Sachs'ring race 1: Paffett dominates

He made a storming start from pole position in his Team Rosberg-run Dallara-Opel and held a commanding lead as fellow front row starter, Kousuke Matsuura, made a hesitant getaway and dropped to fourth by the first corner. Opel Team BSR twins Bernhard Auinger and Vitantonio Luizzi held second and third places until a mistake under pressure from Auinger dropped him to fifth. That soon became fourth when Luizzi spun all on his own at the final corner soon after, promoting Matsuura back into second place.

Joao Paulo de Oliveira's Team Kolles Dallara-Opel made short work of Matsuura at the first turn on lap three and charged after Paffett, initially reducing his 5sec lead to a 3.9sec advantage. But Paffett had more in reserve, and pulled out a 4.8sec lead by the chequered flag.

Paffett takes the series lead but has been excluded from Sunday's fourth due to a fuel infringement. His nearest rival, Frank Diefenbacher, was taken out at the first corner after a crash between Norbert Siedler and Timo Glock.


Gary Paffett, Team Rosberg Dallara-Opel, 22 laps
Joao Paulo de Oliveira, Team Kolles Dallara-Opel, +4.8s
Kousuke Matsuura, Prema Powerteam Dallara-Opel, +11.9s
Berhard Auinger, BSR, Dallara-Opel +14.1s
Markus Winkelhock, Mucke Dallara-Mercedes, +15.4s
Robert Doornbos, Team Ghinzani Dallara-Mugen, +16.0s