Canadian Bruno Spengler scored his first DTM race win of the season to lead home a Mercedes 1, 2, 3, at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz.

Scotsman Paul Di Resta led for most of the race, but lost the lead after problems with the left rear wheel change during the second pit stop.

“Winning here really is an incredibly good feeling.” said Spengler after the race. “I have given my girlfriend a nice birthday present today. But it is even more beautiful because we have three Mercedes-Benz drivers on the podium today.”

The win was the first for Spengler since the Norisring back in 2007.

Briton Jamie Green completed the 1-2-3 for Mercedes-Benz which made him the best-placed driver of a 2008-spec car. German Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller, who was also  racing a 2008-spec car finished fourth to be the first Audi home.

For the first time in her career in the DTM, Susie Stoddart scored points with her AMG Mercedes C-Class. After a great recovery from twelfth place on the grid, the 27-year old scored two points for finishing seventh. “Today’s points are a way to thank all those who kept their faith in me and kept supporting me”, said a delighted Stoddart.

In hot and sunny conditions, 79,000 spectators witnessed an exciting DTM weekend. The action already started with an accident on the opening lap. French Audi driver Alexandre Prémat tangled with his fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekström. The Swede spun and collided with David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) and reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider. Prémat retired and the safety car was deployed. Ekström, who was runner-up in the points’ standings prior to the race, parked his car in the pits while Coulthard initially continued after a pit stop. However, two laps after the re-start on lap five, Coulthard had to end his race in the pits, too. Scheider made it to the finish line in eighth place, scoring one point.

Audi motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said “Today, it was like a nightmare. This is the worst thing that can happen. Our two best-placed drivers in the championship collide. Something like that really shouldn’t happen in a team. But to make up for it, Mike showed a really good performance with his two-year old car.”

Dr Ullrich will be no doubt hoping for considerably better luck when his team contest this weekend’s Le Mans 24 hour race.

The next round of the DTM will take place at the Norisring in Nuremberg from July 2nd till 4th.