Berger impressed by DTM

"It's a dream come true to get to this level that we have here," said Mercedes Motorsport chief Norbert Haug. "We had 15 cars covered by a single second in qualifying which shows how competitive Mercedes and Opel are, and I congratulate Audi because this really is the first time they have run. They will be strong for sure. All in all it was a perfect weekend, and I hope the fans who watched it on TV enjoyed the show."

An estimated 56,000 specatators travelled to Hockenheim, and the spirit of the old DTM was clear with flags, fireworks and horns greeting the drivers and cars.

Notable visitors to Hockenheim were BMW motorsport boss Gerhard Berger, plus representatives from Ford and Schnitzer.

Berger said: The DTM looks very professional from the word go. One thing I especially like is that the fans have access to the paddock and get closer to the action. It is remarkable that so many spectators have come to the first round. That is a clear indication for the great potential of touring racing in Germany."

Haug commented that manufacturers considering joining had better not delay: "It is the plan to restrict the championship to 26 cars, and to do that we only need one or two manufacturers. We must learn from Formula 1."