Qualification race: Audi A4!

Martin Tomczyk made a lightning start to overhaul pole sitter Laurent Aiello, while a similarly fast start for Christian Abt was negated when he ran wide at Turn 2 and ceded third place to Mattias Ekstrom. The only Abt Sportsline car out of the frame was Karl Wendlinger, who finished 10th after a spin at Turn 1.

German youngster Tomczyk controlled the pace from the front, beating Aiello by 1.8s to take pole for the main event. The first non-Audi home was Opel's Timo Scheider, who inherited fifth when his team leader Manuel Reuter spun all on his own at the Sachs Kurve on lap 7.

The first Mercedes home was Marcel Fassler, who grabbed sixth when Peter Dumbreck ran wide at the Mobil Kurve in the closing stages. Dumbreck recovered to finish seventh, ahead of debutant Jean Alesi, who made a brilliant start and held off veteran Uwe Alzen throughout.

Reigning champion Bernd Schneider finished a lacklustre 11th after going off to avoid the spinning Wendlinger.

Alain Menu spun his Opel at the first corner and finished 16th, while Mercedes' Dutch contingent Patrick Huisman and Christijan Albers collided at Mobil on lap two which put the latter out.


Martin Tomczyk (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, 13 laps
Laurent Aiello (F) Abt-Audi TT-R, +1.8s
Mattias Ekström (S) Abt-Audi TT-R, +4.9s
Christian Abt (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, +10.7s
Timo Scheider (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, +13.4s
Marcel Fässler (CH) AMG Mercedes-Bend CLK, +16.5s
Peter Dumbreck (GB) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, +20.2s
Jean Alesi (F) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, +21.5s
Uwe Alzen (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, +22.0s
Karl Wendlinger (A) Abt-Audi TT-R, +22.6s