Saturday practice: Alesi leads the way
Jean Alesi might not have driven around the Norisring before yesterday, but it didn't show during Saturday's final hour of free practice before qualifying for the fifth round of the DTM
The ex-Formula 1 star whirled his AMG Mercedes CLK around the historic German circuit in 49.551s, almost half a second quicker than he achieved yesterday. Christian Abt, second yesterday, was the bridesmaid once again in his Abt Sportsline Audi TT-R, the German matching Alesi in the spectacular driving stakes, if not the timesheets.
Once again, all three DTM marques featured in the top three. The top Opel this time was Manuel Reuter, who left it late but ended the session third fastest in his Astra Coupe. Mattias Ekstrom was fourth fastest in his Red Bull-backed Abt Audi, just 0.001sec down on Reuter.
Bernd Schneider, who topped the times yesterday, didn't fare so well on Saturday. He whacked the Armco on the exit of the Grundig Hairpin, but wasn't alone in leaving painted streaks along the Norisring's notorious barriers. He ended the session fifth fastest.
Further back, series leader Laurent Aiello continues to struggle slightly, although he rose a couple of places today to eighth. Britain's Peter Dumbreck, who has been struggling with his set-up, found a couple of tenths today but was still down in 18th, almost six-tenths off the pace in his 2001-spec Mercedes CLK.
Donington and Sachsenring star Alain Menu (Opel) again languished at the bottom of the timesheets, with only Patrick Huisman (Mercedes) slower than him.
Qualifying begins at 13.00 local time (12.00 BST).
Jean Alesi (F) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 49.551s
Christian Abt (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, 49.586s
Manuel Reuter (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupe, 49.672s
Mattias Ekström (S) Abt-Audi TT-R, 49.673s
Bernd Schneider (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 49.681s
Martin Tomczyk (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, 49.690s
Uwe Alzen (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, 49.742s
Laurent Aiello (F) Abt-Audi TT-R, 49.751s
Thomas Jäger (D) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, 49.784s
Timo Scheider (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 49.813s
Joachim Winkelhock (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 49.840s
Bernd Maylander (D) Manthey Mercedes-Benz CLK, 49.853s
Michael Bartels (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 49.864s
Karl Wendlinger (A) Abt-Audi TT-R, 49.950s
Marcel Fässler (CH) AMG Mercedes-Bend CLK, 49.978s
Christijan Albers (NL) Rosberg Mercedes-Benz CLK, 50.019s
Yves Olivier (B) Eutoteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 50.104s
Peter Dumbreck (GB) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, 50.135s
Stefan Mücke (D) Rosberg Mercedes-Benz CLK, 50.172s
Alain Menu (CH) Euroteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé, 50.207s
Patrick Huisman (NL) Manthey Mercedes-Benz CLK, 50.249s
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