Photo: DTM Media

Mattias Ekström claims first pole of DTM 2012

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Mattias Ekström claimed the first pole position of the new DTM regulations for Audi in the season opener qualifying session at Hockenheim. The Swede lapped the track in 1:34.680, about two tenths faster than Jamie Green for Mercedes. Dirk Werner made it three manufacturers in the top three with Audi-Mercedes-BMW for the grid of the first race.

Werner impressed the crowds by being right on pace with the BMW but made a mistake in the Q4 session which saw him being 1.5 seconds from Ekström.

Edoardo Mortara was fourth fastest, also making a mistake in Q4 and pitted before completing his lap. Mike Rockenfeller and Gary Paffett claimed positions five to six, with DTM newcomer and long-time BMW driver Andy Priaulx as second best BMW driver in seventh. Timo Scheider and Bruno Spengler, who topped the final practice session, were eighth and ninth respectively.

Martin Tomczyk was final driver in to the top ten, with Ralf Schumacher in eleventh. While all three manufacturers were represented in the top three, some big names were struggling with David Coulthard in 18th and Augusto Farfus Jr. in 19th.