Green leads Mercedes fight-back
Jamie Green took advantage of a jump start from pole sitter Timo Scheider to control the DTM race at Mugello and take Mercedes' first win of the season
The British driver controlled the race throughout after taking the lead into Turn 1, while behind him Paul di Resta completed a 1-2 for the HWA team. The Scot was catching his teammate during the middle part of the race, but he was never close enough to make a real challenge for the lead.
Tom Kristensen took third after hassling di Resta in the early stages, but the Audi driver lost touch with the leaders when he spent a lap behind Susie Stoddart after making a pistop.
The Dane nearly fell behind Bernd Schneider at one point, with the pair exiting the pits almost alongside each other before Kristensen was able to ease away in the laps that followed.
Oliver Jarvis was the top driver in a one-year-old car in only his third DTM race, and the British driver took advantage of a good opening lap to get himself higher up the order before finishing a solid fifth.
Several drivers lost out at the first corner though, as Mike Rockenfeller was involved in a tangle with Martin Tomczyk and Bruno Spengler, which dropped all three out of contention for points.
Mattias Ekstrom spent the second half of the race fending off a 2007-spec Audi as he had another difficult afternoon, but the reigning champion narrowly held on for sixth ahead of Markus Winkelhock, while Alexandre Premat completed the points scorers.
Scheider fought back from his drive through penalty to take 10th behind Spengler, and the German driver now leads the standings by just one point from Green.
Pos Driver Car Gap
1. Jamie Green Mercedes 59:39.961
2. Paul di Resta Mercedes +3.166
3. Tom Kristensen Audi +5.313
4. Bernd Schneider Mercedes +9.410
5. Oliver Jarvis Audi +15.037
6. Mattias Ekstrom Audi +15.798
7. Markus Winkelhock Audi +16.989
8. Alexandre Premat Audi +22.656
9. Bruno Spengler Mercedes +23.260
10. Timo Scheider Audi +23.774
11. Maro Engel Mercedes +35.741
12. Gary Paffett Mercedes +41.366
13. Christijan Albers Audi +45.259
14. Mike Rockenfeller Audi +55.234
15. Susie Stoddart Mercedes +1:11.329
16. Mathias Lauda Mercedes +1:12.233
17. Martin Tomczyk Audi +1:13.944
18. Katherine Legge Audi +1:16.587
Not classified
Driver Car Laps
Ralf Schumacher Mercedes 2 laps
Fastest lap Green, 1:45.273
Scheider surprised by margin of pole
Di Resta clinches maiden DTM pole
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