Paffett wins for Mercedes at Brands Hatch

Gary Paffett has taken his second win of the season for Mercedes at Brands Hatch. The championship points leader finished ahead of the season’s only other race winner, BMW driver Bruno Spengler.

Paffett relinquished his lead after his first pit stop to fellow Mercedes driver Jamie Green, but reclaimed the position after Green made his stop. Paffett lost time in his second stop but was able to maintain the lead. Spenlger had moved from his qualifying position of third up to second by the first corner of the first lap after a slow start from Mercedes driver Christian Vietoris. Mike Rockenfeller was also able to make up a position to finish third for Audi, meaning that all three manufacturers were represented on the podium. Rockenfeller had closed up on the two leading cars as the race entered its dying laps but was not able to make a move.

After battling with Filipe Albuquerque for fourth throughout the opening half of the race, reigning champion Martin Tomczyk was able to take the position after a front right tyre issue on Albuquerque’s Audi. The Audi driver had slipped back to tenth by the end of the race.

Mattias Ekström finished in fifth for Audi, while Vietoris recovered from his poor start to finish the race in sixth. Audi driver Miguel Molina crossed the line in seventh. After starting in tenth Jamie Green was able to claim eighth for Mercedes ahead of the Audi of Edoardo Mortara.

Andy Priaulx was an early casualty of the race, forced to garage his BMW after contact in the early stages. Timo Scheider was another retirement, garaging his Audi at the race’s midpoint with an engine issue. Susie Wolff was the final retirement of the race after her Mercedes sustained damage.

The next DTM round will be held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on June 3rd.