DTM Hockenheim: Audi's Mortara wins first race at Hockenheim

Mortara took the lead into Turn 1 from Audi team-mate Nico Muller and he controlled the race from there, with Mercedes' Robert Wickens coming home second.

The Canadian gave chase but he couldn't close the gap quickly enough, and Mortara went on to win his fourth DTM race.

Pole-sitter Muller finished third for his first DTM podium, while Paul di Resta made a late move on his Mercedes team-mate Christian Vietoris to take fourth.

At the start, Mortara flew off the line and took the lead into Turn 1, leaving Muller to fend off Wickens and Jamie Green.

Wickens eventually forced his way past Muller and, although he marginally closed up on Mortara, he was too far back to make a move.

It wasn't all good news for Audi though, as Green and Mike Rockenfeller hit problems in the opening laps, leaving Audi with just two of the top eight finishers after it had four of the top five in qualifying.

Green, starting fourth, was forced off the track on the opening lap as he tried go round the outside of Wickens and he re-joined 16th.

But contact in a congested midfield cost him dearly as he was handed a drive-through penalty for causing a collision and he ultimately finished 15th.

Meanwhile, Rockenfeller was forced out of the race with a suspected suspension problem in his 100th DTM race.

Further back, an early collision ended Timo Glock and Daniel Juncadella's race as the Spaniard attempted a bold move into the final stadium section.

But he was too far back to realistically make it stick and he took Glock into the gravel trap.

Bruno Spengler was the highest BMW finisher in sixth ahead of Antonio Felix Da Costa, who was involved in a terrific fight with Gary Paffett and Mattias Ekstrom.

Ekstrom was the third highest Audi in ninth, while Paffett's battered Mercedes came home 11th behind Miguel Molina.

RESULT