Schneider not surprised by victory

The reigning DTM champion took his first win of the year on Sunday, moving him up into a title-contending position.

But although the British race marked his first podium of the season, the 42-year-old believes that his first few races were better than the results have shown.

"It's about how you start the weekend, and in the race you also need luck to win," Schneider told autosport.com.

"At Hockenheim I was happy with the car, but it was not a perfect Sunday. I struggled with the balance of the car and the strategy.

"Then at Oschersleben I stalled at the start, but the car was brilliant. I finished sixth from the back of the field.

"Lausitz was then a big mess with the safety car, but the car was good and I could push."

The German believes that the key to the championship this season will be knowing when to go for victory and when to settle for points, as there are more cars that are capable of winning this year.

"The secret is getting points everywhere, even if it is only two or three," he added. "The champion this year will have less points than in the past, so even if you only get two points you can be satisfied, because maybe at the next race you can win again.

"The target must be trying to win the races when you can win, and getting points where you can only get points."

Schneider's victory means that he is now only 2.5 points behind championship leader Martin Tomczyk, yet he had started the weekend 8.5 adrift of previous leader Paul di Resta.