Gary Paffett (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished the 2009 DTM’s eighth round at Barcelona in fourth place and was the best C-Class driver. After 59 laps (175.643 kms), Bruno Spengler came home fifth whilst Paul Di Resta who had won at Brands Hatch two weeks ago ended up seventh. Following four Mercedes wins out of the previous seven races, the 2009 C-Class started in Barcelona with a 10-kilogram weight handicap.
After eighth out of 10 races, Paffett – winner of two races this year – is third in the overall ranking with 39 points. Spengler is fifth with 33 points. Today’s winner Scheider (Audi) leads with 53 points.
The team Salzgitter/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG of Paffett and Spengler is third in the team ranking with 72 points which is comparable to the Formula 1 Constructors‘ World Championship.
Maro Engel (GQ AMG Mercedes C-Class) finished in 10th place ahead of Mathias Lauda (stern AMG Mercedes C-Class); Ralf Schumacher (Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class) who had started from 20th and last position due to an engine change ended up 13th ahead of Jamie Green (Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Class). Susie Stoddart (TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class) came home 15th following a drive-through penalty.
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Pedro de la Rosa visited the DTM event at Barcelona on Sunday. He drove the Mercedes-Benz DTM race taxi and signed autographs for his Spanish fans. Afterwards, he watched the race from the pit wall.
Gary Paffett (2009 Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) fourth: “We had expected to fight for victory, but our speed today was just not good enough. A better result than fourth was not possible. It was a tough fight with Ekström towards the end, as his tyres were newer than mine and I was glad to hold him off.”
Bruno Spengler (2009 Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class) fifth: “I improved from eighth on the grid to fifth which is ok; more was not possible today. We had a good strategy and I had a free track most of the time; and I thank my team for this.”
Paul Di Resta (2009 AMG Mercedes C-Class) seventh: “I started well but Timo Scheider started even better, so I lost one place. We had problems with the balance of the car and therefore my speed was not quite as good as that of the two leaders and I eventually dropped to seventh place.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “Certainly not our best race; there was nothing to win for us here today. Although we are tied 4 to 4 on victories, the championship battle is over. Nevertheless we want to deliver two good races and to enthuse the spectators as we did today with the fight between fourth to sixth place. Then we want to be fast enough that this fight can take place between first to third place.”
Source : Mercedes-Benz