Reuter in, Dumbreck out

Reuter's inclusion in the team alongside former champion Laurent Aiello, Marcel Fassler and former Formula 1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen means that British ace Peter Dumbreck, who has competed in the DTM series since its re-introduction in 2000, is currently out of work for 2005.

Jeroen Bleekemolen and Timo Scheider have also not been re-signed for next year's line-up of Opel Vectra GTS V8s - the last before GM withdraws the marque from the series.

"Although I am happy that Manuel Reuter will be working with us again next season," admitted Opel sport director Volker Strycek, "I regret that Bleekemolen, Dumbreck and Scheider will no longer be in the team in 2005.

"All three of them would have deserved to remain on board because of their performances in the past season. But the budget cuts we have to cope with, allow us only to run four cars. Therefore, we had to decide in favour of one of the four equal candidates."

The 43-year-old German, who won the category when it was known as the ITC in 1996, has been a contracted Opel driver since 1991.

"I am delighted to be a member of the Opel team again next year," said Reuter. "In spite of my long-standing involvement with Opel, that wasn't self-evident. For those team-mates who will be no longer in the team, I keep my fingers crossed."