Lausitz Race 2: Diefenbacher nets victory

Matsuura had managed to hold off Paffett, who had a good run on the leader, when the green flags flew, but in his eagerness to take the lead the Briton fell victim to the slick track surface and slid across the grass at the turn one s-bend. He rejoined fifth, but was hit with a stop/go penalty a few laps later for overtaking under the safety car. Paffett had struggled to get off the line when the pace car led the field away at the start, and had re-passed several cars to re-claim his position.

But Paffett was not the only driver in trouble under the safety car, first race runner-up Robert Doornbos spinning away his fifth place and eventually finishing way down the order in 23rd position.

Despite his best efforts, Matsuura was unable to resist the advances of third-placed Bernhard Auinger, and dropped another position on lap five. Jeffrey van Hooydonk, who had been penalised for a massive jump start in Saturday's race, followed Auinger through but briefly went off, allowing Matsuura to re-take the position.

For Matsuura, all this was in vain when he was forced into the pits with a puncture after he was hit by PREMA team-mate Cesar Campanico.

Van Hooydonk held third place to the finish ahead of Timo Glock and Campanico. Mercedes-engined Markus Winkelhock bagged the final point, only his eighth of a disappointing season.

Paffett, meanwhile, made his way up the order to finish just outside the top ten in 11th, and has seen his championship lead cut from 25 to a still comfortable 15 points. After the race, Paffett's team protested the decision to give him a stop/go, and the race director admitted that he had made a mistake. What happens next, however, is currently under discussion. Watch this space.


Frank Diefenbacher, Opel Team BSR, Dallara-Opel
Bernhard Auinger, Opel Team BSR, Dallara-Opel
Jeffrey van Hooydonk, Team Ghinzani, Dallara-Mugen
Timo Glock, Opel Team KMS, Dallara-Opel
Cesar Campanico, PREMA Powersport, Dallara-Opel
Markus Winkelhock, Mucke Motorsport, Dallara-Mercedes
Vitantonio Liuzzi, Opel Team BSR, Dallara-Opel
Kimmo Liimatainen, Team Rosberg, Dallara-Opel
Richard Lietz, Palfinger F3 Racing, Dallara-Opel
Marc Benz, Swiss Racing Team, Dallara-Opel

Championship: 1 Paffett, 54 pts; 2 Diefenbacher, 39 pts; 3 Auinger, 26 pts; 4 Glock, 19 pts; 5 Matsuura, 17 pts; 6 de Oliveira, 12 pts.