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Scheider seals title with Hockenheim win |
Audi's Timo Scheider came through to win the DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring on Sunday and in the process take the 2008 drivers' title in the best possible way.
Scheider, who qualified third and who went into the race with a slender two-point advantage over Mercedes man Paul di Resta, grabbed the lead at the start and he eventually came out top by 3.026 seconds.
It was his third win of the season and means he ends the year with 75 points on the board, four more than di Resta. As the new DTM champion, Scheider is the successor to fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom, who claimed the coveted trophy last year.
"This is the most important day in my career in motor racing," said the 29-year-old. "I thank my family and my team.
"To my son, I would like to say: 'Loris, I love you'. For me, the time in the DTM has not always been easy. My family and my friends have though always believed in me. I want to thank them with this title."
Di Resta meanwhile had to settle for the runners-up spot in the race - and silver in the standings too.
He was side-by-side with Ekstrom at the first corner, but both ended the first lap scrapping for third, as Jamie Green moved up to second.
Ekstrom was however, later handed a drive-through penalty for his contact with di Resta on the opening lap and the Scot soon recovered to take P2, passing Green on lap 3.
"First of all, I want to congratulate Timo," di Resta reflected. "We have made a strong comeback during the season, but unfortunately, we just weren't strong enough. It was not nice that Mattias Ekström tried to push me off the track twice. But I am happy with second place as well. Moreover, I can be back again next year and do one better."
Green eventually took the final spot on the rostrum, less than half a second off di Resta: "I am quite happy with my results, but with two wins in one season, one also wants to battle for the title," he added.
"In today's race, Mattias Ekström has made the way clear as he blocked Paul di Resta and I just went through. Later on, I backed off, because I wanted to give Paul the best possible chance to attack Timo."
