Premat edges Coulthard in DTM test

This week's AUTOSPORT magazine reveals that Coulthard will make his decision on whether to race in the DTM this year based on yesterday's running, as it was his only opportunity to share the track with several other cars after completing three private tests with Mercedes in recent weeks.

"The best time to make a decision is when you've got the maximum amount of information at your disposal to decide whether to jump into it," Coulthard told AUTOSPORT. "That will be after this final test."

The 13-time grand prix winner driving a year-old spec Mucke Motorsport Mercedes - finished Wednesday's test just 0.059 seconds slower than Premat's best lap for the Phoenix Audi squad in Spain.

Markus Winkelhock made it two Audis in the top three, while Bruno Spengler was the top latest-spec car in fourth for Mercedes.

Ralf Schumacher, who confirmed he will race in the DTM for a third season earlier this week, was only 0.015 seconds slower than his HWA team-mate in fifth place, while Mattias Ekstrom and Timo Scheider were next up as the Abt Sportline team made a quiet start to the four-day test.

Franky Cheng, who has been linked to a drive in the series this year with Mercedes, was the slowest of the nine runners, 1.5 seconds adrift of Premat.

Pos  Driver                 Car          Time     
 1.  Alexandre Premat       Audi         1:28.666
 2.  David Coulthard        Mercedes     1:28.725  
 3.  Markus Winkelhock      Audi         1:28.883  
 4.  Bruno Spengler         Mercedes     1:28.949  
 5.  Ralf Schumacher        Mercedes     1:28.964  
 6.  Mattias Ekstrom        Audi         1:29.127  
 7.  Timo Scheider          Audi         1:29.156  
 8.  Susie Stoddart         Mercedes     1:30.102  
 9.  Congfu Cheng           Mercedes     1:30.235