Fifth title 'special' for Schneider

The 42-year-old holds the majority of records in the DTM, but since his last championship triumph in 2003 he has endured two of his worst years in the category.

"This is a great day in my life, my fifth championship is a really special one for me," said the Mercedes driver, who clinched the title at Le Mans on Sunday in the penultimate round of the season.

Schneider was also pleased to silence people that had been saying it was time for the older drivers to move aside in DTM, after Mattias Ekstrom and Gary Paffett won the title in 2004 and 2005.

"Some people said that I wasn't eager anymore, that I am getting to old," he said. "But age also means experience, and the people at Mercedes-Benz remained loyal to me."

Schneider's run to the title on Sunday didn't go entirely to plan, as a first lap off meant he had to fight his way back into the points.

"When I was pushed into the gravel on the first lap I thought that I wouldn't clinch the championship today," he said, "but there is a high after every low, and I always knew what I could do."

Schneider has now vowed to help teammate Bruno Spengler secure second place in the drivers' championship at Hockenheim on October 29, and protect Mercedes' position at the top of the teams' battle.