Unpredictable weather played a major role at the qualifying for round eight of the DTM on the Lausitzring.

The pilots drivers were sent out on the track at 4pm to complete 15-minutes of free practice. The reason for this was that thick fog up until this time would hamper possible rescue helicopter missions and, as per the regulations, no DTM cars were permitted out on the track until it had lifted.

The subsequent qualifying session had to be stopped after just four minutes when Joey Hand (BMW) took a trip into the gravel. All remaining drivers took part in a 21-minute second stint and battled for the eight positions in the final qualifying segment. The baseline Ventus Race tyre of the exclusive DTM partner Hankook impressed on the damp track early on in the session and then offered plenty of grip and high stability on the drying track.

Mercedes-Benz pilot Pascal Wehrlein did not let the adverse conditions affect him and clinched the first DTM pole of his career. Alongside him on the grid for Sunday’s race is Mattias Ekström (Audi) in second ahead of his brand colleagues Jamie Green and Timo Scheider. Ranking second overall, this leaves the Swede still with a very slight chance of scoring his third championship title in the most popular international touring car series.