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Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) finished in second place in the DTM individual competition at Munich’s Olympic Stadium. The Norisring winner lost out to Mattias Ekström (Audi) in the final two races, run over six laps each time. Two Mercedes-Benz drivers progressed through to the semi-finals – Green and championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé). Paffett was joint third with Bruno Spengler (BMW).On the first day of racing on Saturday, Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), currently placed second in the championship, won the inaugural team competition. Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) were third. Positions 1 and 3 were the best possible result in accordance with the regulations which state that no single manufacturer may finish in P1 and 2. A total of 45,000 spectators attended the DTM race in Munich on Saturday and Sunday.
The Format: After the team competition on Saturday, all 22 DTM drivers took part in the individual competition on Sunday. Championship leader Gary Paffett and the top three drivers from each manufacturer in the DTM drivers' championship received a bye and did not race until the heat for the final sixteen (for Mercedes-Benz that was, apart from Paffett, Jamie Green, Christian Vietoris and David Coulthard). The preliminary heat and heats for the final sixteen were run over four laps. Starting with the quarter finals, the race distance was over six laps, which included a mandatory pit stop. The winner was determined in the final in two runs.
Preliminary Round: Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won his race against Timo Scheider (Audi), who raced in the finals of the team competition on Saturday, one and a half seconds ahead. Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won the next duel against Joey Hand (BMW) by three-tenths, but did not go through to the quarterfinals because of a subsequent one-second time penalty. Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) were eliminated in their respective races against Miguel Molina and Adrien Tambay (both Audi).
Round of 16: Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) beat Rahel Frey (Audi) in the first round by six seconds. In the second round, David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) got the jump on Molina with a 0.062-second lead. Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won against Audi driver Filipe Albuquerque by 1.2 seconds. Robert Wickens and Christian Vietoris were eliminated in their races against Martin Tomczyk and Augusto Farfus (both BMW).
Quarter-finals: The quarter-final races took place on a wet track after intermittent showers of rain. Paffett beat his Mercedes-Benz team-mate Coulthard in the first round by just eight-tenths of a second. Green won his quarter-final heat against Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) three-tenths ahead.
Semi-finals: Paffett lost to Mattias Ekström (Audi) in the first of the semi-finals and so finished joint third with Bruno Spengler (BMW) in the individual standings. Green secured a place in the final in a thrilling duel against Spengler.
Final: Rain began to fall again before the start of the final. Green won the first of two runs against Mattias Ekström (Audi) by just under two seconds. In the second run, however, the Swedish driver beat Green to win the individual competition.
Comments on Sunday:
Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Second:
“Too bad that we didn’t achieve an outright win in the final, but I'm satisfied with second place and winning the team competition on Saturday. My first final run was good, but conditions were tough on the second run and I lost some time during the pit stop into the bargain. It was an exciting race, and the crowds braved the rain and cheered us in the stands – they deserve a special mention.”
Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Third:
“Third place twice, in the team competition and then in the individual contest, plus the relay victory for Ralf and Jamie yesterday and Jamie's second place today – yes, it was a very successful weekend for Mercedes-Benz in Munich. Of course, I would really have loved to have won, but the track on my side was slightly wetter than on Mattias Ekström’s. But still, I’ll be going into the summer break and the next race at the Nürburgring with a real sense of achievement. Even after the rain, the track afforded a surprising amount of grip and we had plenty of speed – it was a whole lot of fun!”
David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Quarter-finals:
“The track was very slippery and conditions difficult after the rain. Gary was faster in our race and won. I hope the fans in the stands had a lot of fun, despite the bad weather. Well, anyway, I enjoyed myself in the cockpit.”
Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Round of 16:
“I felt very much at ease on the circuit in the Olympic Stadium. I proved that on Saturday by securing third place in the team competition with Gary. I got away to a good start again today, but unfortunately, didn’t manage to finish ahead on my track, since it was probably a little slower compared to the other.”
Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Round of 16:
“It's nice to have got this far, but unfortunately, the competition is now over for me. Martin Tomczyk had fresh tyres and mine were used, which made the difference. Overall, it’s been a very successful weekend for Mercedes-Benz, and that should give us some extra motivation for the second half of the season.”
Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“I'm a bit disappointed because I had planned to do more on this second day. The start is run over such a short distance and is particularly important, given that the field is so evenly matched. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be my day. Now I’ll be focusing on the forthcoming race at the Nürburgring.”
Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“Too bad, after winning the team event along with Jamie, I was hoping for more today in the individual competition. Unfortunately, my side of the track was still a little damp and I had the disadvantage of having run out of fresh tyres, because I was in the finals yesterday. Nevertheless, I’ve had a lot of fun this weekend racing here at the Munich Olympic Stadium and after Saturday’s successful outcome, I'm looking forward even more to the next race at the Nürburgring.”
Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“Unfortunately, I exited the individual competition after the first round. Although I would obviously have liked to have progressed further, I took the opportunity to enjoy the competition along with the fans in the Munich Olympic Stadium, and cheered on my team-mates. It was a very successful event as far as being a mere spectator goes.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:“A very successful weekend for Mercedes-Benz with the best possible result, first and third in the Manufacturers’ competition on Saturday and second and third place for Jamie Green and Gary Paffett in the Drivers’ competition on Sunday.
“Two of the four drivers in the semi-finals were Mercedes drivers and a win was definitely in the offing, since Jamie Green was the clear leader in the final with the fastest laps on both tracks and the best pit stops – the die was cast, however, when Jamie was slowed down by a stalled engine when coming back out after his second pit stop. So, congratulations to Mattias Ekström and Audi on a well-deserved victory in the final.
“The DTM race at the Munich Olympic Stadium will also be remembered for a terrific crowd who stuck it out in today’s rain and had plenty of fun and saw lots of thrilling action. Coverage by television, radio, print and electronic media has been very comprehensive and positive, which shows that the DTM in the stadium is well accepted.
“Many thanks to all the teams, of all the competitors who made this possible, to the ITR, the DMSB and partners of the Olympic Park. This great event is the result of their joint, cooperative efforts.”.jpg)
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The two Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), who is currently placed second in the championship, are the first winners in the DTM Show Event this weekend at Munich’s Olympic Stadium. Schumacher and Green defeated Audi drivers Adrien Tambay and Timo Scheider in the finals of this year’s inaugural team relay competition. Both C-Coupé driver teams reached the semi-finals of the competition, but the rule book dictated that they go head-to-head. Championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) won the race for third place against Dirk Werner and Joey Hand (both BMW).The DTM is running a Show Event in Munich's Olympic Stadium for the second year in succession. Bruno Spengler in the Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class was overall winner of last year’s inaugural event. The drivers will compete this weekend against each other on two 614-metre-long tracks that are mirror images of each other, thus allowing the fans to see which driver is running in the lead. New run-off areas on the outside of the track have been provided to increase safety. On Sunday (starting at about 14:15, live on ARD), drivers will compete against each other individually in knockout format in order to determine the overall winner.
The Format: On Saturday, all DTM drivers first take part in a qualifying session for that particular make of car. The starting order of the manufacturers is then reversed depending on the position held in the Manufacturers' Championship, which Mercedes-Benz currently leads after five of ten races. The top four drivers from each manufacturer go through to the quarter-finals. For each brand, there are two relay teams: the fastest and the fourth-fastest driver in qualifying make up Team 1, the second-and third-fastest drivers Team 2. In the quarter-finals, the teams go head to head over 2 x 3 laps. The winners of the first three matches are joined by the fastest losers in the semi-final which is then contested over 2 x 4 laps. In the finals, the top two teams race four times over three laps.
Qualifying: Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) secured the fastest time, 2:22.751 minutes, of the eight Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers. Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:23.579) was his relay team-mate. The second Mercedes-Benz relay team was made up of Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:22.755) and Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:23.084). Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:24.227), Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:25.058), David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:26.499) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé / 2:27.820) will not be racing again until Sunday in the individual competition.
Quarter-finals: In the second quarter-final, Green and Schumacher were up against the Audi pair of Mattias Ekström/Miguel Molina. The two Mercedes AMG C-Coupé drivers won after two times three laps with a three-second lead. Mercedes-Benz Team 1, composed of Vietoris and Paffett, was victorious in the last quarter-final against Joey Hand and Dirk Werner (both BMW) with a lead of 2.7 seconds.
Semi-finals: The two Mercedes-Benz teams went head-to-head in the semi-finals. In a thrilling race, Schumacher and Green won by nine-tenths of a second against Paffett and Vietoris and so progressed on to the final.
Third Place: Vietoris and Paffett have won the race for third place against the BMW team of Joey Hand/Dirk Werner with a lead of seven-tenths of a second.
