Maiden win for Spengler at Norisring

Spengler relied on a brave strategy gamble that paid dividends in the middle phase of the race. His choice of a long first run led to two shorter sprints, and it was in the first of these that he did the damage in the lap times to overhaul and pass nearest rival Bernd Schneider (AMG Mercedes).

The race could have had a different outcome, however, as longtime leader Jamie Green crashed out of the race in controversial circumstances. He was blatantly blocked attempting to lap Audi's Christian Abt, and then the pair made contact several times. Green had just got ahead of him when he ran wide and hit the wall at the Scholler Esses.

Although Green tried to carry on, suspension failure pitched him into the tyrewall a couple of laps later.

A late Safety Car also confused matters, but Spengler kept his cool - despite pressure from Schneider. Mika Hakkinen finished third, ahead of the top 2005-spec car home, that of Stefan Mucke (Mercedes).

Tom Kristensen led the battered Audi challenge, with much of the front of his car hanging off in the final laps after a scrape with Mucke. Brands Hatch winner Mattias Ekstrom finished sixth, having been fourth before the Safety Car, but he ran wide after the restart and lost valuable time.

The Safety Car was required when Daniel la Rosa lost control of his Mercedes trying to pass Heinz-Harald Frentzen's Audi. He slammed into Susie Stoddart's car, who appeared to be winded in the collision and had to be helped from her car.

CLASSIFIED:

Pos  Driver                 Car                Time
 1.  Bruno Spengler         Mercedes C-Klasse  1:00:25.693
 2.  Bernd Schneider        Mercedes C-Klasse  +     0.851 
 3.  Mika Hakkinen          Mercedes C-Klasse  +     7.708 
 4.  Stefan Mucke           Mercedes C-Klasse  +     9.074 
 5.  Tom Kristensen         Audi A4            +    11.068 
 6.  Mattias Ekstrom        Audi A4            +    11.453 
 7.  Timo Scheider          Audi A4            +    11.970 
 8.  Pierre Kaffer          Audi A4            +    14.006 
 9.  Frank Stippler         Audi A4            +    15.854 
10.  Christian Abt          Audi A4            +    16.085 
11.  Heinz-Harald Frentzen  Audi A4            +    16.668 
12.  Jeroen Bleekemolen     Audi A4            +    1 lap 
13.  Vanina Ickx            Audi A4            +    2 laps 
14.  Susie Stoddart         Mercedes C-Klasse  +   13 laps 
15.  Daniel la Rosa         Mercedes C-Klasse  +   13 laps 
16.  Martin Tomczyk         Audi A4            +   13 laps 

NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

     Driver                 Car                On Lap
     Alexandros Margaritis  Mercedes C-Klasse    40 
     Jamie Green            Mercedes C-Klasse    34 
     Mathias Lauda          Mercedes C-Klasse     5  
     Jean Alesi             Mercedes C-Klasse     1  

Fastest Lap: Bruno Spengler, 48.811 on lap 54