Hockenheim: Diefenbacher wins; Paffett second

Diefenbacher made a textbook start from pole to lead at the first turn, but Paffett's lightning getaway from fifth on the grid saw him latch on to the tail of the race leader. The plucky Brit stuck with the German for the opening three laps, but Diefenbacher slowly extended his lead and took the cheqeuered flag 6.2secs ahead of the former McLaren Autosport BRDC award winner.

"Because of the rain, I started like I was pulling away from a set of traffic lights in my road car," quipped Paffett. "In the first three or four laps it was quite easy to stay with Diefenbacher, in fact I think I was slightly quicker. We had a dry set-up and new wets, though, and I think they just got too hot and I started to slide around. After he pulled a gap I just concentrated on not letting anyone catch up with me.

"It's a great start to the season, and a good answer for all those people who said I was wrong to come to Germany to race."

Stefan Mucke (ADAC Dallara-Opel) looked solid in third place until his tyres went off, causing dire handling characteristics. He was passed by Tony Schmidt (GM Dallara-Toyota), Nicolas Stelandre (JB Dallara-Opel), Toshihiro Kaneishi (BSR Dallara-Opel) and Tom van Bavel (JB Dallara-Opel) before spinning down to 16th place.

Schmidt cruised to third, ahead of Stelandre, Kaneishi and van Bavel, the latter having survived a trip through the Sachs Kurve gravel early on.

Another to visit the kitty litter was Andrew Kirkaldy in his Swiss Racing Team Dallara-Opel, who dropped from 12th to 17th. He finished the race with his front wing disintegrating.

The second round is tomorrow (Sunday) at 11.45 local time (10.45 BST). Diefenbacher is on pole, Paffett starts seventh.


1 Frank Diefenbacher, BSR Dallara F301-Opel, 27 laps
2 Gary Paffett, Rosberg Dallara F301-Renault, +6.2s
3 Tony Schmidt, GM Motorsport Dallara F301-Toyota, +14.4s
4 Nicolas Stelandre, JB Motorsport, Dallara F399-Opel, +18.7s
5 Toshihiro Kaneishi, BSR Dallara F301-Opel, +20.9s
6 Tom van Bavel, JB Motorsport, Dallara F399-Opel, +21.7s
7 Markus Winkelhock, ADDC Dallara F300-Opel, +31.3s
8 Laurent Delahaye, Rosberg Dallara F301-Renault, +33.7s
9 Pierre Kaffer, Team Kolles Dallara F301-Mugen, +35.6s
10 Bjorn Wirdheim, Prema Dallara F301-Opel, +36.4s