DTM : Ekström wins at Le Mans – Title decision in the finale

EKSTRÖM, Mattias (#1 / Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline / Red Bull Audi A4 DTM 2008)Ekström wins at Le Mans – Title decision in the finale

Le Mans : October 5, 2008 - Mattias Ekström (Audi) has won the tenth DTM season round from Paul di Resta (Mercedes-Benz).

DTM Le Mans start 10th round of the DTM

In changeable and difficult weather conditions, the Swede scored his third season win at the „Circuit Bugatti“ in the French city of Le Mans, the 13th race win of his DTM career. The podium was completed by Alexandre Prémat (Audi) who finished third in his home race.

DTM Le Mans start 10th round of the DTM

Points’ leader Timo Scheider (Audi) came home sixth behind Gary Paffett and Bernd Schneider (both Mercedes-Benz). The final points’ scoring positions were taken by Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) and Tom Kristensen (Audi) in seventh and eighth place. While Scheider had made the right tyre choice in the early stages of the race, di Resta was more lucky at the end. Next to their two mandatory pit stops, both drivers had to make one extra stop to have their tyres changed.

DI RESTA, Paul (#4 / AMG Mercedes / AMG Mercedes C-Klasse 2008)

With his second place, di Resta further reduced the gap to Scheider. Going into the DTM season finale at Hockenheim, Scheider is now only two points ahead of the Scot with 65 points. In spite of his win at Le Mans, Mattias Ekström no longer has a chance of the title. With 54 points, he is third. An extensive press release with quotes from the drivers and motorsport directors will follow shortly.

DI RESTA, Paul (#4 / AMG Mercedes / AMG Mercedes C-Klasse 2008)

The race at a glance
Spectators during the race weekend: 18,000
Weather: rain
Air temperature: 15.7 °C
Asphalt temperature: 14.4 °C

SCHEIDER, Timo (#10 / Audi Sport Team Abt / GW:plus / Top Service Audi A4 DTM 2008), SCHNEIDER, Bernd (#6 / Original-Teile AMG Mercedes / Original-Teile AMG Mercedes C-Klasse 2008)

9th round of the DTM at Barcelona : Race result

Pos	No	Driver / Team	Car	Time	Pts
1	1	Mattias Ekström (SWE) - Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Red Bull Audi A4 DTM	01:32.8	10
2	4	Paul Di Resta (GBR) - AMG Mercedes	AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:32.7	8
3	14	Alexandre Prémat (FRA) - Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi Bank/Shell Helix Audi A4 DTM	01:34.1	6
4	7	Gary Paffett (GBR) - stern AMG Mercedes	stern AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:34.9	5
5	6	Bernd Schneider (GER) - Original-Teile AMG Mercedes	Original-Teile AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:33.8	4
6	10	Timo Scheider (GER) - Audi Sport Team Abt	GW:plus / Top Service Audi A4 DTM	01:33.9	3
7	3	Bruno Spengler (CAN) - Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Klasse	01:34.0	2
8	9	Tom Kristensen (DEN) - Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A4 DTM	01:33.5	1
9	18	Mike Rockenfeller (GER) - Audi Sport Team Rosberg	S line Audi A4 DTM	01:33.8	-
10	5	Jamie Green (GBR) - Salzgitter AMG Mercedes	Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:33.5	-
11	19	Markus Winkelhock (GER) - Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Playboy Audi A4 DTM	01:34.1	-
12	16	Susie Stoddart (GBR) - TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes	TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:34.6	-
13	21	Christijan Albers (NED) - Futurecom-TME	Audi A4 DTM	01:34.6	-
14	12	Maro Engel (GER) - JungeSterne AMG Mercedes	JungeSterne AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:34.5	-
15	8	Lauda (AUT) - Pixum AMG Mercedes Mathias	Pixum AMG Mercedes C-Klasse	01:35.8
16	20	Katherine Legge (GBR) - Futurecom-TME	Audi A4 DTM	01:34.7

Driver Championship Standings :

Pos	Driver - Nationality	Points
1	Timo Scheider / GER	65
2	Paul Di Resta / GBR	63
3	Mattias Ekström / SWE	54
4	Jamie Green / GBR	46
5	Bruno Spengler / CAN	33
6	Martin Tomczyk / GER	31
7	Bernd Schneider / GER	31
8	Tom Kristensen / DEN	23
9	Gary Paffett / GBR	13
10	Alexandre Prémat / FRA	10
11	Mike Rockenfeller / GER	6
12	Markus Winkelhock / GER	6
13	Oliver Jarvis / GBR	5
14	Ralf Schumacher / GER	3
15	Mathias Lauda / AUT	1
16	Maro Engel / GER	0
17	Susie Stoddart / GBR	0
18	Christijan Albers / NED	0
19	Katherine Legge / GBR	0

Constructor Championship Standings :

Pos	Team	Points
1	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	96
2	Audi Sport Team Abt	88
3	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	85
4	Salzgitter / Original-Teile AMG Mercedes	77
5	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	15
6	stern / Pixum AMG Mercedes	14
7	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	14
8	TRILUX / JungeSterne AMG Mercedes	3

EKSTRÖM, Mattias (#1 / Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline / Red Bull Audi A4 DTM 2008)

[Source : DTM]