Hakkinen Scores First DTM Pole

Hakkinen was only eighth fastest in the qualifying session, but in the Super Pole session the Finn lapped Spa in 2:32.729 in his Mercedes to take the top spot in only his third DTM race.

Audi drivers Mattias Ekstrom and Christian Abt line-up behind the twice Formula One World Champion.

Hakkinen's charge was helped by several drivers having problems on their Super Pole laps. Jean Alesi and Jamie Green both went off at Stavelot, and Ekstrom went off on the Bus Stop on his warm up lap.

Laurent Aiello looked to be capable of challenging Hakkinen's time, however the session was red-flagged during his quick lap because had Tom Kristensen spun into the gravel on his slowing down lap. Aillio then went off at Les Coombe on his second attempt, handing Hakkinen the pole.

Championship leader Gary Paffett will start 10th after not participating in the Super Pole. The Englishman's Mercedes was too badly damaged after a crash in the first qualifying session.

DTM Qualifying Results - Spa-Francorchamps:

Super Pole

Pos  Driver           Team                            Time
 1.  Mika Hakkinen    Sport Edition AMG-Mercedes      2:32.729
 2.  Mattias Ekstrom  Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  2:33.292 + 0.563
 3.  Christian Abt    Audi Sport Team Joest Racing    2:33.991 + 1.262
 4.  Marcel Fassler   GMAC Team OPC                   2:34.121 + 1.392
 5.  Pierre Kaffer    Audi Sport Team Joest Racing    2:34.304 + 1.575
 6.  Tom Kristensen   Audi Sport Team Abt             2:34.870 + 2.141
 7.  Laurent Aiello   Team OPC                        2:35.844 + 3.115
 8.  Jean Alesi       AMG-Mercedes                    2:36.884 + 4.155
 9.  Jamie Green      Salzgitter AMG-Mercedes         2:41.078 + 8.349
10.  Gary Paffett     DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG        No Time


Qualifying

Pos  Driver          Team                            Time             Laps
 1. Laurent Aiello   Team OPC                        2:31.928          7
 2. Marcel Fassler   GMAC Team OPC                   2:32.450 + 0.522  7
 3. Tom Kristensen   Audi Sport Team Abt             2:32.630 + 0.702  8
 4. Mattias Ekstrom  Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  2:32.918 + 0.990  8
 5. Jamie Green      Salzgitter AMG-Mercedes         2:33.391 + 1.463  8
 6. Pierre Kaffer    Audi Sport Team Joest Racing    2:33.569 + 1.641  7
 7. Christian Abt    Audi Sport Team Joest Racing    2:33.901 + 1.973  9
 8. Mika Hakkinen    Sport Edition AMG-Mercedes      2:33.904 + 1.976  9
 9. Jean Alesi       AMG-Mercedes                    2:33.913 + 1.985  9
10. Gary Paffett     DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG        2:34.036 + 2.108  6
11. Stefan Mucke     Mucke Motorsport                2:34.293 + 2.365  9
12. Bernd Schneider  Vodafone AMG-Mercedes           2:34.364 + 2.436  9
13. Allan McNish     Audi Sport Team Abt             2:34.454 + 2.526  9
14. Martin Tomczyk   Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  2:34.788 + 2.860  8
15. A. Margaritis    Mucke Motorsport                2:34.976 + 3.048  9
16. H.H. Frentzen    Stern Team OPC                  2:35.215 + 3.287  8
17. Manuel Reuter    Team OPC                        2:35.476 + 3.548  7
18. Rinaldo Capello  Audi Sport Team Joest           2:36.366 + 4.438  9
19. Bruno Spengler   Junge Gebrauchte von Mercedes   2:37.118 + 5.190  8
20. Frank Stippler   Audi Sport Team Joest           2:37.164 + 5.236  9