Saturday free practice: More Merc dominance

Fassler lapped in 1m00.308s, a couple of hundredths quicker than DTM rookie Patrick Huisman. The Dutch Porsche Supercup star was lucky to be up there, however, as his car ground to a halt on its out lap and had to be pushed into the pit lane. His Eschmann-Manthey squad repaired the car in time for some demon-quick laps later in the session.

Niether Bernd Schneider, Peter Dumbreck or Uwe Alzen ventured out for the Three Pointed Star this morning, but all are likely to figure highly in the afternoon's qualifying session. All cars will be limited to 12 laps, as in Formula 1.

While Opel continues to wallow at the wrong end of the timesheets at Hockenheim, the Abt Audi squad is looking good. Laurent Aiello was third fastest, 0.3secs off the leading pace, and backed up by team mate Christian Abt in sixth.

Sandwiching them was Huisman's team mate Bernd Maylander and Persson's Tomas Jager, the fastest of the 2000-spec machinery in fifth. His team mate Christijan Albers was seventh fastest, after some spectacularly sideways driving, while England's Darren Turner was eighth fastest in his Rosberg-run, 2000-spec Merc.

The quickest Opel was Joachim Winkelhock, who could only manage ninth place in his Holzer-run car, 0.023s quicker than Manuel Reuter's Phoenix-tended machine. Reigning BTCC champion Alain Menu was a lowly 17th fastest in his Euroteam-run car, and his cause wasn't helped when his right-side door flew off at high-speed.

The only thing which could save the Ruesselsheim marque's blushes is the fact that snow showers have been predicted for this afternoon, and could turn qualifying into a lottery.


Marcel Fassler, 2001 Warsteiner Mercedes CLK, 1m00.308s
Patrick Huisman, 2001 Eschmann-Manthey Mercedes CLK, 1m00.371s
Laurent Aiello, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, 1m00.690s
Bernd Maylander, 2001 Eschmann-Manthey Mercedes CLK, 1m00.765s
Tomas Jager, 2000 Persson Mercedes CLK, 1m00.772s
Christian Abt, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R 1m00.834s
Christijan Albers, 2000 Persson Mercedes CLK, 1m01.070s
Darren Turner, 2000 Rosberg Mercedes CLK, 1m01.138s
Joachim Winkelhock, 2001 Holzer Opel Astra Coupe, 1m01.172s
Manuel Reuter, 2001 Phoenix Opel Astra Coupe, 1m01.195s
Michael Bartels, 2001 Holzer Opel Astra Coupe, 1m01.310s
Yves Olivier, 2000 Phoenix Opel Astra Coupe, 1m01.330s
Mattias Ekstrom, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, 1m01.341s
Timo Scheider, 2001 Holzer Opel Astra Coupe, 1m01.347s
Martin Tomczyk, 2001 Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, 1m01.358s
Pedro Lamy, 2000 Rosberg Mercedes CLK, 1m01.388s
Alain Menu, 2001 Euroteam Opel Astra Coupe, 1m01.664s
Hubert Haupt, 2000 Euroteam Opel Astra Coupe, 1m02.230s
Peter Mamerow, 2000 Mamerow Opel Astra Coupe, 1m02.626s


Uwe Alzen, , 2001 Warsteiner Mercedes CLK
Peter Dumbreck, 2001 D2 Mercedes CLK
Bernd Schneider, 2001 D2 Mercedes CLK