Audi wins at Brands Hatch and extends DTM lead

At the eighth DTM round at Brands Hatch, Audi celebrated their fourth win of the 2008 season. In unstable weather conditions Timo Scheider defended an extremely narrow lead against Mercedes driver Paul di Resta on the British circuit. In front of 26,800 spectators (throughout the weekend) Timo Scheider thus extended his leadership of the standings to nine points. Mattias Ekström shone with a brilliant recovery from seventh to third place.

Thanks to a strong performance by the whole team Audi claimed victory at Brands Hatch and, after a fierce fight, clinched another podium position that was not necessarily to be expected. Thanks to an excellent job done by his Audi Team Abt Sportsline pit crew Timo Scheider converted his fourth pole position of the year into a flawless start-finish victory. Even when drizzling rain set in the German at the wheel of his Audi A4 DTM demonstrated his driving skills on slicks and remained in front after both pit stops.

During the overtaking maneuvers – the front runners lapped the backmarkers on the 1.929-kilometre short circuit twice – Mercedes-Pilot Paul di Resta on several occasions came within just a few tenths of the race leader. Timo Scheider kept cool even in those situations and, in the end, won with a 0.793-second lead. In addition to the best time in qualifying and his second win of the season, the 29-year-old Audi factory driver set the fastest race lap as well. He is now heading the standings nine points ahead of Jamie Green. This gives Scheider the biggest advantage so far since taking the lead at the second DTM round at Oschersleben in April.