2011 DTM : Round 3 - Tomczyk wins from Schumacher at Red Bull Ring ~ Auto Car

2011 DTM Round 3 Spielberg winner : Martin Tomczyk (GER), No.14 Audi Sport Team Phoenix - Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM

SPIELBERG, Austria : June 5, 2011 - A fantastic backdrop for the third round of the DTM at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. At the re-opened circuit, 48,000 fans witnessed a DTM weekend with everything that makes the most popular international touring car series stand out. On Sunday afternoon, they hailed the victory by Audi driver Martin Tomczyk. The 29-year old, who is driving a 2008-spec Audi A4 DTM, was presented with the winner’s trophy for the fifth time in his DTM career. “This success is a beautiful one.

2011 DTM Round 3 Spielberg winner : Martin Tomczyk (GER), No.14 Audi Sport Team Phoenix - Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM

I am particularly happy that I have been able to score the maiden DTM race win for the Audi Sport Team Phoenix. Today, the good start and the first fast laps were the basis for my victory. Today, we have deserved a party”, said the buoyant winner after driving an error-free race at the fastest DTM circuit of the season.

Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz) was equally happy after the race that covered 38 laps and 164.388 kilometres. With second place, the Salzburg resident achieved his best DTM race result to date. The ex-Formula 1 driver said after the race: “Today is a great day, even if it just wasn’t enough for victory. Throughout the weekend, the times of all the drivers were incredibly close. Fighting each other on the track in such a fair way was fun.” 0.462 seconds down, Schumacher only just missed out on his maiden DTM race win.

British driver Oliver Jarvis (Audi) finished third in the DTM race in Styria. After an impressive recovery, Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler finished fourth. The Canadian had started from twelfth position. Thus, Spengler defends his lead in the drivers’ standings. Today’s race winner Tomczyk is second, only three points down. Schumacher is currently ranked fourth behind Mike Rockenfeller (Audi).

Rockenfeller, who scored his maiden DTM victory at Zandvoort, started from fifth place and wasn’t able to improve his position during the race. In sixth to eighth place, Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz), Timo Scheider (Audi) and Mercedes-Benz driver Gary Paffett still scored points for the championship. Italian Edoardo Mortara, who occupied fourth place in qualifying with his Audi A4 DTM, spun after a collision on the opening lap of the race and dropped back to the end of the field. Mortara came home 16th.

The fourth DTM race weekend of the season takes place at the Lausitzring from June 17th till 19th.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (head of motorsport Audi): “I think that we have already seen in the first two races that Martin is coping very well and is in a good mood. I am really happy for him. No matter if in the wet or in the dry, Martin was always the fastest driver here. It was a very exciting race. It is still a little bit early to talk about the title, but the performance is there. It is not the first time that a year-old car wins, but it is good to see how close the cars are together. Now, we have even more competition. That is great for the spectators, too.”

Norbert Haug (head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz): “Today, Ralf has been driving in a great way. The start was decisive. He has made up one place and Bruno has moved up from twelfth to fourth. It was clear to see that we are a strong team today and we were capable of winning. It was a great race. Before the race, I said to Bruno: ‘we will make it onto the podium’, and we had almost succeeded.”

2011 DTM - Round 3 Race result