Haug: Tiemann superb, but still a sub

Tiemann's Eschmann-entered CLK starts on the front row at the Norisring, having qualified just 0.066s behind pole-sitter Bernd Schneider. At the last round, at the Sachsenring in eastern Germany, Tiemann narrowly missed out on a podium, just two events into his temporary tenure. But Haug says the car will be returned to Maylander as soon as he's race ready.

"We are happy with Tiemann, and it's no secret that we wanted to keep him in 2001," he said. "He's been unlucky in the past and we know he's a good guy, but it's Bernd's car and as soon as he's fully fit again, he'll be in it - absolutely no question. He's walking again now, but he's not 100 percent yet and the Norisring is a track that's very physically demanding. But I can't stress it enough: Bernd will be back as soon as he's fit."

Tiemann had driven in the Three-Pointed Star's 2000 campaign, but had ditched it for 2001 in favour of a drive with the Zakspeed-Forsythe Champ Car squad. When that fell through due to a lack of backing, Tiemann signed up for Zakspeed's V8-Star tin-top attack. However, when Maylander broke his heel in a fall at Oschersleben, the German jumped at the chance of revitalising his season.

"It's been a great opportunity, which I'm trying hard to make the most of" he said, "and it's fantastic to start at the Norisring - I thought Bernd would be fit by now."

"I hope Bernd is fit again soon too," quipped points-leader Schneider, "because super-sub is too fast for me..."