DTM finale to start under safety car

The decision was taken following lengthy meetings between teams, drivers and senior DTM figures after Saturday's chaotic qualifying session.

The cars will spend the first three laps of the race behind the safety car. Once the field is released, the race will be under yellow flag conditions for the first three corners.

Former DTM champion Gary Paffett said the drivers were pleased with the decision.

"I think it's a very good idea," he said. "We didn't want to go into that first corner at racing speeds and lose half the cars on the first lap.

"Hopefully this way we can have a sensible start and then get on with the racing."

The maximum time limit for the race has also been reduced from one hour and 15 minutes to just one hour, due to concerns about fading light.

Only 17 of the 18 cars will take the start, as Audi rookie Darryl O'Young's badly car was too damaged in qualifying to be repaired.