Title rivals handed grid penalties for DTM 2017 decider

Championship leader Ekstrom, chasing his third title in the category, will lose five places on the grid for the Sunday race, while Green – his nearest rival, nine points adrift – will drop 10.

Ekstrom, who failed to score in the Saturday race that Green won, was reprimanded for his forceful move on Mercedes driver Maro Engel at the Turn 8 left-hander early in the race.

The Swede was adjudged to have forced Engel off the track, and the subsequent warning was his third of the season, translating to a five-place grid drop.

Green was likewise warned for forcing a rival car off, the Brit having left no space for BMW's Timo Glock on exit of the Turn 10 right-hander as they fought for the lead.

This yielded Green's fifth warning of the campaign and means he will give up 10 places on the grid on Sunday.

While the penalties mean Ekstrom and Green can start the final race of the campaign no higher than sixth and 11th respectively, they will both be eligible for qualifying bonus points should they place in the top three in the session on Sunday.

Two other Audi drivers – Rene Rast, 13 points behind Ekstrom, and Mike Rockenfeller, 20 points adrift – also remain in the hunt for the 2017 crown.