Hockenheim DTM: Mattias Ekstrom puts Audi on top in final practice

The Abt Sportsline driver, who was on pole for the first race of 2012 at the same circuit, set the pace in 1m33.802s, his lap coming right at the end of the 90-minute session.

Ekstrom's lap, which was faster than even the F3 Euro Series runners went on Friday qualifying, was 0.130s up on the Phoenix-run A5 of Mike Rockenfeller.

Rosberg's Edoardo Mortara ensured that each of Audi's teams was represented in the top three with the third fastest time, while Dirk Werner was BMW's best-placed driver in fourth for Schnitzer Motorsport.

Timo Scheider (Abt) and Augusto Farfus (RBM BMW) were ahead of championship leader Gary Paffett, who was the best-placed Mercedes driver in seventh.

Martin Tomczyk, whose tenure as DTM champion will come to an end tomorrow, was eighth, with Adrien Tambay the meat in an RMG BMW sandwich as Joey Hand completed the top 10.

Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green, the two drivers that can deny Paffett the championship this weekend, were 12th and 14th fastest respectively.

Roberto Merhi's session began eventfully as a right-rear wheel detached itself from his Persson Mercedes shortly after he left the pits.

Miguel Molina also had a moment later on as he slid into the gravel at the Sachs Kurve, his Phoenix Audi coming to rest against the tyre wall.

Pos  Driver              Team/Car          Time       Gap
 1.  Mattias Ekstrom     Abt Audi          1m33.802s
 2.  Mike Rockenfeller   Phoenix Audi      1m33.932s  + 0.130s
 3.  Edoardo Mortara     Rosberg Audi      1m33.953s  + 0.151s
 4.  Dirk Werner         Schnitzer BMW     1m34.035s  + 0.233s
 5.  Timo Scheider       Abt Audi          1m34.077s  + 0.275s
 6.  Augusto Farfus      RBM BMW           1m34.105s  + 0.303s
 7.  Gary Paffett        HWA Mercedes      1m34.120s  + 0.318s
 8.  Martin Tomczyk      RMG BMW           1m34.169s  + 0.367s
 9.  Adrien Tambay       Abt Audi          1m34.237s  + 0.435s
10.  Joey Hand           RMG BMW           1m34.247s  + 0.445s
11.  Christian Vietoris  HWA Mercedes      1m34.259s  + 0.457s
12.  Bruno Spengler      Schnitzer BMW     1m34.286s  + 0.484s
13.  Filipe Albuquerque  Rosberg Audi      1m34.318s  + 0.516s
14.  Jamie Green         HWA Mercedes      1m34.462s  + 0.660s
15.  David Coulthard     Mucke Mercedes    1m34.482s  + 0.680s
16.  Ralf Schumacher     HWA Mercedes      1m34.598s  + 0.796s
17.  Miguel Molina       Phoenix Audi      1m34.607s  + 0.805s
18.  Rahel Frey          Abt Audi          1m34.666s  + 0.864s
19.  Andy Priaulx        RBM BMW           1m34.804s  + 1.002s
20.  Roberto Merhi       Persson Mercedes  1m35.077s  + 1.275s
21.  Robert Wickens      Mucke Mercedes    1m35.149s  + 1.347s
22.  Susie Wolff         Persson Mercedes  1m35.310s  + 1.508s