Mercedes-AMG locked out the front row of the grid in qualifying for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season finale at Hockenheim, with Lucas Auer on pole from title contender Gary Paffett.
The Austrian racer was among numerous late improvers in the 20-minute qualifying session, setting a 1:32.635 to put him a tenth clear of Paffett.
BMW’s Timo Glock was third after setting the pace in the first runs, and put in a personal best lap time on his second run to pip René Rast, who has an outside shot at the title this weekend.
However, the German picked up a five-place grid penalty for this third strike of the season under the totting up rules, leaving him to start the first race from eighth on the grid.
Augusto Farfus was fifth fastest with Spielberg double podium finisher Nico Müller for company on the third row.
In seventh was Philip Eng ahead of championship leader Paul Di Resta, who will need to make progress in the opening race to maintain his narrow four point advantage over title rival Paffett.
Audi’s Robin Frijns and Mercedes-AMG’s Edoardo Mortara rounded out a top ten which was separated by just over three tenths.
Second practice pacesetter Joel Eriksson narrowly missed out on the top ten, just ahead of BMW Team RBM stablemate Bruno Spengler.
The Mercedes duo of Daniel Juncadella and Pascal Wehrlein line up 13th and 14th respectively, ahead of Audi Sport Team Phoenix teammates Loïc Duval and Mike Rockenfeller, with fellow Audi racer Jamie Green propping up the standings.
Marco Wittmann, who currently sits fourth in the standings, did not participate in the session as BMW Team RMG repaired his damaged car after an off in second practice.
The opening race of the DTM season finale at Hockenheim is scheduled to get underway at 13:30 CEST (12:30 BST).
Qualifying results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 22 | Lucas AUER |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 9 | 1:32.635 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 2 | Gary PAFFETT |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 8 | 1:32.737 | 0.102 |
| 3 | 16 | Timo GLOCK |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 10 | 1:32.751 | 0.116 |
| 4 | 33 | René RAST | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 10 | 1:32.847 | 0.212 |
| 5 | 15 | Augusto FARFUS |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 10 | 1:32.880 | 0.245 |
| 6 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 10 | 1:32.887 | 0.252 |
| 7 | 25 | Philipp ENG | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 9 | 1:32.902 | 0.267 |
| 8 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 10 | 1:32.925 | 0.290 |
| 9 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 11 | 1:32.946 | 0.311 |
| 10 | 48 | Edoardo MORTARA |  |
SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 9 | 1:32.949 | 0.314 |
| 11 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 10 | 1:33.042 | 0.407 |
| 12 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 9 | 1:33.070 | 0.435 |
| 13 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 9 | 1:33.098 | 0.463 |
| 14 | 94 | Pascal WEHRLEIN | |
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS | Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM | 10 | 1:33.124 | 0.489 |
| 15 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:33.168 | 0.533 |
| 16 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 11 | 1:33.275 | 0.640 |
| 17 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 9 | 1:33.372 | 0.737 |
| 18 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 0 | No time | N/A |