Bernd Schneider said: “I’m very happy because I extended my championship lead. My car ran well, but Peter didn’t make any mistake although I put a lot of pressure on him. However I was faster only in spots where it was impossible to pass. Both our pit stops were crucial for the outcome of the race.”
Alzen pitted during the safety car period while leading but had to let pass the whole field when he rejoined the race dropping to 16th position. He had improved to tenth when on lap 16 he was hit by Christian Abt (Abt-Audi TT-R) and spun. Alzen drove two more laps with a damaged car but retired in the pits thereafter. His team mate Marcel Fassler finished tenth after a stop-and-go penalty for passing under yellow flags.
Thomas Jager drove the Persson team’s 2000 CLK to a fourth-place finish after an exciting battle with Ekstrom. Christijan Albers in the second Original-Teile AMG Mercedes was pushed into the gravel by Michael Bartels (Opel Astra V8 Coupé) and finished 17th.
Patrick Huisman in the Eschmann-Stahl AMG Mercedes came home fifth while his team mate Bernd Maylander finished 14th in his DTM comeback after injury. Maylander had improved from 21st to ninth but received a stop-and-go penalty because at the start his team missed to release his car from the airjacks in time before the three-minute sign.
Darren Turner drove the Service 24h AMG Mercedes to a ninth place finish ahead of his team mate David Saelens.
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Director Norbert Haug commented: ''An exciting race with some too hard and not fair manoeuvres. Peter made an excellent job so that up to now all AMG/HWA drivers have won at least once this season. Compliments to Bernd, he remained cool and did not try to pass Peter by all means. This is the way you have to race if you want to become Champion.”
