Dear fans, the DTM season 2009 is over now. I am not fully satisfied with the result, but it was still a positive weekend at the Hockenheim Ring. Too bad that it was not possible to finish in the points in the final race of the year.

For me and my team, the weekend started with a challenge. In the free practice session on Saturday, the track was initially wet and we had to fight a bit with the conditions. The drier the track was, the better my Mercedes C-Class performed. Our steady setup improvements contributed their part to the fact, that we were satisfied with the handling at the end.

Until the qualifying my team used a little "extra" time, to give my car a perfect setup. With this C-Class the final qualifying of the year was really fun and with my 8th position, I was able to beat Jamie Green again. In our internal qualifying duel, with a result of 6:4 over the season, I was able to keep my nose in front.

During the warm-up on Sunday morning it was wet again. Again we could do small changes in the setup, which brought us a good improvement. So we were well-prepared for the race. In the dry and as well for wet conditions.

Despite some dark clouds over the track, it should remain dry all the time. My start into the final race of the year worked great. After the first two corners I had already improved my position by one place and I was about to attack the two Audis in front of me. At the hairpin after the Parabolika I got hit as a result of two other cars crashing into each other. Actually, everything would have worked, but a driver braked too late and crashed into the side of Martin Tomczyk. He was simply pressed into my right side and this pushed me off the track. It was very annoying, especially after this my car had a big hole in the right door and the aerodynamics were severely damaged. So I was "pushed back" to 12th position.

I had to try to make the best out of the situation. I quickly started to catch my competitors, and put really good pressure on them. Unfortunately after the accident, I had a setup problem. Under braking into the corners, the rear wheels always locked. Although I was much faster than the guy in front of me, it was impossible to pass them with this handling of my car. Fortunately, however, I benefited from the pit stops, which then brought me to the front on the 10th position. But without the accident, much more would have been possible.

Looking back over the entire season, I must say that I'm satisfied. It was a great year and my team has always done an outstanding job, for which I am very grateful. For my eight points and the 12th overall position, we have fought together. Because, without a good working team; a racing driver is nothing. Motorsport is and remains a team sport, so the success is not my merit alone, it is the merit of the entire team. Sometimes we were a bit unlucky, but seen over the whole year, we have always had a very good speed.

Finally, I would also like to thank you, my fans. The fan club started well and it's really great to get this fantastic support. Keep on. During the winter break we will decide where I am racing next year. You will hear from me as soon as possible.

Until then I wish you a beautiful, racing free time.
Maro