Bruno Spengler on DTM pole at the Nurburgring

BMW driver wins qualifying in the heat at the NurburgringThree Audi drivers lock out second to fourth place behind the CanadianHankook tyres masterfully deals with expected high asphalt temperatures

Bruno Spengler had an optimal start into the second half of the DTM season. The BMW driver came out on top in Saturdays qualifying at the Nrburgring and will thus be starting from first place into a race of the most popular international touring car series for the second time this year on Sunday. In bright sunshine and with temperatures of over 30 degrees Centigrade, no less than three Audi drivers locked out second to fourth place behind the Canadian.Edoardo Mortara was second fastest in qualifying, followed by his fellow Audi drivers Filipe Albuquerque and Mike Rockenfeller. Jamie Green was the best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver in seventh position. Somewhat surprisingly, Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), the leader in the driversstandings, didnt do any better than eleventh place. For Mattias Ekstrm (Audi), things didnt go too well in qualifying either: he ended up twelfth.In spite of the expected high asphalt temperatures of 45 degrees Centigrade, the Hankook competition tyres provided all drivers with a lot of grip and a top performance at the tradition-steeped Eifel circuit. The construction of the Ventus Race also masterfully dealt with the high kerbstones in the chicane. There were no difficulties whatsoever for our tyres, and that will also be the case in the race tomorrow. From our point of view, I am expecting a homogeneous running at a consistently high level and I am hoping for plenty of movements and action in the field,says Hankooks racing engineer Michael Eckert.  

Bruno Spengler (BMW): It is a great day for BMW. As a driver, you are just happy to be back in the car again after the summer break. I have been missing this adrenaline kick. The car ran sensationally, and in spite of the heat, the tyres had an incredible amount of grip and they were equally consistent and fast in all qualifying heats.Edoardo Mortara (Audi): It was a good day for me and it could even have been better, but I have made a few slight mistakes. We know how to do two fast laps with the tyres in qualifying. In the race tomorrow, the game starts all over again.Filipe Albuquerque (Audi): The tyres were really fast and good. My third place wasnt perfect, but it is a good result and a good position to start Sundays race from. And that is the one I want to win.


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