Ralf Schumacher takes first DTM pole

The ex-grand prix driver shone throughout the session. He topped the times in Q1, was third in Q2, and then just made it into the Q4 pole position shootout with the fourth fastest time.

That meant he ran first of the four drivers gunning for pole, but Jamie Green, Martin Tomczyk, and championship leader Bruno Spengler all failed to beat his benchmark.

Spengler - a two-time Norisring winner - was on course to beat Schumacher's time after the first two sectors of the 1.4-mile lap, but he locked a wheel at the final corner, and had to settle for second on the grid.

Green will bid to win a third straight Norisring race from third, while Tomczyk was the slowest of the Q4 runners after brushing the wall at the exit of the chicane. He will lead the Audi charge from fourth.

Behind him, Audi's Mattias Ekstrom and Oliver Jarvis completed the top six, while the fourth row is an all-Mercedes affair with Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta.

Reigning champion Timo Scheider had another difficult Saturday as he was knocked out in Q2. The German will start 10th for Audi, just behind the 2008-spec Mercedes of Maro Engel.

Pos  Driver             Car       Time     Session
 1.  Ralf Schumacher    Mercedes  48.721s  Q4
 2.  Bruno Spengler     Mercedes  48.790s  Q4
 3.  Jamie Green        Mercedes  48.950s  Q4
 4.  Martin Tomczyk     Audi      48.970s  Q4
 5.  Mattias Ekstrom    Audi      48.525s  Q3
 6.  Oliver Jarvis      Audi      48.586s  Q3
 7.  Gary Paffett       Mercedes  48.588s  Q3
 8.  Paul di Resta      Mercedes  48.671s  Q3
 9.  Maro Engel         Mercedes  48.580s  Q2
10.  Timo Scheider      Audi      48.640s  Q2
11.  Alexandre Premat   Audi      48.650s  Q2
12.  Markus Winkelhock  Audi      48.674s  Q2
13.  David Coulthard    Mercedes  48.708s  Q2
14.  Franky Cheng       Mercedes  48.848s  Q2
15.  Katherine Legge    Audi      48.782s  Q1
16.  Mike Rockenfeller  Audi      48.832s  Q1
17.  Susie Stoddart     Mercedes  48.863s  Q1
18.  Miguel Molina      Audi      48.915s  Q1