger and that a good strategy will make it possible to move up the field tomorrow.“
Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 17th (1:27.377): „I had intended doing more in my home race at Valencia. It’s a bit disappointing being in P17 on the grid, all my fans are going to be there.
But I posted the fastest race lap last time out in Oschersleben, showing that our pace in race trim is good, and I will take that fact forward with me tomorrow.“
Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 18th (1:27.380): „That was a tough qualifying for us. My place on the grid is not good, but we win and lose as a team. The car was not good enough today in qualifying, but it’s Sunday that counts, not Saturday. We will do everything possible tomorrow to push forwards.“
Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), 19th (1:27.454): „The top sixteen were separated by only eight tenths in the first part of qualifying. The smallest problem can cost vital positions, given the highly competitive nature of the current field. My place on the grid is not terrific, but anything can happen in the race.“
Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 20th (1:27.533): „I did not come to Valencia to be 20th on the grid, sorry, but that was not my intention. However, qualifying was again very close. I just missed progressing to Q2 by two-tenths of a second. In tomorrow’s race, it will be crucial to get a good start and stay well clear of any problems.“
David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 21st (1:28.012): „Unfortunately, my qualifying did not go according to plan. Last year, I was in third place on the grid in Valencia but it was impossible to repeat that result today.
Valencia is a challenging circuit that puts high demands on drivers and vehicles. Tomorrow is another day and we will do everything we can to get a better result.“
Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), 22nd (1:28.090): „We knew that it would be tricky for us at this track. I hope that we can improve by tomorrow so that we can move up the field a few places in the race.“
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: „This is anything but an ideal grid position for our championship leader Gary Paffett.
The right grip proved elusive today for all of our cars, but we will endeavour to improve setup for tomorrow’s race. The Good Lord knows that Gary is a true fighter and besides, he never gives up and neither do we.“
Source: Daimler Mercedes-Benz
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