Final: After twelve heats and three rounds, Schumacher and Green beat Audi’s Adrien Tambay and Timo Scheider in a thrilling final.
Comments on Saturday:
Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Winner:
“It was a perfect day for us. The starts went particularly well for me today and the race at the stadium was a lot of fun. The organisers have done an excellent job with the new circuit layout. It is clearly an improvement on last year – the grip level is very good and I think the new relay competition is a great idea.”
Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Winner:
“It was really fun today. After my first victory of the season in the last points-scoring event at the Norisring in Nuremberg, my win in the relay competition here in Munich's Olympic Stadium is the perfect follow-up. Ralf and I made a good Mercedes AMG team – I hope we can continue in the same way tomorrow in the individual timed competition.”
Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé), Third:
“It was a great feeling to race here under the canopy of Munich's Olympic Stadium and win one of the final showdowns. Of course, I would have liked to be in the final itself and bag a win, but unfortunately, it was not to be. I feel very much at ease on this track where it is particularly important to properly assess every risk. Tomorrow, I’ll be back on the offensive in the individual timed competition.”
Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Third:
“Third place is a decent result, although my aim is always to be first, of course. We were on excellent form today, even though driving on this track is completely different to a normal circuit – well actually, you need a very different technique. The day was great fun and I'm looking forward to Sunday’s individual timed competition.”
Robert Wickens (stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“Driving in Munich's Olympic Stadium is a new and exciting experience for me. You sit waiting on the start/finish line and it feels like an eternity until the race finally gets underway, then the adrenaline starts pumping and the tension rises. My run was great fun, even though my time was not good enough to go through to the next round. I’ll do my level best tomorrow, however, to progress further.”
Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“The preliminary round was disappointing for me. My start was not brilliant, but that was not the main reason for retiring, no, it was down to an unfortunate lack of traction. Whilst no championship points are awarded for the show event in Munich, I naturally still wanted to put on a good show for the fans and post a fair few number of laps. Fortunately, I can have another shot at it tomorrow.”
David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“The atmosphere in Munich’s Olympic Stadium is unique. Of course, I would like to have been in the relay phase of the competition, but unfortunately my time was not good enough to progress through to the next round. It’s disappointing, but tomorrow is another day and I’ve got another chance.”
Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Preliminary Round:
“The start at the Olympic Stadium is completely different compared to a normal race track, since tyres and brakes are relatively cold, but I got away quite well, nevertheless. Unfortunately, I could not maintain my level of performance until the end of the round, so my time was not good enough to make the Top Four. I hope that I can do more tomorrow.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
“The perfect result for our four drivers and their HWA team. Gerhard Ungar and his team of engineers and mechanics prepared our Mercedes AMG C-Coupés brilliantly for the challenges presented by this prestigious race in the stadium of Munich’s Olympic Park – just a stone’s throw from the factory gates of our competitors, BMW.
“Ralf Schumacher and Jamie Green were simply the best, winning Saturday’s team competition. Championship leader Gary Paffett and Christian Vietoris secured third place for Mercedes, the best possible result that a manufacturer can achieve in this competition because, according to the regulations, a single manufacturer cannot compete for first and second place, so that all three brands have a chance of winning for as long as possible. Timo Scheider and Adrien Tambay lost out in the finals by just less than three tenths of a second in their Audi. The best BMW pairing of Dirk Werner and Joey Hand finished fourth. Four positions and three different manufacturers, which shows how close and how hard-fought the racing in the stadium is, so it’s not really what you would call a ‘show’ event. Here, there is the cut and thrust of real competition, which is just as tough as at the Norisring and the Nürburgring.
“Congratulations to Ralf Schumacher and Jamie Green on their convincing win – it’s obvious, walls are all that’s needed and Ralf is terrifically fast and almost unbeatable – remember the Norisring 14 days ago, when he was in the lead, only to be slowed down by a very rare technical problem.
“Gary Paffett and Christian Vietoris made our dream come true for Mercedes and HWA by achieving results that are just perfect: All four HWA drivers achieved the best four places possible.
“This gives an added incentive for tomorrow, and I think we are in a good position for the individual competition, and yet we do not underestimate our rivals.
“Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard for this competition in Munich’s Olympic Park, to the ITR and DMSB, and to the operators of the Olympic Park, who work so hard and are really innovative in their thinking. This DTM competition fits well with a city that wants to be competitive.”* Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH * Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.
