2009 DTM : Martin Tomczyk is back - victory at the Nürburgring

2009 DTM Nürburgring Winner : Martin Tomczyk - Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline - 2008 Red Bull Cola Audi A4 DTM

NÜRBURG : August 16, 2009 - In spite of temperatures over 30 degrees at the Nürburgring, Audi driver Martin Tomczyk kept cool in the sixth DTM round of the season. After 48 laps, the German scored an undisputed lights-to-flag victory. For the 27-year old, it was the fourth DTM race victory of his career. “The car was just fantastic; I didn’t have one single problem this weekend. Moreover, it was a comfortable race for me with two Audis behind me. However, winning a race is always the most beautiful thing. I had been lacking the speed I had this weekend for a long time, but now, I am back”, said the winner after the race.

2009 DTM Nürburgring Winner : Martin Tomczyk - Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline - 2008 Red Bull Cola Audi A4 DTM

Second-placed Timo Scheider (Audi) was also happy with his result, because with eight points, the reigning DTM champion brought his total to 35 and took over the lead in the championship standings again. His closest rival is yet another Audi driver: Swede Mattias Ekström ended up third in the race in the Eifel region and is only one point down on Scheider in the battle for the title. Driving a 2008-spec Audi A4 DTM to fourth place, Markus Winkelhock impressed, as did British driver Jamie Green with his year-old AMG Mercedes C-Class in fifth position. “I was surprised being the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver at the finish. But I had a good speed, I was consistent and the tyres were good, too. These were the keys to success. Today, we have seen once again that competition in the DTM is very close. But with three victories for Mercedes-Benz from six races, we are looking ahead in a positive way”, said Green.

86,000 fans got to see an exciting DTM racing weekend at the Nürburgring, which has been turned into an event park. The undisputed highlight was the race on Sunday. In the phase right after the start, Ekström and Scheider, who had started third and fourth respectively, overtook Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler. In the heat of the action, Spengler and Ekström damaged their cars, but they were able to continue. Ekström lost one place and dropped back to third behind Scheider. In the course of the race, Canadian Spengler lost two more positions and ended up sixth behind Green.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher made up a total of eight positions during the race and again scored championship points for finishing seventh. In spite of a great recovery from 16th place on the grid, British Mercedes-Benz driver Gary Paffett, who finished eighth, lost his lead in the points’ standings. In the battle for the title, Paffett is now third behind Ekström and Scheider with 29 points.

The action continues in three weeks’ time: the seventh DTM round of the season will be taking place at Brands Hatch (GB) from September 4th till 6th.

Audi motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “I am very happy. Having four Audis in front really is a great team effort and a perfect racing weekend for Audi. A double lead in the championship is a great way to start the second half of the season. I am particularly happy that Martin Tomczyk is back. This is an impressive comeback. Markus Winkelhock has also driven a very good race.”

Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug: “Today’s race could have been better for us. Nevertheless, we are happy having scored fifth to ninth place. As a team, we weren’t strong enough today. We didn’t have the pace to beat Audi. That isn’t in the least down to our ten kilograms of extra weight. At the halfway point, it is now three to three: we have scored three wins and so has Audi. This means that everything is open. We are looking forward to Brands Hatch.”

2009 DTM Round 6 : Nürburgring - Race Result

Pos	No	Team-Driver	Machine-Yr	Time
1	6	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline - Martin Tomczyk (GER)	Red Bull Cola Audi A4 DTM - 08	1:10:19.195
2	1	Audi Sport Team Abt - Timo Scheider (GER)	GW:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM - 09	1:10:20.400
3	5	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline - Mattias Ekström (SWE)	Red Bull Audi A4 DTM - 09	1:10:22.164
4	12	Audi Sport Team Rosberg Markus Winkelhock (GER)	Playboy Audi A4 DTM - 08	1:10:35.224
5	7	Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes Jamie Green (GBR)	Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 08	1:10:42.544
6	9	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG - Bruno Spengler (CAN)	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Klasse -09	1:10:46.697
7	4	Trilux AMG Mercedes Ralf Schumacher (GER)	Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 09	1:10:47.291
8	10	Salzgitter AMG - Mercedes Gary Paffett (GBR)	Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 09	1:10:54.914
9	17	stern AMG Mercedes Mathias Lauda (AUT)	stern AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 08	1:11:01.343
10	11	Audi Sport Team Rosberg Mike Rockenfeller (GER)	S Line Audi A4 DTM - 08	1:11:25.427

Driver's Championship after 6 rounds
Pos.	Driver - Nationality	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total
1	Timo Scheider / GER	8	4	5	-	10	8	35
2	Mattias Ekström / SWE	2	6	6	6	8	6	34
3	Gary Paffett / GBR	-	10	4	10	4	1	29
4	Bruno Spengler / CAN	-	8	8	4	3	3	26
5	Martin Tomczyk / GER	-	-	-	5	6	10	21
6	Paul Di Resta / GBR	4	5	2	3	5	-	19
7	Jamie Green / GBR	1	3	10	-	-	4	18
8	Oliver Jarvis / GBR	6	-	-	8	-	-	14
9	Tom Kristensen / DEN	10	-	1	1	1	-	13
10	Markus Winkelhock / GER	5	-	-	-	-	5	10
11	Maro Engel / GER	3	1		2	2		8
12	Ralf Schumacher / GER	-	-	3	-	-	2	5
13	Mike Rockenfeller / GER	-	2	-	-	-	-	2

Team Championship after 6 rounds
Pos.	Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Total
1	Salzgitter / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	-	18	12	14	7	4	55
2	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	2	6	6	11	14	16	55
3	Audi Sport Team Abt	18	4	6	1	11	8	48
4	Trilux AMG Mercedes	4	5	5	3	5	2	24
5	TV Spielfim / Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes	1	3	10	-	-	4	18
6	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	6	-	-	8	-	-	14
7	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	5	2	-	-	-	5	12
8	GQ / stern AMG Mercedes	3	1	-	2	2	-	8