Qualification race: Ekstrom dominates

Mattias Ekstrom won the DTM qualification race at the A1-Ring in Austria today (Sunday) for the Abt Audi team, thanks to a tremendous start which allowed him to rocket ahead of poleman Laurent Aiello. Aiello's title rival Bernd Schneider also got past the Frenchman on the opening lap, boosting his slim title chances

Sep 8, 2002, 1:42 PM

Ekstrom made a brilliant start to outdrag Abt Sportsline team-mate Aiello into the first corner. Aiello was forced to defend from both Schneider and his AMG Mercedes team-mate Jean Alesi at the opening bend.

Aiello remained on a defensive tack at the second Remus Kurve, but Schneider's better line allowed him to pull alongside on the drag down to Gosser Kurve, where he claimed the inside line and second position. Aiello fought back at the next corner, but Bernd kept his place.

All that allowed Ekstrom to disappear into the distance, and he held a comfortable lead to the flag. Schneider held off Aiello throughout for second, while Alesi always had the measure of Martin Tomczyk's Audi, and the young German then fell behind Uwe Alzen's AMG Mercedes in the closing stages.

Alain Menu was the top Opel in seventh, ahead of colleagues Manuel Reuter and Joachim Winkelhock. Britain's Peter Dumbreck finished 15th, while DTM returnee JJ Lehto was 18th on his comeback with Opel.