The third round of the 2007 DTM will be staged at Mugello, Italy, 30 kilometres north of Florence this coming weekend. The race will be the 10th of the DTM in Italy, races of the ITR Cup in 1994 and the ITC in 1995 and 1996 included. Mercedes-Benz drivers won seven out of the nine races so far. Last year, Mika Häkkinen drove the AMG Mercedes C-Class to victory after starting 15th on the grid.

Overall ranking: Behind leader Timo Scheider (Audi), there are six drivers within seven points; among them are C-Class drivers Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class), fourth with 11 points; Jamie Green (Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class) fifth with seven points; Paul Di Resta (AMG Mercedes C-Class), seventh with five points.

Pit stops: In the 2008 DTM, the two pit stops are compulsory in the second third of the race. In the 33-lap race in Mugello, the drivers have to pit between laps 12 and 22. Sunday’s warm-up has been brought forward from 13:05 h to 11:50 h. In case of an accident or a technical problem, as they occurred at several cars in Oschersleben, the teams now will have more time to prepare the cars for the race.

The winners of the DTM/ITC races in Italy

1994 (ITR-Cup): Kurt Thiim, Jörg van Ommen (beide AMG Mercedes C-Class)

1995 (ITC): Bernd Schneider, Dario Franchitti (beide AMG Mercedes C-Class)

1996 (ITC): Nicola Larini (Alfa), Bernd Schneider (AMG Mercedes C-Class)

2003: Christijan Albers (AMG Mercedes CLK)

2004: Mattias Ekström (Audi)

2007: Mika Häkkinen (AMG Mercedes C-Class)

Mugello , Adria The ITR-Cup was an additional drivers’ ranking including the races outside Germany. – The International Touring Car Championship (ITC) was held parallel to the DTM in 1995 and as its successor in 1996. - Since 2001, there has been only one race per event. Mercedes-Benz drivers have won seven out of the nine DTM/ITC races in Italy.

What drivers and motorsportchief say:

Bruno Spengler, start number 3 (2008 Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Class): “May podium finish in Oschersleben showed that we are working in the right direction. I am confident that we will be able to further improve in Mugello. We have the potential to achieve this.”

Paul Di Resta, start number 4 (2008 AMG Mercedes C-Class): “I have a lot of relatives in Italy and therefore, Mugello is kind of a home race for me which I look forward to. It will be a good occasion to improve again.”

Jamie Green, start number 5 (2008 Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class): “It will be difficult to find the optimum set-up. For the more than one kilometre long front straight you need an optimum top speed. The many medium-fast corners require downforce for a good lap time.”

Bernd Schneider, start number 6 (2008 Genuine Parts AMG Mercedes C-Class): “The track creates a technical challenge for the engineers. I am the only DTM driver who won twice at this track. With our experience we should be able to make another step forward.”

Gary Paffett, start number 7 (2007 stern AMG Mercedes C-Class): “The Mugello track layout promises an exciting race for drivers and spectator. I like the circuit and aim to score points again here.”

Mathias Lauda, start number 8 (2007 Pixum AMG Mercedes C-Class 2007): “Overtaking should be possible at the end of the long front straight, and that is what I plan to do to score my first points this season.”

Ralf Schumacher, start number 11 (2007 Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class): “In March I drove in Mugello for the first time ever. With the experience we gained during the tests we should have a good basic set-cup, with which we can start the weekend. Thus I want to continue my positive trend.”

Maro Engel, start number 12 (2007 JungeSterne AMG Mercedes C-Class): “I liked Mugello when I drove here during my first DTM test last December for the first time. I look forward to the race and the enthusiastic Italian crowd.”

Susie Stoddart, start number 16 (2007 TV Spielfilm AMG Mercedes C-Class): “When we tested in March I completed 139 laps, more than any other of my C-Class colleagues. I hope this experience will pay off this coming weekend.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “The Mugello circuit is challenging and varied, it features fast as well as slower corners. Last year, we won there with Mika Häkkinen a race, which was not easy for us, and we want to perform as well as possible this weekend.”

Autodromo Internazionale di Mugello

• The Mugello circuit is the longest on the DTM calendar with a length of 5.245 kilometres followed by Hock-enheim (4.574 kms) and Zandvoort (4.307 kms). The front straight is 1.141 kilometres long.
• The race will have the fewest laps (33), but the longest distance: 173.085 kms; ahead of Barcelona (172.666 kms) and Norisring (170.200 kms).
• First races in and around Mugello have been held on a 66-kilometre circuit of public roads in 1914. In 1921, Enzo Ferrari achieved a class victory here with an Alfa Romeo. The permanent Mugelloo circuit has been opened in 1974. Today, Ferrari own the facilities and have modified and remodelled it. Their Formula 1 team is testing here and Mugello is also the venue for the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix.

Length:

5.245 kms

Race distance:

33 laps = 173.085 kms

DTM lap record:

Martin Tomczyk (1:46.126, 2007)