Spengler takes victory at Norisring

The Canadian was able to maintain a small gap to reigning champion Bernd Schneider in the closing stages of the race, as he celebrated his second win in as many years at the street circuit.

Spengler had been fortunate that he had made his first pit stop just before the safety car came out, as some drivers were caught out and had to wait until the race restarted before making their first stop.

The safety car came out after Vanina Ickx was hit from behind by Mathias Lauda at the first corner on lap 22. Spengler was already in the pits, although a red light appeared at the pit exit just as he rejoined the track.

Hakkinen had been running second in the early stages, but his race was ruined by the new rule that forbids pit stops while the safety car is on track, and the Finn eventually finished ninth.

Schneider was able to close on Spengler during the second half of the race, but the German was unable to get any closer than one second, and he eventually settled for second, just ahead of Audi's Mattias Ekstrom.

Gary Paffett had a lonely run to fourth after Ekstrom passed him during the pit stops, while Tom Kristensen took fifth position on his return to the DTM.

Jamie Green closed in on the Dane in the last few laps, but he ran out of time and had to settle for his fourth sixth place finish of the season.

Alexandros Margaritis led for a long period during the middle of the race before his second pit stop, and the Greek driver's impressive pace enabled him to get up to eighth when he rejoined. He then snatched seventh from Alexandre Premat at the last corner on lap 60.

Pre-race championship leader Martin Tomczyk only lasted one lap in the race, as he damaged his car in a collision at Turn 1 with Paul di Resta and Susie Stoddart.

The incident caused di Resta to spin, and the 21-year-old's day got worse after that as he had not pitted before the safety car came out.

He spun again at the first corner while chasing Adam Carroll, and eventually finished 15th.

Classified:

Pos  Driver            Make       Time
 1.  Bruno Spengler    Mercedes   1:03:59.350
 2.  Bernd Schneider   Mercedes   +     1.803
 3.  Mattias Ekstrom   Audi       +     2.501
 4.  Gary Paffett      Mercedes   +     9.160
 5.  Tom Kristensen    Audi       +    13.750
 6.  Jamie Green       Mercedes   +    14.201
 7.  A.Margaritis      Mercedes   +    19.477
 8.  Alexandre Prémat  Audi       +    20.928
 9.  Mika Hakkinen     Mercedes   +    21.699
10.  Christian Abt     Audi       +    36.069
11.  Mathias Lauda     Mercedes   +    37.299
12.  Daniel La Rosa    Mercedes   +    45.537
13.  M.Rockenfeller    Audi       +    1 lap
14.  Timo Scheider     Audi       +    1 lap
15.  Paul Di Resta     Mercedes   +    1 lap
16.  Susie Stoddart    Mercedes   +    2 laps
17.  Adam Carroll      Audi       +    9 laps
18.  Lucas Luhr        Audi       +   15 Laps

Not Classified:

     Driver            Make         Laps
     Vanina Ickx       Audi          20
     Martin Tomczyk    Audi           1

Fastest lap: Spengler, 48.792 on lap 7