Mercedes-Benz’s run of dominant form at the Norisring continued to show in qualifying for the first Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) race on the streets of Nuremberg, as Christian Vietoris literally stole pole position at the last moment ahead of 2005 champion Gary Paffett.
The ex-GP2 racer, who secured his first DTM pole position since Lausitzring 2013, took the top spot on the grid from the Brit by just 0.039 seconds. Current points leader Jamie Green rounded out the top three a further 0.008 seconds behind after a great strategy call from the pit wall.
With the heavy rain no longer in the air, all 24 drivers went out on wet tyres, with Green reporting on the radio that a dry line had started to appear on the main straight.
In a session where times tumbled by at least eight seconds over the twenty-minute session, it was a flat-out fight for pole position, with the majority of the field positing the fastest time. Around the half way point, drivers were opting for slicks to push for faster times.
Green stayed out after being instructed to box by his race engineer, and the Brit was able to post the fastest time set by an Audi driver once the dust had settled.
I owe third place on the grid to my engineer,” said the Monaco-based driver. “We opted for slicks precisely at the right time. The last lap was good. And that’s exactly what counted in order to move far to the front on the grid.”
Paul Di Resta will line up alongside Green in fourth, ahead of Pascal Wehrlein in fifth and BMW’s fastest driver, Augusto Farfus. Last year’s pole sitter, Robert Wickens, was in the hunt for the majority of the session, but would have to end up settling for seventh ahead of defending champion Marco Wittmann.
Team Abt’s Miguel Molina and Team Schnitzer’s Martin Tomczyk rounded out the top ten, having also been involved in the fight for pole position. Both Daniel Juncadella and Lucas Auer took their own turns respectively at the top of the timesheets, but would have to settle for 11th and 12th for this afternoon’s race. Maximillian Götz was showing as high as third at one point, but will start as the lowest-placed Mercedes driver in 20th.
Bruno Spengler, Timo Glock and Maxime Martin will occupy 13th to 15th grid for BMW, as both António Félix da Costa placed 17th and 18th respectively.
It was a difficult afternoon for the rest of Audi Sport’s ranks, as Edoardo Mortata will start from 16th, just three places ahead of Nürburgring 24 Hours winner Nico Müller. Mattias Ekström and Mike Rockenfeller, who have the heaviest cars on the grid this weekend, will occupy the penultimate row, ahead of Timo Scheider and Adrien Tambay.
Race one gets underway this afternoon at 1648 CEST (1548 BST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 8 | Christian VIETORIS |  |
gooix / Original-Teile Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 21 | 21:36.000 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT |  |
EURONICS / BWT Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 22 | 17:45.600 | 9.600 |
| 3 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 21 | 29:16.800 | 40.800 |
| 4 | 3 | Paul di RESTA | |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 21 | 1:26.400 | 50.400 |
| 5 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
gooix / Original-Teile Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 22 | 22:04.800 | 28.800 |
| 6 | 18 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 1:26.400 | 50.400 |
| 7 | 6 | Robert WICKENS |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 22 | 30:43.200 | 7.200 |
| 8 | 1 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 9:36.000 | 0.000 |
| 9 | 17 | Miguel MOLINA |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 39:21.600 | 45.600 |
| 10 | 77 | Martin TOMCZYK | |
BMW Team Schnitzer | BMW M4 DTM | 21 | 6:43.200 | 7.200 |
| 11 | 12 | Daniel JUNCADELLA | |
PETRONAS Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 22 | 9:36.000 | 0.000 |
| 12 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
EURONICS / BWT Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 21 | 1:26.400 | 50.400 |
| 13 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER | |
BMW Team MTEK | BMW M4 DTM | 20 | 38:52.800 | 16.800 |
| 14 | 36 | Maxime MARTIN |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 45:07.200 | 31.200 |
| 15 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team MTEK | BMW M4 DTM | 19 | 39:50.400 | 14.400 |
| 16 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 17:16.800 | 40.800 |
| 17 | 31 | Tom BLOMQVIST | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 47:31.200 | 55.200 |
| 18 | 13 | António Félix da COSTA |  |
BMW Team Schnitzer | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 49:26.400 | 50.400 |
| 19 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 21 | 50:52.800 | 16.800 |
| 20 | 84 | Maximilian GÖTZ | |
PETRONAS Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 21 | 8:38.400 | 2.400 |
| 21 | 5 | Mattias EKSTRÖM |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 21 | 41:45.600 | 9.600 |
| 22 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 24:28.800 | 52.800 |
| 23 | 27 | Adrien TAMBAY |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt | Audi RS5 DTM | 20 | 34:33.600 | 57.600 |
| 24 | 10 | Timo SCHEIDER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 56:09.600 | 33.600 |