The next round of the 2008 DTM season in Zandvoort, Netherlands marks the half time point of the championship and the battle for the championship is heating up as the top five drivers in the overall ranking are within 10 points.

Jamie Green, Mercedes-Benz

Among them are three Mercedes drivers: Jamie Green winner of the previous race at the Norisring is second overall with 31 points, Paul Di Resta is third with 27 points and Bruno Spengler is fifth with 22 points.

Among the Audi drivers, only two are in the Top 5. Championship leader Timo Scheider is only one point in front of Green while last year champion Mattias Ekstrom lies in fourth with 25 points.

Since 2005, Gary Paffett holds the DTM lap record with a time of 1m34.785, on the 4.307km circuit.

In the last two years the Audis have been unbeatable at Zandvoort and Canadian Bruno Spengler has been the best among the Mercedes drivers in 2006 and 07.

"I look forward to Zandvoort, an interesting and challenging circuit," declares Spengler. "A good qualifying performance is crucial, because overtaking is very difficult on this track with its long sweeping corners. The best would be to start there where I started at the Norisring recently."


Photo Credit : René Fagnan - Auto123.com