Friday practice: Dumbreck on top

The Scot lapped his OPC Team Phoenix Astra in 1m35.976s around the Dutch seaside venue, just under a tenth faster than the Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R of last year's Zandvoort winner, Mattias Ekstrom. Opel's form was underlined by the fact that Alain Menu (OPC Team Holzer) and Timo Scheider (in the second Phoenix entry) were third and fourth fastest. Scheider's time was all the more impressive as he missed the morning session due to an electrical problem which meant replacing the car's wiring loom.

Laurent Aiello was fifth fastest in his Audi, ahead of Abt team-mate Karl Wendlinger. Title protagonist Christijan Albers was the top Mercedes in a surprisingly lowly seventh, this despite a left-rear puncture during the afternoon session, ahead of fellow local hero Jeroen Bleekemolen (Opel) and former F1 star Jean Alesi (Mercedes).

Manuel Reuter was 10th in his Opel, ahead of Christian Abt (Audi) and series leader Bernd Schneider, who could only manage the 12th fastest time. Thomas Jager was the fastest of the 2002 Mercs in 13th, while Gary Paffett was 15th in his similar machine.


Peter Dumbreck (GB) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m35.976s
Mattias Ekstrom (S) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m36.083s
Alain Menu (CH) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.486s
Timo Scheider (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupe, 1m36.517s
Laurent Aiello (F) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m36.551s
Karl Wendlinger (A) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m36.572s
Christijan Albers (NL) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m36.720s
Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL) Euroteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.762s
Jean Alesi (F) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m36.773s
Manuel Reuter (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m36.825s