Starting line up for Shanghai

Mercedes' Gary Paffett claimed his first DTM pole position at the invitation race in Shanghai, finishing at the top in both qualifying and the super pole shootout. His best time was 1:14.529. Tom Kristensen was the best Audi, third, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen the best Opel, seventh.

Gary Paffett.

Photo by ITR e.V..

There are some changes for this weekend, as the teams are not all running their usual line-ups in China's demonstration. Opel has only bought four cars, Frentzen, Marcel F?ssler, Timo Scheider and Jeroen Bleekemolen doing the driving duties.

Audi has eight cars: Rinaldo Capello and Peter Terting join regular DTM drivers Christian Abt, Frank Biela, Mattias Ekstr?m, Tom Kristensen, Emanuele Pirro and Martin Tomczyk.

Mercedes is the only squad to field all eight of its usual DTM line-up: Bernd Schneider, Christijan Albers, Gary Paffett, Jean Alesi, Jarek Janis, Markus Winkelhock, Bernd Mayl?nder and Stefan M?cke.

Tomorrow will see two 30 minute sprints instead of one long race. No points will be awarded, as the races are not part of the championship.

Overall qualifying results and starting grid for Shanghai

1. Gary Paffett - C-Klasse AMG Mercedes - 1:14.529
2. Jean Alesi - C-Klasse AMG Mercedes - 1:14.553
3. Tom Kristensen - Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline - 1:14.557
4. Martin Tomczyk - Audi Sport Team Abt - 1:14.699
5. Emanuele Pirro - Audi Sport Team Infineon Joest - 1:14.775
6. Bernd Schneider - Vodafone/DC Bank AMG Mercedes - 1:15.211
7. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - OPC Team Holzer - 1:15.651
8. Rinaldo Capello - Audi Sport Team Infineon Joest - 1:15.655
9. Mattias Ekstr?m - Audi Sport Team Abt - 1:15.757
10. Christijan Albers - Vodafone/DC Bank AMG Mercedes - 1:16.595
11. Christian Abt - Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline - 1:15.214
12. Jarek Janis - Sonax Dark Dog/CLK AMG Mercedes - 1:15.465
13. Markus Winkelhock - Original-Teile/CLK AMG Mercedes- 1:15.524
14. Frank Beila - Audi Sport Team Infineon Joest - 1:15.879
15. Marcel F?ssler - OPC Team Phoenix - 1:15.922
16. Bernd Mayl?nder - Sonax Dark Dog/CLK AMG Mercedes - 1:16.325
17. Peter Terting - Audi Sport Team Abt - 1:16.726
18. Timo Scheider - OPC Team Holzer - 1:17.168
19. Stefan M?cke - Original-Teile/CLK AMG Mercedes - 1:17.289
20. Jeroen Bleekemolen - OPC Euroteam - 1:17.735