Opel scratches head over cold weather form

Temperatures in Germany have plummeted since official testing earlier in the month, and the cold snap is set to continue, with snow showers even forecast for Sunday. Opel has been limited in how much dry weather running it has been able to carry out with its 2001 cars so far and marque insiders say conditions like those this weekend - dry, but with temperatures down in the single digits - have not so far been encountered in testing.

While top Mercedes times have come close to breaking the one-minute barrier on the Hockenheim short circuit, Opel has been struggling to get within a second of the Three-Pointed Star's benchmark. Bernd Schneider set the fastest time out of the three free practice sessions, stopping the clocks at 1m00.053, while Opel's quickest lap was a 1m01.172s, set by Jo Winkelhock in the Saturday morning session.

"The fundamental problem is that we can't get the tyres up to a reasonable working temperature," said an Opel engineer. "We've set faster times in testing here, but with the colder temperatures now, it's like we're working with a completely different car."

All the cars in the DTM run a single Dunlop control tyre. The 2001-spec version boasts a new construction over last year's, making it more 'user-friendly' and raising cornering speeds, and has been given a thumbs-up by the Opel drivers in early testing.

"That's what makes it more frustrating - we've got a tyre we're happy with and we feel we can work with, but apparently not this weekend," added the engineer. "We'll sort it, but it's not the start to the season we wanted or expected."

In contrast to Opel's fortunes, the Abt-built Audi TT-Rs have come out of the box flying. Despite only finishing three out of its four 2001-spec cars - all of which boast a lengthened wheelbase and improved aerodynamics - this week. Laurent Aiello set the third fastest time in the third and final free practice session, putting in a 1m00.609s flyer as he continued to get to grips with the car.

With no more chances to hone its set-ups before Saturday afternoon's single 45-minute session of F1-style qualifying (each driver is allowed a maximum of 12 laps, including in- and out-laps), Opel was pooling its information to try and find a 'guesstimate' solution on set-up.

"The teams are all trying different things, then we'll discuss it and hopefully choose the best," said Euroteam newcomer Alain Menu. "It's a good way of working, but I'm not sure if anybody has found the solution yet."

Qualifying is scheduled for 1200 BST.