A1-Ring qualifying race: Schneider's starter

Schneider stayed ahead of AMG Mercedes team mate Peter Dumbreck at the opening corner, despite a stern challenge from the Scot, and pulled away thereafter to win by 2.8secs.

Dumbreck was a clear second, ahead of the third AMG Merc of Uwe Alzen, who had Laurent Aiello's Audi breathing down his neck on the final lap. Aiello was shuffled out at the first corner, dropping to sixth, but he battled past Alain Menu's Opel Astra at Gerhard Berger Kurve and grabbed fourth from team mate Martin Tomczyk at the same place a tour later.

Menu passed Tomczyk for fifth at Castrol Kurve on lap three and held that place, although the young German came back at him in the closing stages.

Marcel Fassler (Mercedes) took seventh, ahead of Michael Bartels (Opel) Bernd Maylander (Mercedes) and David Saelens (Mercedes).

Three cars were eliminated in a big crash at the uphill Remus Kurve. The incident was triggered when Timo Scheider's Opel collided with Mattias Ekstrom's Audi. Both were collected by Thomas Jager's Mercedes, which reared up on two wheels before coming crashing back down to earth right side up.

"I came round the corner tight on the inside and Scheider appeared from nowhere," said Jager. "Luckily the barrier stopped me from rolling. I came down hard, though, and the car is badly damaged."

All are unlikely to take the start for the main event, which kicks off at 15.08 local time (14.08 BST).



Bernd Schneider, 2001 D2 Mercedes CLK, 8 laps
Peter Dumbreck, 2001 D2 Mercedes CLK, +2.8s
Uwe Alzen, 2001 Warsteiner Mercedes CLK, +3.9s
Laurent Aiello, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, +4.4s
Alain Menu, 2001 Euroteam Opel Astra Coupe, +9.1s
Martin Tomczyk, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, +11.1s
Marcel Fassler, 2001 Warsteiner Mercedes CLK, +13.7s
Michael Bartels, 2001 Holzer Opel Astra Coupe, +14.0s
Bernd Maylander, 2001 Eschmann-Manthey Mercedes CLK, +17.7s
David Saelens, 2000 Rosberg Mercedes CLK, +18.0s
Christijan Albers, 2000 Persson Mercedes CLK, +18.6s
Patrick Huisman, 2001 Eschmann-Manthey Mercedes CLK, +19.0s
Manuel Reuter, 2001 Phoenix Opel Astra Coupe, +20.9s
Darren Turner, 2000 Rosberg Mercedes CLK, +24.7s
Yves Olivier, 2000 Phoenix Opel Astra Coupe, +39.5s
Joachim Winkelhock, 2001 Holzer Opel Astra Coupe, +56.7s
Hubert Haupt, 2000 Euroteam Opel Astra Coupe, +59.9s
Christian Abt, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, +3 laps
Peter Mamerow, 2000 Mamerow Opel Astra Coupe, gravel trapped
Mattias Ekstrom, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, accident damage
Timo Scheider, 2001 Holzer Opel Astra Coupe, accident
Thomas Jager, 2000 Persson Mercedes CLK, accident