Auer beats Eng to Lausitzring pole by 0.007s

Mercedes driver Lucas Auer will start the first DTM race of the weekend from pole position after beating BMW's Phillip Eng to the top-spot by 0.007s at the Lausitzring. 

Auer arrives into the third round of the 2018 season sitting third in the points standings but went fastest of all in qualifying to secure his first pole position of the year.

The Austrian driver's 1 minute 37.343s lap was good enough to deny DTM rookie Eng pole position in only his second weekend in the series.

Former champion Bruno Spengler made it two BMWs in the top-three after coming within 0.150s of snatching pole position himself. The Canadian is joined on the second row by early practice pacesetter Pascal Wehrlein in fourth.

Hockenheim's race two winner and championship leader Timo Glock will defend his slender points lead from fifth on the grid ahead of fellow BMW stablemate Marco Wittmann in sixth.

Edoardo Mortara and Paul di Resta make up the fourth row on the grid in seventh and eighth ahead of the struggling Audis of Nico Muller and Mike Rockenfeller.

Audi once again look to be off the pace with the leading RS 5 runner 0.5s slower than Auer's pole position time.