Day 3: Encouraging signs for Opel

Alain Menu was third quickest yesterday (Monday) in his new Euroteam-run Astra Coupe, which is running with the old aerodynamic package and engine.

"We're making progress, I'm pretty happy," said Menu. "I think we're heading in the right direction, and you never know what games the opposition might be playing. I believe we can go quicker than what we've shown so far."

The team has encountered a few setbacks in the four-day test, which concludes today (Tuesday). Menu encountered a transmission problem on Sunday and Michael Bartels lost Saturday afternoon after a collision with the Mercedes of DTM rookie Stefan Mucke.

Manuel Reuter, back behind the wheel after his heart scare a few weeks ago, only completed two laps on Sunday when his fuel tank was found to be leaking. Reuter's car features the 2002 front end aero package, developed in the Fondmetal windtunnel in Italy.

"I am quite happy with the test so far," said Opel motorsport boss Volker Strycek. "It is good to see all the cars so close together, but it is only a test and the times are not that important. The cars performed well, although they are not running in the full 2002 aero spec. I hope there is more to come."

Reigning champion Bernd Schneider, who took over from Jean Alesi on Monday, was fastest ahead of AMG Mercedes colleague Uwe Alzen.


1 Bernd Schneider, AMG Mercedes, 1m19.753s
2 Uwe Alzen, AMG Mercedes, 1m19.821s
3 Alain Menu, Euroteam Opel, 1m20.070s
4 Stefan Mucke, Rosberg Mercedes, 1m20.144s
5 Manuel Reuter, Phoenix Opel, 1m20.303s
6 Timo Scheider, Holzer Opel, 1m20.444s
7 Christian Abt, Abt Audi, 1m20.502s