Mercedes driver Lucas Auer picked up his second win in the DTM series in the 2017 season-opener at the Hockenheimring.
He held off BMW racer and former Formula 1 driver Timo Glock to claim victory, after dominating the opening part of the race.
Auer lined up on pole position and controlled the first stint of the race, making his pitstop around the mid-way point.
However, in the second stint, Glock – who started fourth – started to close in on Auer and the two drivers were separated by under one second with a handful of laps remaining.
Glock looked up the inside several times, even making light contact at the hairpin on the final lap, but could not find a way ahead.
Auer held off Glock to win the first race of the new season, with Glock eventually coming home second for BMW.
Mike Rockenfeller made it three different manufacturers on the podium, using an alternative strategy to pick up places and holding second for a while before Glock overhauled him.
New Mercedes recruit Edoardo Mortara was fourth, with Mattias Ekström pitting later than rivals and putting his fresh tyres to good use to move up to fifth.
René Rast was sixth for Audi. Gary Paffett started on the front row but fell to seventh as the race progressed.
Ex-F1 driver Paul di Resta was eighth, ahead of Nico Müller. Reigning champion Marco Wittmann completed the top 10 after a low-key race.
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