Lausitzring, 6th May 2012. Just two races into its comeback season, BMW is back on the top step of the DTM podium: 19 years, six months and 25 days after the last triumph, Bruno Spengler (CA), at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, crossed the finish line at the Lausitzring (DE) in first place. In a thrilling second race of the season, Spengler held off the challenge of Mercedes driver Gary Paffett (GB), who finished runner-up. Augusto Farfus (BR) came third in the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM to complete a fantastic team result for BMW.
Spengler follows in the footsteps of Roberto Ravaglia (IT), who claimed the brand's 49th victory in the DTM on 11th October 1992 in Hockenheim (DE). Back then, BMW Team Schnitzer, with Team Principal Charly Lamm on the pit wall, was responsible for the BMW M3. Almost 20 years later, the team from Freilassing (DE) once again made DTM history with BMW's 50th victory and the first win since the company's return to the series. The victory also represents a milestone for Spengler: the 28-year-old secured the tenth victory of this DTM career at the 3.478-kilometre Lausitzring. Spengler's maiden win came at the Norisring (DE) on 23rd July 2006.
Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk (DE, BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) finished seventh to score six points for BMW Team RMG. His team-mate Joey Hand (US) crossed the line 14th in his SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM. Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (DE, E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) came home 17th and 19th respectively. The action was watched by 72,000 motorsport fans at the Lausitzring over the course of the weekend.
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