It seems forever since the 2013 DTM season started back in May; Mike Rockenfeller, Augusto Farfus, Bruno Spengler, Robert Wickens and yes, I’m including him, Mattias Ekström, have all taken victories in the previous eight races on a ten season calendar.) _5 R. {* K: Y0 C0 u
4 O9 N9 X" }) d4 @% X! `# q; i2 g8 G公仔箱論壇But now there are two left; two races which will see a new DTM champion crowned in the guise of either Rockenfeller or Farfus, with the Audi driver heading into this weekend at a significant advantage over the Brazilian.
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Should Rockenfeller finish second in either of the following two races, then he will take the 2013 drivers’ title, and be Audi’s first champion since Martin Tomczyk took the title in the final year of the ‘old’ spec cars in 2011.6 i$ Q& R+ o$ Z$ z4 r* U
% }$ k2 ?+ ^1 x. I; ~5.39.217.77Given that Farfus is 33 points behind Rockenfeller, the title seems to be a tall order for anyone else but ‘Rocky’, who won at Zandvoort in 2011.3 D9 P2 X; R9 ~6 ?6 [
$ P; n' r2 t' z. e. |' u) l) u ftvb now,tvbnow,bttvbWith the title gradually becoming a foregone conclusion, it is the battle which for third in the standings which appears to be the most pressing matter at this final stretch of the season.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb* {5 V, o" F W k
7 `) k, M% L+ V YJust six points separate Gary Paffett in sixth with 65 points, from third place man, Paffett’s HWA Mercedes’ team-mate, Christian Vietoris, who has 71.5.39.217.77. ~" D" S; r3 x* M
/ Y% H; b8 ^, _# r: M g) H公仔箱論壇Whilst Vietoris has had the most consistent season of the Mercedes’ drivers, after he managing to score in every race apart from the last round at Oschersleben, it is Paffett who appears to be the favourite for taking third spot come the end of the year., d4 i5 l Q. d' f
$ Y9 A3 Z7 ]5 E$ p$ a8 I) N9 Dtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbHe has a good reason for it, too; the twisty, 4.3 kilometre circuit is a favourite of the Briton and since his title winning year of 2005, he has taken three victories on the Dutch coast.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。3 O6 x: V; S4 b b4 p
' y y& ~ V8 n( r1 }) {3 qTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Paffett also feels that whilst being out of the championship race isn’t ideal, he is now able to go out and enjoy his racing without the added pressure which a title fight brings.公仔箱論壇/ K0 s) Q# e2 M/ a n
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“You don’t like to be out of the championship race, but there’s a bit less pressure on you,” Paffett told TouringCarTimes. “Of course you want to score and have a good race, but you’re not in this tense battle.5.39.217.777 K- G3 U9 y& D r) M6 E
+ ^: Q% y5 [" a# Q: s: L: kTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。“You’re out there to have a good race and get what you can.”tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb! i0 b% l; J& w x) ]; P o
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“It’s a fantastic track that is definitely one of my favourites [as] the circuit has a good mix of fast and slow turns and uphill and downhill sections – driving there is great fun.
2 q' L' p6 Z0 n- M% A! fTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。
# n. ]' N8 U, T# r; R8 b) V“If we can qualify further up the grid, then we’ll be back in contention for the top spots.”tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb, l: _9 y0 B$ S. k& n
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Paffett will be up for the win, and given it would be sensible for Rockenfeller and Farfus to settle for points, another Zandvoort victory for the Mercedes man is far from unlikely.' W8 n" v8 ^9 T" [9 Q0 Z2 E7 C. D
: O+ j# G& |: t! N) M0 k" AFellow Briton and Paffett’s former Mercedes team-mate, Jamie Green, is another man who cannot be discounted for victory, despite never having won in the Netherlands.公仔箱論壇4 o; f, s7 o n0 h2 W9 s
9 ~3 H8 R- L) W9 O, ^0 e; htvb now,tvbnow,bttvbGreen, who left Mercedes to partner Ekström at Audi for 2013 has had a trying season so far, but at Oschersleben, he appeared to make a break through with his first podium for the Ingolstadt manufacturer.1 D I& Z4 @4 l1 V* u5 h+ d% O
- g8 v) H3 ? w/ R公仔箱論壇“This [podium] is a bit of a milestone for me and an important stage win on the road to my next aim; that’s achieving the first victory for Audi.
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“I personally feel very comfortable, have got fond memories of the next tracks and would like to achieve even more.
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2 H4 W2 n( \1 mTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。“Zandvoort and Hockenheim should be suiting our car.”
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9 M$ x; Q8 X" J公仔箱論壇So, whilst we’re all but certain to see a new DTM champion this weekend, keep an eye on what’s happening further down the field…5.39.217.778 P, N" J+ o4 P0 [) |0 u6 m6 w4 ]
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… The battle of the Brits in Holland looks especially good.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。" G# M3 s0 x3 N! G+ p5 I3 [! b; r
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Zandvoort facts:
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# @1 G: i' ^8 o/ _tvb now,tvbnow,bttvbTrack length: 4.3 kilometres
: R: t( G. \/ `0 Y1 z; fTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。
9 c4 T( M$ q8 M s5 p" [! I$ d公仔箱論壇Laps: 44
) l. R: G% G7 P i0 S( N& w# L公仔箱論壇& W) B, P( D: T! [. q- \+ s" C7 \
Lap Record: Timo Scheider, Audi, 1m32.967s (2010)
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8 _8 W* j# ~' vWeather: Unpredictable9 M; E2 Q9 R2 |) m$ [
1 S; j: z) j2 e. Atvb now,tvbnow,bttvbPrevious winners:
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2001: Uwe Alzen (Mercedes-Benz)5.39.217.775 I; s u9 p2 m& N8 Y9 t" a* O
& K, K7 J0 b% h7 l( P3 i2002: Mattias Ekström (Abt-Audi)
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2 b" r; y$ w( G. S$ j) G( l& X0 r nTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。2003: Christijan Albers (Mercedes-Benz)" a+ Y4 T0 `" x r
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2004: Mattias Ekström (Audi)
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2005: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。9 @! p/ q. I2 Q( {& S
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2006: Tom Kristensen (Audi)tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb+ z2 S0 x+ y7 A
6 G9 m* S* E& b+ Y6 Z3 Y) u2007: Martin Tomczyk (Audi)
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S! x# a% Y3 f! QTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。2008: Mattias Ekström (Audi)
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2009: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)5 |, a- O2 Q$ M- t l( q$ C
- a3 N! T$ M* _4 X& ]2010: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)' `1 P% ]9 w# |9 r
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2011: Mike Rockenfeller (Audi)
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; d- E* q" J0 n G2012: Edoardo Mortara (Audi) |