Dumbreck paces final pre-season test

Dumbreck lapped his year-old Persson Mercedes CLK in 57.92s, over half a second faster than the Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R of Christian Abt - who debuted the new Red Bull colourscheme that Karl Wendlinger and Mattias Ekstrom will use.

"I hooked up a good lap," said Dumbreck, who won the round at Lausitz last year, but was demoted from the lead AMG squad over the winter to make way for former F1 star Jean Alesi. "I'm driving the same car as last year, and I know what it and I can do. I think the track will be a lot quicker in a fortnight, and times will tumble."

Timo Scheider gave Opel's 2002 hopes another boost with the third quickest time in his Holzer-run Astra Coupe, ahead of the second Audi of Laurent Aiello, although he was the fastest overall on the opening day of the test. Reigning champion Bernd Schneider was sixth fastest, with new team-mate Alesi eighth, although the former grand prix ace was third quickest on Tuesday.

The DTM season begins at Hockenheim on April 21.


1 Peter Dumbreck, Persson Mercedes, 57.92s
2 Christian Abt, Abt Audi, 58.50s
3 Timo Scheider, Holzer Opel, 58.50s
4 Laurent Aiello, Abt Audi, 58.67s
5 Christijan Albers, Rosberg Mercedes, 58.71s
6 Bernd Schneider, AMG Mercedes, 58.85s
7 Patrick Huisman, Manthey Mercedes, 58.85s
8 Jean Alesi, AMG Mercedes, 58.95s
9 Joachim Winkelhock, Phoenix Opel, 59.13s
10 Marcel Fassler, AMG Mercedes, 59.26s