Report and Photographs: Willem J. Staat

Dario Franchitti’s cousin Paul Di Resta has kept the DTM title charge between himself and his Mercedes Benz teammates Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett completely open by winning at Oschersleben last weekend. In the last four races Di Resta scored two podiums and two wins. Canadian Bruno Spengler finished 2nd and still leads the championship with 60 points, followed by Di Resta with 53. Audi-driver Mattias Ekström finished third but only has a mathematical chance to win the title. “We were strong but it seemed we were unable to take part in this battle. Theoretically it is still open but it is in the hands of one manufacturer. Reigning champion Timo Scheider had a lost shot of staying in touch with the leaders with only 15 laps to go. He finished in a disappointing 11th position. A puncture destroyed all his chances of repeating it this season. Gary Paffett impressively drove from 10th to 4th and had an entertaining afternoon by dicing with Martin Tomczyk and Mattias Ekström. Mike Rockenfeller who qualified his Audi A4 DTM sensationally in 3rd postion finally ended in 5th position ahead of Alexandre Premat,Jamie Green and Martin Tomczyk.

For ART Grand Prix it was a good weekend. The French Team won both races with Valtteri Bottas and Jim Pla. Despite there are only 14 competitors during the whole season, the second race was a thriller. Raceleader Carlos Munoz went wide in the final stages and Pla surprisingly won his first ever F3 race. In the First Race Italian Edoardo Mortara clinched the F3 Euroseries title by finishing 6th in the first race with his Signature entered Dallara Volkswagen. For Volkswagen it was the first title in the F3 Euroseries since Tom Kristensen in the German F3 Championship in 1991 with a Ralt RT35 Volkswagen.

The German Porsche Cup Race was taken by Briton Nick Tandy. In the spectacular VW Scirocco R-Cup Guest Driver René Rast won both races, though ineglible for points. David Brabham finished 3rd overall in the second race and won twice the “Legends” – section. He was one of the most spectacular drivers whole weekend. 61.000 spectators attended the meeting.