The excitement in the battle for the 2009 DTM title can hardly be topped. The four-heat shoot-out qualifying for the ninth season round of the DTM at Dijon in France started with a huge surprise. In changeable weather conditions, the reigning champion and points’ leader Timo Scheider (D/Audi) was already out in the first session and will only start from 16th place on Sunday at 14.00 h (ARD live from 13.45 h). A setback for 30-year old Scheider, who could successfully defend his title early by finishing first or second in the ninth season round. The beneficiary is Scheider’s fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekström. The Swede is second in the points’ standings, twelve points down, and, starting from fourth place, will do everything to get as close as possible to Scheider in the standings. The third remaining title candidate, Gary Paffett, had a topsy-turvy qualifying. In the first session, the Mercedes-Benz driver only just managed to make it into the second heat, in which he then went on to post the second fastest time. In the third heat, the 28-year old then only ended up eighth. However, also from eight place, Paffett can massively reduce the 14 point gap to Scheider.

Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler claimed pole position. “I am really happy with the way qualifying went. Driving with slicks on this track in the given weather conditions was difficult. There are only fast corners here and there is not a lot of space when you make a mistake. I think that a lot can happen in the race. In any case, I will give my best”, said the Franco-Canadian, who doesn’t play a role in the battle for the title anymore. For Spengler, it was his first pole position of the current season and the seventh of his DTM career. Scot Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) ended up second, 0.532 seconds down, ahead of Tom Kristensen from Denmark. “I think that Dijon really is a challenging race track and ending up in the top three is just great. I am very happy with my team that put me on the right tyres at the right moment. In the race, I will do my best for a good result. It’s racing and that’s what it’s all about“, said the Audi driver after qualifying.

In qualifying, Maro Engel (D/Mercedes-Benz) was the best-placed driver of a car of the 2008 model year in fifth place. Ralf Schumacher claimed his best grid position in the DTM. The 34-year old Mercedes-Benz driver will be starting into the penultimate round of the 2009 DTM season from sixth place. The race will be run over a distance of 52 laps, equaling 197.652 kilometres.

Source : DTM