Mercedes-Benz drivers unhappy in Zandvoort
A heated DTM race in Holland at the weekend left many Mercedes-Benz drivers feeling frustrated at the tactics employed by their Audi counterparts.
Fifth-place Bruno Spengler was the highest-placed Mercedes-Benz driver, but he remains convinced that collisions with Audi drivers prevented a much more rewarding finish.
"We had a very good strategy and a really great speed and I improved to third. However, I was hit by Christian Abt in the pits and then a couple of times by Timo Scheider on the track, what damaged my car at the rear severely and affected the aerodynamics significantly," he said.
"Now I am fifth instead of third, but there are still three races to go."
Mika Hakkinen, who drove his 2007 AMG Mercedes C-Class to seventh position, was also frustrated about the nature of this "turbulent race".
"My C-Class ran very well and I had expected more than seventh place; unfortunately, I was hit by other cars. At the Nurburgring in five weeks’ time it will be a different story," he pledged.
Bernd Schneider had a particularly tough time in Zandvoort, finishing in 12th position after a collision with an Audi driver.
"Tom Kristensen exited the pits, when I drove by. He did not back off and moved to my side too far and crashed into my car. Afterwards I had problems with the balance of my car and was not able to improve further," he said.
Norbert Haug, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, has expressed his disappointment that so many drivers were prevented from achieving their potential.
"We saw some action which does not match our idea of tough but fair sport and which cost Bruno, Mika and Bernd their positions they had fought for," he complained.
The DTM series now enters a five-week break, before a crucial contest at the Nurburgring in September. Haug is already looking forward to this race as an opportunity for "revenge", which he insists will be "sportsmanlike and fair".
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