Mercedes have triumphed in four of the nine races to be held at Oschersleben to-date, twice as many as Audi. Both 2007 series runner-up Bruno Spengler and rookie
Ralf Schumacher – who knows the circuit from pre-season testing – stressed the importance of qualifying well up the grid on such a tight and twisty track, whilst leading lady Susie Stoddart is simply aiming to put her Hockenheim nightmare behind her with a more trouble-free weekend this time around.
“I had expected a more successful start to the season,” the former
McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year finalist reflected of the myriad technical woes that dogged her throughout the Hockenheim meeting. “There's only one cure – we must do better in Oschersleben.”
“All drivers and teams tested intensively at Oschersleben in early April,” added Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President Norbert Haug, “so everybody has a basis of data and car set-up information to build upon from the test day on Friday.
“Out of the ‘new' DTM's nine races [at Oschersleben] since 2000, Mercedes-Benz has won more than our competitors. Although comparatively short, the circuit is challenging for drivers as well as for the technicians.”
![Brits Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett celebrate a one-two result on the DTM podium at Oschersleben in 2007 [pic credit: DTM Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405847.jpg)
