However, any hopes that di Resta could challenge for the race win were ruined when he stalled following his first pit-stop and although it brought him out just behind Spengler again, it seemed a late pit strategy was not going to pay dividends today.

It was here that Ekstrom and Tomczyk's strategy of pitting earlier than their rivals was beginning to pay off, the duo making the most of Spengler and di Resta's fading pace to vault into first and second with just two laps to go when the Scot was forced to make his second mandatory pit stop agonisingly close to the chequered flag.

Instead, Ekstrom was there to cross the line first in a race he led just two of the shortened 27 lap distance, with team-mate Tomczyk following him closely over the finish line for a surprise Audi 1-2.

Spengler was a rather frustrated third in a race he led the majority of, although even he had to battle for that position on the final lap when he and Timo Scheider came together, the latter dropping to tenth and being unable to complete what would have been an all Audi podium.

As such, Spengler was later penalised for his part in the clash and recieved a 50-second time penalty, dropping him to 14th [see separate story].

Third was thus inherited by Daniel La Rosa, the German producing his finest result yet as he embarks on his second season in the DTM, while Alex Margaritis, di Resta, Green, reigning champion Bernd Schneider and Gary Paffett rounded out the points for the three-pointed star.