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Scheider plans to play safe for title

DTM championship leader Timo Scheider says he will not take risks at the start of Sunday's title-deciding race at Hockenheim, as he feels a clean opening lap is key to his chances of retaining his title

The reigning champion starts third on the grid, just behind his only challenger Gary Paffett. However, even if the Mercedes driver wins the race, Scheider only needs to finish fifth to take the championship.

"It would be stupid to risk too much," said the German. "I will try my best at the start, but the key to the race is to survive the first lap.

"After that, we will just need a proper strategy and two good pitstops. Then its up to me to be on the pace tomorrow, and to stay in the top five."

Scheider added that he was happy with his qualifying result, where he took third place behind Paffett and pole-sitter Mattias Ekstrom.

"My target for the weekend is to be as close as possible to Gary, and so far I think two hundredths of a second (in qualifying) is close enough.

"To be on the second row is important. We are in a position to fight with Gary, and weve showed good performance so far."

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