Spengler commented the seventh DTM race win of his career as follows: "It was a great race. The start was absolutely awesome. I really concentrated on the starting lights. Then I just pushed and tried to keep the other guys behind me. First to third place - that is a great feeling. This is our 100th victory since we have been racing against Audi."

Reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider was the best placed Audi driver of the day. From eighth place on the grid, he moved up to fourth after a successful start and then defended his position until the end of the race. "The race wasn't bad: starting eighth and finishing fourth. That is okay and quite a decent result, but all in all, this certainly wasn't satisfying. Nevertheless, I notice an upward trend", said Scheider.

Mercedes-Benz driver Green had to withstand attacks by his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Ralf Schumacher for several laps, but remained in front and crossed the finish line in fifth position as the best placed driver of a 2008 spec car ahead of Schumacher. The German scored his first three championship points of the season for finishing sixth. Two times' DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom wasn't able to turn his expectations into reality after having claimed pole position in qualifying. The Swede lost valuable places after problems at the start and he took the chequered flag in seventh place. Scot David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) finished tenth in his fifth DTM race. Last year's winner Martin Tomczyk finished 13th with his Audi A4 DTM.

In the points' standings, Spengler is leading with 42 points from Green (26 points) and Paffett and Di Resta, who are tied at 25 points each. The sixth DTM race weekend of the year will be held at Zandvoort in The Netherlands from August 20th till 22nd.

Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug: "I just don't know where to start. That was really good. Today, we really will have a ball. The team has deserved it. I am speechless when I see how quick Mattias was yesterday and what happened today. I thought that he would pull away from us. Apparently, something has changed dramatically overnight. Surely, that was one of our best races ever."

With his sixth victory in the most popular international touring car series, Spengler was able to extend his points' lead in the drivers' standings. After three rounds, he has 26 points.

Mike Rockenfeller ended up the best Audi driver: the German finished fourth. Behind Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) and Martin Tomczyk (Audi) in fifth and sixth place, seventh-placed Susie Stoddart (Mercedes-Benz) finished a DTM race in a point-scoring position for the first time in her career. Timo Scheider (Audi) collected the final point for finishing eighth.

The podium at Valencia was completed by Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz). With his third place, the Canadian takes over the points lead in the DTM drivers standings after two rounds. DTM champion Timo Scheider (Audi) ended up fifth in the round near Valencia, following Alexandre Premat. Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) finished sixth, followed by Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz).

For the 15th time, Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) crossed the finish line as the winner of a DTM race. In the season opener of the most popular international touring car series at the Hockenheimring Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Briton won after 39 laps from his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers Bruno Spengler, Jamie Green and Paul Di Resta. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) finished the race as the best placed Audi driver in fifth position. With Mattias Ekstrom, reigning champion Timo Scheider and Miguel Molina in sixth, seventh and eighth place, three more Audi drivers occupied the remaining points scoring positions. Scot David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) ended up fifth in his maiden DTM race.

Spring was in the air for Mercedes-Benz. The brand from Suttgart locked out the first four places in the DTM season opener at the Hockenheimring Baden-Wuerttemberg. After 39 laps and 178.386 kilometres, British driver Gary Paffett crossed the finish line as the race winner. The 29 year old was followed home by his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers Bruno Spengler from Canada, Briton Jamie Green as the best-placed driver of a 2008 spec car and Scot Paul Di Resta. "Winning the first race is a great way to start the season. Last year, the season started just the other way round for me. Today, our goal was to score as many points as possible. The team has done a tremendous job and I like the car - it is just running well. I could see the rest of the season going like this", said the winner of the opening round immediately after the race. Paffett, the 2005 DTM champion, scored his 15th DTM race win at Hockenheim."

The best-placed Audi driver was German Mike Rockenfeller in fifth place. The 26 year old is driving an Audi A4 DTM from the 2008 range. "My start was great. I overtook Paul Di Resta. We had some slight contact in the process and I lost a few positions. In spite of the damage to the front, the car was still quick. Moreover, we had a good strategy. Hopefully, we will be stronger in the races to come", said Rockenfeller. Spaniard Miguel Molina (Audi) showed an impressive DTM debut, finishing in eighth place and scoring his first championship point right away in his maiden race. In ninth place, Mercedes-Benz driver Ralf Schumacher just missed out on championship points. Ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) made up five places during the race and finished twelfth in his first ever DTM race.

Bright sunshine and 78,000 fans were a great setting for the first DTM race weekend of the year. The fans got to see a thrilling start. Pole sitter Gary Paffett and German Martin Tomczyk (Audi) in second place had a tough battle for the lead. Tomczyk came out on top and took the lead, but suffered a punctured left rear tyre on his car on lap eleven. The 28 year old still made it back into the pits and initially was able to continue his race, but had to park his damaged car for good on lap 32. Paffett didn't lose the lead anymore and scored a dominant win.

For Mattias Ekstrom, the 2004 and 2007 DTM champion, the race didn't go too well. During the race, the Audi driver made it up from fifth on the grid into second place. However, as Ekstrom had come in for his first mandatory pit stop one lap too early, he had to repeat it and lost valuable seconds and his position. The Swede still scored some points in the battle for the title by finishing sixth. Reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider (Audi) came home in seventh place.

WIESBADEN TO HOST DTM PRESENTATION FOR THE FIRST TIME

In cooperation with the Kurhaus Wiesbaden GmbH, the DTM will provide a mixed show programme and motorsport action from up close to kick off the season for the fans. At the event, the two premium car manufacturers Audi and Mercedes Benz will publicly present their driver line ups and their DTM cars for the 2010 season for the first time. Demonstration rides of the DTM cars, pit stop demonstrations and spectacular stunt shows will enthuse every motorsport fan. Autograph hunters can eat their hearts out during the drivers' parade along the Wilhelmstrasse. Additionally, singleseaters and touring cars from the partner series Formula 3 Euro Series, Porsche Carrera Cup, Seat Leon Supercopa and the new Volkswagen Scirocco Cup will create a real racing atmosphere. The series' sponsors will present themselves and their products in front of the Kurhaus and will organise great competitions and raffles. Live concerts will make the DTM event to an unforgettable experience for the entire family.

Last year, the DTM said goodbye to the sports city of Duesseldorf with a record crowd of 210,000 enthusiastic spectators. Admission to the 2010 DTM presentation in front of the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden is free.

DTM THRILLS 110,000 FANS WITH A GREAT SHOW IN WIESBADEN

Next to autograph sessions and interviews with the DTM stars, the spectators got a close view of pit stop competitions and demonstration laps of the Audi and Mercedes-Benz DTM cars as well as the race cars from partner categories Formula 3 Euro Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, Seat Leon Supercopa and Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup. The DTM drivers enjoyed the close interaction with the fans. "The DTM is a family event. I like talking with the fans and looking into the excited eyes of the children", said the reigning DTM champion, Audi driver Timo Scheider. Mercedes-Benz driver Ralf Schumacher also showed a heart for the fans and signed autographs almost without interruption. "It is great that so many fans have come to watch the presentation. A fantastic feeling for us drivers", said Schumacher.

On the big DTM show stage, singer Doro Pesch and the runner up from the German casting "Our star for Oslo" Jennifer Braun added to the atmosphere with great live performances. The spectators were excited: "The DTM show is great. My son is really thrilled. And all of that free of charge - fantastic", said a mother.