Zolder: Aiello splashes to win

His Audi team-mate Christian Abt followed him home for a one-two result, but the main talking point of the race concerned the Opel of Michael Bartels and the great confusion caused by the safety car.

Just as in the qualification race, the main event began under caution. The field ran in formation behind the safety car for four laps around the flooded circuit before it was decided that the race could start. When it finally got under way, Aiello made the most of his pole position to lead.

But on lap nine Martin Tomczyk repeated his mistake from the qualification race and threw his Audi off at the Jacky Ickx chicane. Aiello and fellow Audi driver Mattius Ekstrom decided to pit at the end of that lap, just as the safety car was despatched. But it failed to pick up new leader Bartels as he rounded the first corner and the German was able to gain a lap on the field.

The officials decided Bartels had overtaken the safety car, which was coming out of the pitlane as he negotiated the first corner. He was black-flagged, and it seemed he was out of the race. But instead of disqualifying him, the officials held the Astra for around a minute and half before letting it back out on to the track. He finished the race in eighth and out of the points.

The incident handed the lead back to Aiello, with Abt just behind him. Bernd Schneider's Mercedes completed the podium.

Christijan Albers caused the race to be red-flagged just before the maximum running time of 45 minutes was up by beaching his car at the Ickx chicane. His CLK was lying sixth at the time, a position he kept when the result was taken from the lap before his mistake.

Laurent Aiello (F) Abt-Audi TT-R, 21 laps
Christian Abt (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, +1.950s
Bernd Schneider (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, +7.913s
Mattias Ekström (S) Abt-Audi TT-R, +13.872s
Timo Scheider (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, +19.265s
Christijan Albers (NL) Rosberg Mercedes-Benz CLK, +26.711s
Uwe Alzen (D) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, +27.884s
Michael Bartels (D) Holzer Opel Astra V8 Coupé, +30.817s
Marcel Fässler (CH) AMG Mercedes-Bend CLK, +33.137s
Jean Alesi (F) AMG Mercedes-Benz CLK, +36.179s
Stefan Mücke (D) Rosberg Mercedes-Benz CLK, +40.290s
Patrick Huisman (NL) Manthey Mercedes-Benz CLK, +42.477s
Peter Dumbreck (GB) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, +48.592s
Alain Menu (CH) Euroteam Opel Astra V8 Coupé, +51.585s
Manuel Reuter (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupe, +56.132s
Bernd Maylander (D) Manthey Mercedes-Benz CLK, +57.870s
Joachim Winkelhock (D) Phoenix Opel Astra V8 Coupe, +1m20.420s
Karl Wendlinger (A) Abt-Audi TT-R, 20 laps
Thomas Jäger (D) Persson Mercedes-Benz CLK, 15 laps
Martin Tomczyk (D) Abt-Audi TT-R, spin