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• Second visit to Munich’s Olympic Stadium for the DTM; no championship points at stake; last year’s debut event won by Bruno Spengler in the AMG Mercedes C-Class
• New layout, with drivers competing against each other on two synchronously configured 614-metre tracks; safety enhanced by new run-off areas
• New relay format on Saturday, with the three manufacturers entering teams consisting of two drivers; Sunday’s competition pits all 22 drivers against each other in head-to-head races
• Half-time in the DTM – after five of the ten weekends on which points are at stake, Mercedes-Benz leads in all three championships: drivers’, team and constructors’Comments on the DTM Show Event in Munich:
Gary Paffett (31, England, THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- leads the DTM drivers’ standings after five races, having scored 95 points
- has stood on the podium four times and had one P4 finish in the five races so far
“The first half of the season has been excellent from my perspective: two wins, two more podiums and an exhilarating chase from the back of the field to finish fourth at the Norisring. What a start to the season! We’re aiming to reward the fans in Munich for their great support this season and to lay on a feast of motor racing in the Olympic Stadium.”
Jamie Green (30, England, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- currently second in the DTM drivers’ championship on 69 points
- won for the fourth time at the Norisring in Nuremberg
“After my fourth victory at the Norisring, I’m looking forward even more to the DTM Show Event at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The weekend is certainly going to be very interesting, for us drivers as well as for all the spectators packing the grandstands. As a driver, you obviously want to win every competition you enter, but the important thing this weekend is to put on a great show for the fans. Last year, I proved I can be fast in that stadium without bouncing off the walls. I’m aiming for a repeat performance this year.”
Christian Vietoris (23, Germany, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé):
- finished on the podium in the 2011 Munich premiere
- leads the team standings together with THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG team-mate Gary Paffett
“It’s hard to believe that we already have the first half of the 2012 DTM season behind us. After five hard-fought race weekends, the show event in Munich’s Olympic Stadium is an excellent opportunity to focus on the fun element and to stage a real spectacular by way of thanks to the fans for turning out in such numbers. Anyway, I’ll be doing my very best to deliver two days of first-class motor racing entertainment. After my podium finish last year, maybe I’ll get even further than the semi-final.”
Ralf Schumacher (37, Germany, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- got a first glimpse of the new tarmac at the stadium with his Mercedes AMG C-Coupé a full month before the DTM Show Event
- occupies joint second spot in the team standings with Mercedes AMG team-mate Jamie Green
“The new configuration at the Olympic Stadium promises fans in every seating area even more excitement and unobstructed vision – I’m sure of that after seeing preparations being made at the venue. Whilst I was there, I was also able to try out the new asphalt that has been laid at the stadium – it now affords even more grip than last year. I had a lot of fun competing in the exciting knock-out format last year, and I’m hoping to progress a bit further this time. But the most important thing is that the audience is royally entertained and enjoys the DTM experience at the Olympic Stadium.”
David Coulthard (41, Scotland, DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- P5 finish at the Norisring his best DTM result to date
- experienced in stadium conditions, having competed six times in the Race of Champions
“The DTM debut at the Olympic Stadium in Munich last year was a great event, and I’m looking forward to driving under that big canopy again. What sets the DTM apart from other series is the close bond with the fans, and there is no other venue on the calendar where the spectators get quite as close to the drivers and cars. I think this event is a wonderful way of giving something back to our supporters. I’ve already accumulated some experience of driving in stadiums from the Race of Champions over the years, so may be that will come in handy here. After getting my best DTM result so far in Nuremberg, I’m all fired up for the second half of the season.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “Even though championship points will not be awarded, Munich is not a wooden spoon race. I do not know of any driver who will not want to prove that he is the best in the stadium, and the contest in Munich’s Olympic Stadium is a premium event for premium car manufacturers, namely Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
“Last year’s premiere was a complete success and this year’s spectacle will be even better and much more spectator friendly; the spectator’s view of the action has been improved, and the new track now features two sections of equal length where competing drivers go head-to-head, which will be simply terrific.
“For us, Munich is a DTM race that will be contested by all parties concerned with the same vigour as the five previous events, and, after securing three wins in the first five DTM races, it is our intention to make sure that the three-pointed star shines in Munich’s stadium just as in the five championship races contested so far.”.jpg)
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