Hakkinen Takes Maiden DTM Win

Hakkinen has only ever won one Grand Prix at the Belgian track, in 2000, but it was considered one of his best Formula One wins ever.

In the race today, rival Mattias Ekstrom pulled from the start and pulled out a big lead with his Audi, but a slower first pitstop for the reigning Champion allowed Hakkinen to move ahead in his Mercedes.

But the Finn had more pace on new tyres and pulled out a comfortable lead. The win was assured when Ekstrom pitted for his second stop early. Hakkinen reacted and pitted on the next lap to ensure track position.

Tom Kristensen finished third, Jean Alesi finished fourth, and Opel scored their first points of the season with Marcel Fassler in fifth and Laurent Aiello in seventh.

Aiello's drive had not been without drama. He and Bernd Schneider were involved in a collision on the penultimate lap at Eau Rouge, putting Schneider into the tyre barriers at high speed. The car was heavily damaged in the accident but Schneider walked away unharmed.

Gary Paffett retained the Championship lead after securing one point with eighth place. Paffett had a drive-through penalty for spinning Pierre Kaffer round on the first lap.

Jamie Green and Allan McNish both separately retired at Les Combes with punctures.

2005 DTM Round 3 - Spa Francorchamps Results:

Pos  Driver           Team                            Time
 1.  Mika Hakkinen    Sport Edition AMG-Mercedes      54:34.544
 2.  Mattias Ekstrom  Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  +   4.258
 3.  Tom Kristensen   Audi Sport Team Abt             +   5.976
 4.  Jean Alesi       AMG-Mercedes                    +  10.088
 5.  Marcel Fassler   GMAC Team OPC                   +  27.801
 6.  Martin Tomczyk   Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline  +  28.001
 7.  Laurent Aiello   Team OPC                        +  33.516
 8.  Gary Paffett     DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG        +  40.407
 9.  A. Margaritis    Mucke Motorsport                +  50.255
10.  Christian Abt    Audi Sport Team Joest Racing    +  50.856
11.  Frank Stippler   Audi Sport Team Joest           +  51.402
12.  Stefan Mucke     Mucke Motorsport                +  55.593
13.  Rinaldo Capello  Audi Sport Team Joest           +  55.961
14.  Pierre Kaffer    Audi Sport Team Joest Racing    +  56.711
15.  H.H. Frentzen    Stern Team OPC                  +1:28.708
16.  Manuel Reuter    Team OPC                        +  1 lap
17.  Bernd Schneider  Vodafone AMG-Mercedes           +  2 laps
18.  Allan McNish     Audi Sport Team Abt             +  3 laps
19.  Jamie Green      Salzgitter AMG-Mercedes         +  4 laps
20.  Bruno Spengler   Junge Gebrauchte von Mercedes   + 12 laps