AMG Mercedes driver DiResta is 2010 DTM Champion, AMG drivers 2nd and 3rd

The 2010 DTM season has ended at the Shanghai Circuit in China and AMG Driving Academy sponsored driver Paul DiResta is the Driver's Champion. AMG Mercedes drivers rounded out the top three with Gary Paffett nipping season long points leader Bruno Spengler in this final race. The top placing Audi driver was defending Champion Timo Scheider in 4th. AMG Mercedes had already clinched the DTM Manufacturer's crown at the penultimate round of the series in Adria.

The final race was won by Paffett in his Salzgitter HWA AMG C-Class, the 9th AMG Mercedes win of the 11 race season, with DiResta's second place enough to earn him the crown worn by such legendary AMG drivers before him as Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig. The DTM Driver's title has not been won by an AMG Mercedes driver since Schneider in 2006.

The Holiday dinner table back in Scotland will be plenty festive as DiResta's cousin Dario Franchitti won the 2010 Indy 500 and was crowned the Izod Indy Car Series Champion for the second year in a row.

DiResta is now rumored to be headed to Formula One where he has been reserve driver for the Force India Mercedes team. This would open up the best seat in the DTM in the crack HWA Team for 2011.

The 2011 season will again see the specification of the cars frozen at 2009 designs ahead of an all new DTM formula for 2012 when BMW rejoins the series and DTM prepares for their style of racing to be exported around the world including to the US for 2013.

Here are the final standings for the 2010 DTM Driver's Championship and the Shanghai race- round 11.

1. Gary Paffett Salzgitter HWA AMG C-Class
2. Paul DiResta AMG Driving Academy HWA C-Class
3.Timo Schieder Abt Sportline Audi A4
4.Martin Tomczyk Abt Sportline Audi A4
5. Miguel Molina Abt Rookie Team Audi A4

2011 DTM Driver's Standings

1. Paul Di Resta
2. Gary Paffett
3. Bruno Spengler
4. Timo Scheider
5.Mattias Eckstrom