Photo: Tamara Aller

Lucas Auer takes his third pole position of the year at Hockenheim

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Mercedes-AMG’s Lucas Auer secured his third pole position of the year for the opening race of the final DTM meeting of the year ahead of team-mate Gary Paffett, who was the first among the title contenders.

Of the others battling for the title, Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s René Rast was fourth and Mercedes-AMG’s Paul di Resta was eighth, although they will start from third and sixth due to other drivers’ penalties.

BMW Team RMG’s Marco Wittmann was unable to take part in the qualifying session due to the damage sustained by his M4 DTM in his second practice incident.

The heat was on from the early stages of the session, with Paffett rising to the top followed by di Resta, but Rast splitting both Mercedes-AMG with a lap time just one thousandth of a second slower than the Briton.

But BMW was determined to have its say, with Timo Glock and Joel Eriksson taking turns at the top of the time sheets before the halfway stage of the session.

The entire field headed back on track with seven minutes to go, with drivers only having enough time for a last flying lap.

Paffett rose to the top, with Rast immediately behind. But it would be Auer, on his final attempt, who would take the pole position with a lap time of 1:32.635, beating Paffett by 0.102 seconds.

Glock also improved to climb up to third, beating Rast, fourth 0.212 seconds off the pace, who won’t take any points from the qualifying session.

BMW Team RMG’s Augusto Farfus was fifth, followed by Audi Sport Team Abt Sportline’s Nico Müller and Team RBM’s Philipp Eng.

Di Resta struggled throughout the session, only able to qualify in eighth, ahead of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportline’s Robin Frijns and fellow Team HWA driver Edoardo Mortara, who was 0.314 seconds off the pace.

Both Glock and Eng received their third warnings of the season back at the Red Bull Ring, so they will have a five-position grid drop, which moves Rast up to third position and di Resta up to sixth on the grid.

The start of Race 1 is scheduled for 13:30 CEST.