Bruno Spengler is the 2012 DTM champion
By winning the race on the Hockenheim circuit for the last race of the DTM season, Bruno Spengler finally won his first title in the DTM. Gary Paffett finished runner-up.
After good start, Bruno Spengler quickly grabbed the second position in front of Gary Paffett before overtaking his teammate Augusto Farfus before the end of the first lap. The Canadian then built a small lead of two seconds from the Brazilian before making his first tire change.
During the first pitstops, Spengler retained the leadership but Gary Paffett took second place. While playing in the fourth position from the start of the race, Mattias Ekström was forced to abandon due to a wheel nut problem.
At the halfway point, Bruno Spengler had 3.171 seconds lead on his title rival Gary Paffett. Augusto Farfus was in third place before Jamie Green and Dirk Werner. Canadian Robert Wickens had to abandon after contact with Spaniard Roberto Merhi.
The last race of David Coulthard DTM happens certainly not as he would have liked. The Scot collided with Timo Scheider in the second sector and made a third pit stop before leaving the next round.
Team Schnitzer mechanics did a great job for the second stop of Bruno Spengler. The Canadian remained first with 4.119 seconds ahead of Paffett. With still 17 laps to go on the Hockenheim circuit before landing his first DTM title. Miguel Molina ended his season in the wall of tires in the last sector while Timo Scheider was handed a drive-throug penalty for hitting for David Coulthard.
Gary Paffett did not want to miss his chance to win a second title in the DTM. The British realized the fastest lap at the 29th passage and gained on Bruno Spengler. However, the BMW driver managed to retain a second ahead at the start of the final laps.
Championship leader since the first race, Gary Paffett eventually loses the title in the final race of the year against Bruno Spengler. The Canadian win his fourth race of the season before the British and ensures his first DTM title. Second, Paffett will therefore be vice-champion. Augusto Farfus finished on the third step of the podium.
Results:
1. Bruno Spengler Schnitzer BMW 1h07m59.069s
2. Gary Paffett HWA Mercedes + 2.214s
3. Augusto Farfus RBM BMW + 11.954s
4. Jamie Green HWA Mercedes + 23.479s
5. Dirk Werner Schnitzer BMW + 25.384s
6. Edoardo Mortara Rosberg Audi + 41.701s
7. Andy Priaulx RBM BMW + 42.265s
8. Joey Hand RMG BMW + 42.843s
9. Ralf Schumacher HWA Mercedes + 43.878s
10. Christian Vietoris HWA Mercedes + 45.138s
11. Filipe Albuquerque Rosberg Audi + 58.232s
12. Timo Scheider Abt Audi + 1m14.020s
13. Susie Wolff Persson Mercedes + 1m35.931s
14. Martin Tomczyk RMG BMW + 1 lap
15. Roberto Merhi Persson Mercedes + 1 lap
16. Rahel Frey Abt Audi + 1 lap
DNF:
Miguel Molina Phoenix Audi 25 laps
David Coulthard Mucke Mercedes 23 laps
Robert Wickens Mucke Mercedes 20 laps
Mattias Ekstrom Abt Audi 11 laps
Mike Rockenfeller Phoenix Audi 2 laps
Adrien Tambay Abt Audi 1 lap
source: Flagworld, Cédric Dupont, www.toilef1.com, photo: BMW AG