Alesi storms to pole

Alesi set the pace in the opening 23-minute session, from which the top 10 go through to the single-lap Super Pole, ahead of AMG Mercedes colleagues Bernd Schneider and Gary Paffett. Tom Kristensen headed the Audi charge, ahead of Opel's Timo Scheider.

Peter Dumbreck's hopes of a good start to the season ended on his first flying lap, when the gearbox of his Vectra appeared to lock-up, and he was pitched into a concrete wall causing severe damage to the car. It meant an end to his 100 per cent record of Super Pole appearances.

In the Super Pole itself, Alesi ruled once more. A quite stunning middle sector meant he was the only driver to dip under 1m35s barrier, much to his delight.

"My car was very good straight away," said Alesi. "At the hairpin I was thinking 'there is no way I can throw this away now'. Since Friday, all we have done with the car is clean and refuel it. Pole is only part of the weekend, so I need to stay focused on the race now."

Audi's Martin Tomczyk was the surprise of the day, the youngster showcasing his single-lap speed by taking the other front row spot, just ahead of team-mate Tom Kristensen. Paffett made a mistake in the final sector, which dropped him to fourth, while reigning champion Bernd Schneider did likewise and will start a lowly, for him, fifth.

Mattias Ekstrom (Audi) qualified sixth, ahead of a trio of Opels comprising Timo Scheider, Manuel Reuter and Marcel Fassler. Christijan Albers (Mercedes) will start 10th after he was too ambitious at the first corner and crossed the 'penalty line' with all four wheels.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen will start 16th on his DTM debut after he spun while trying to get into the Super Pole session. Dumbreck will start 21st and last.

Jean Alesi, Mercedes C-Class, 1m34.834s
Martin Tomczyk, Audi A4, 1m35.044s
Tom Kristensen, Audi A4, 1m35.118s
Gary Paffett, Mercedes C-Class, 1m35.128s
Bernd Schneider, Mercedes C-Class, 1m35.280s
Mattias Ekstrom, Audi A4, 1m35.356s
Timo Scheider, Opel Vectra GTS, 1m35.515s
Manuel Reuter, Opel Vectra GTS, 1m36.098s
Marcel Fassler, Opel Vectra GTS, 1m37.169s
Christijan Albers, Mercedes C-Class, time disallowed