Jean Alesi recorded his second DTM career win at the scene of his first -
Donington Park in the UK - dominating the overseas event despite intense pressure from Mercedes-Benz stable-mate Bernd Schneider.
The Frenchman took the lead at the start and maintained it through 36 laps of racing and two pit-stops, despite an unrelenting assault from Schneider, whose solid result allowed him to regain the points lead from young upstart Christijan Albers. Mattias Ekström was third for Audi, despite a slow start forcing him to fight his way through from only fifth on the opening lap.
Mercedes also finished fourth and fifth, courtesy of Marcel Fässler and Albers, with Peter Dumbreck again the top Opel in sixth. The Scot's finish means he has now completed all six races run so far as the highest Astra driver.
Schneider started from his 22nd career pole position, but Alesi, who had qualified second, accelerated even faster as the lights went green and led the field into the first corner. Behind them, Fässler improved from fifth to third by squeezing through between the Abt-Audi TT-Rs of Ekström and Laurent Aiello, whilst Albers passed the two Abt-Audis later in the first lap.
Schneider and Fässler followed Alesi closely through the opening stages and, after the first compulsory pit-stops on lap seven - for Alesi and Schneider - and lap eight - for Fässler and Albers - the order of the leading three drivers remained the same, with Albers crucially dropping to fifth behind the recovering Ekström.
On lap 21, Alesi and Schneider again pitted simultaneously, and again Alesi defended his lead ahead of the German. Fässler, who stopped one lap later, was passed by Ekström at the pit-lane exit, as the young Swede continued to make up ground after his poor start.
Alesi resisted all the Schneider could throw at him approaching the closing stages, eventually winning by 1.4secs, despite Schneider posting the fastest lap of the race - his fifth in six races.
