Filipe Albuquerque, Mattias Ekstrom, Martin Tomczyk and Hans-Jurgen Abt on the podium - Photo Credit: DTM.com
Martin Tomczyk has taken the 2011 DTM title after finishing third at Valencia in a race won by Mattias Ekstrom from pole position. Filipe Albuquerque finished in second as Audi picked up its third consecutive 1-2-3 finish.
Swede Ekstrom wasn't touched during the race, and had built up an advantage of 18 seconds over fellow front-row starter Albuquerque by the time he took the checkered flag after 45 laps. Portuguese rookie Albuquerque enjoyed a similarly comfortable run to his best finish to date in his Rosberg-run older-spec Audi.
Tomczyk started the race down in 10th on the grid, but was up to sixth by the end of the first lap. He was able to make up three further places during the second pit stops to secure third place, enough to put him out of reach of rival Bruno Spengler ahead of the season finale at Hockenheim.
The 29-year-old's maiden title comes in his 11th season in the DTM, and his first season after switching from a top-spec car with Abt to an older-spec car run by the Phoenix squad. Indeed, Tomczyk becomes the first driver of an older car to win the title.
Timo Scheider finished fourth after getting past older-spec Mercedes drivers Renger van der Zande and David Coulthard. The duo were both racing under appeal after failing post-qualifying checks, meaning they are not classified in the results unless the appeal is successful.
This means that the results show an Audi lockout of the top six, with home racer Miguel Molina and Oliver Jarvis next up. Spengler is classified as the top Mercedes in seventh, having started 12th. He had been running behind HWA teammate Jamie Green until the Briton dropped back on the penultimate lap. Gary Paffett took the final point in eighth.
Race results – 45 laps:
| Pos. | Driver / Entrant / Car | Time/Gap |
| 1. | Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Red Bull Audi A4 DTM |
1:10:45.452 |
| 2. | Filipe Albuquerque Audi Sport Team Rosberg TV Movie Audi A4 DTM |
18.103 |
| 3. | Martin Tomczyk Audi Sport Team Phoenix Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM |
33.950 |
| 4. | Timo Scheider Audi Sport Team Abt AUTO TEST Audi A4 DTM |
34.346 |
| 5. | Miguel Molina Audi Sport Team Abt Junior Red Bull Audi A4 DTM |
39.788 |
| 6. | Oliver Jarvis Audi Sport Team Abt Audi Sport performance cars A4 DTM |
40.655 |
| 7. | Bruno Spengler Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Klasse |
41.238 |
| 8. | Gary Paffett Thomas Sabo AMG Mercedes Thomas Sabo AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
41.791 |
| 9. | Mike Rockenfeller Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline E-POSTBRIEF Audi A4 DTM |
44.671 |
| 10. | Jamie Green AMG Mercedes AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
45.971 |
| 11. | Susie Stoddart TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
49.720 |
| 12. | Christian Vietoris Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes Junge Sterne AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
50.736 |
| 13. | Ralf Schumacher Salzgitter AMG Mercedes Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
52.686 |
| 14. | Rahel Frey Audi Sport Team Phoenix Glamour Audi A4 DTM |
1:02.877 |
| 15. | Maro Engel GQ AMG Mercedes GQ AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
1:16.230 |
| 16. | Edoardo Mortara Audi Sport Team Rosberg Playboy Audi A4 DTM |
+3 laps |
| Renger van der Zande stern AMG Mercedes stern AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
Not classified | |
| David Coulthard Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes Deutsche Post AMG Mercedes C-Klasse |
Not classified |
Drivers' standings after 9 of 10 rounds:
1. Martin Tomczyk, 64 points
2. Bruno Spengler, 51
3. Mattias Ekstrom, 49
4. Timo Scheider, 34
5. Mike Rockenfeller, 26
6. Jamie Green, 25
