Sat test: Alesi's Hockenheim makeover!
AMG Mercedes continued to set the pace at Hockenheim for the 2003 DTM finale, but this time it was Jean Alesi who set the pace in the wet one-hour test session on Saturday morning
Alesi was not backward in coming forward when it came to using the run-off areas on the revamped German Grand Prix venue. He made a mockery of track designer Hermann Tilke's constant radius bends, and converted Turn 1 into a super-quick sweeper and left the track once more for a good couple of seconds on the exit of the Mercedes Arena section on his way to a 1m49.158s lap time.
The Frenchman was half a second clear of championship aspirant Bernd Schneider's Merc CLK, but Schneider hit trouble - well, he hit the wayward Audi of rookie Peter Terting. The German youngster was having one of his random moments when Schneider arrived on the scene and clipped the Audi, causing both to spin.
Bernd needn't have worried too much about his title rival, Christijan Albers. The Dutchman continues to look off-form and was almost a second slower than Schneider, although the weather conditions look likely to cause havoc in the Super Pole later today.
Martin Tomczyk was third fastest in his Audi, ahead of the lead Opel of Peter Dumbreck, the Scot looking much more at home in the wet conditions than in the dry. Mattias Ekstrom and Timo Scheider rounded out the top six places.
Jean Alesi (F) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK 1m49.158s
Bernd Schneider (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK 1m49.694s
Martin Tomczyk (D) Audi Junior Team Abt Audi TT-R 1m50.275s
Peter Dumbreck (GB) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m50.359s
Mattias Ekstrom (S) Abt-Audi TT-R, 1m50.433s
Timo Scheider (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupe 1m50.542s
Alain Menu (CH) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m50.609s
Marcel Fassler (CH) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK 1m51.093s
Christijan Albers (NL) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 1m51.501s
Manuel Reuter (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 1m51.664s
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