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First Opel test for Frentzen and Fassler

Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:52:30 +0000

With test sessions at Vallelunga, Italy, not too far from Rome, Opel Performance concluded the DTM-activities in the year 2003. During the test, Opel's two new signings for the 2004 DTM-season, former F1-driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Swiss Marcel F?ssler were driving an Opel Astra V8 Coup? for the first time. ... Keep reading

Aiello signs for Opel

Mon, 22 Dec 2003 18:42:20 +0000

Former DTM champion Laurent Aiello is another well known name to be joining the ranks of Opel drivers in 2004, after signing a deal with the manufacturer. Aiello took the title in 2002 with Abt-Audi but was unhappy with the performance of the car in 2003. The Frenchman finished sixth overall in the standings as Bernd Schneider took his fourth DTM championship. ... Keep reading

Frentzen moves to DTM with Opel

Sat, 13 Dec 2003 00:43:58 +0000

Following in the footsteps of Jean Alesi, former Formula One driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen will move to the German Touring Car series (DTM) in 2004. Frentzen drove for Sauber in F1 in 2003 but both he and teammate Nick Heidfeld have been replaced for next season, by Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa. The 36 year-old German will now take the wheel of an Opel Vectra GTS in next ... Keep reading

Fassler ready for Opel challenge

Wed, 03 Dec 2003 18:45:36 +0000

Marcel F?ssler has spent all his four years in the DTM with Mercedes but now it's time for a change. Last week F?ssler announced that he is moving to Opel for 2004 and is ready for a new challenge. After three fourth places in the championship standings, 2003 saw the Swiss move up to third at the end of the season after a long fight for the title with fellow Mercedes HWA drivers Bernd ... Keep reading

Increased co-operation between DTM & Euro F3

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:24:36 +0000

DMSB and ITR increase co-operation in Formula 3 Euro Series The co-operation between the DTM and its junior partner Formula 3 will be even stronger in the future. As of next season, the marketing rights for the successful junior category, the Formula 3 Euro Series, are with the DTM-organisation ITR. These rights were handed over to the ITR with immediate effect by the two governing ... Keep reading

2004 DTM calendar

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:24:36 +0000

2004 DTM race calendar


April 18         Hockenheimring                 Germany
May 2           Estoril                        Portugal
May 16          Adria International Raceway    Italy
June 6          EuroSpeedway Lausitz           Germany
June 27         Norisring                      Germany
August 1        Nurburgring                    Germany
August 8 ... Keep reading

Change of circuits for 2004

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:24:36 +0000

The 2004 DTM calendar was announced at the Essen Motor Show today and there are some changes to the circuits from this year. The series returns to previously used tracks in Portugal, the Czech Republic and Germany, while Austria, the UK and the second race at the Nürburgring have been dropped. As usual the season will kick off at the Hockenheimring, April 18th, and the Estoril ... Keep reading

Opel confirms Fassler signing

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:24:29 +0000

Marcel F?ssler to compete for Opel in 2004 DTM * Minimum of four new Opel Vectra GTS V8s -- roll-out in February * In addition to Marcel F?ssler, Opel sign Peter Dumbreck and Manuel Reuter * Joachim Winkelhock to stay with Opel as "OPC ambassador" * OPC Team Phoenix preparing two Astra V8 Coup?s for 24-h race at N?rburgring * Successful Formula 3 engine subjected to further detailed ... Keep reading

Aiello and Audi part company

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:24:28 +0000

In what is turning out to be a busy week in DTM, Laurent Aiello has parted company with Abt-Audi, the team he won the 2002 championship with. Audi had a comparatively poor season in 2003 and Aiello only managed fourth in the title standings as Mercedes dominated the show. The Frenchman has his sights set on Opel for 2004. ... Keep reading

Fassler to Opel in 2004

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:24:19 +0000

Marcel F?ssler has left Mercedes after four years with marque and will move to Opel for 2004. The 27-year old Swiss joined the DTM in 2000 with Mercedes and was Rookie of the Year, finishing fourth overall in the championship. He retained the position the next two years and in 2003 he moved up to third in the standings, with victory in Austria and a string of podium finishes. ... Keep reading

Stoddart turns down Albers deal

Sun, 23 Nov 2003 03:08:57 +0000

Only a few days after Christijan Albers' manager said he was confident a deal could be reached with Minardi, Paul Stoddart has turned down offers from the Dutchman's sponsors. Lodewijk Varossieau, Albers' manager, had said only the details remained to be finalized but a statement on Albers' website has now revealed that Stoddart and sponsors could not agree on contracts. It appears ... Keep reading

Opel completes Misano test

Thu, 20 Nov 2003 18:16:57 +0000

Opel completed a three-day test at Misano in Italy last week, preparing for the 2004 season and also running the first of the driver assessment programmes. As last winter, the manufacturer is testing quite a line up of drivers in consideration for next year. Those taking part in the assessment included Brazilian former F1 driver and Ferrari tester Luciano Burti, German Formula 3 ... Keep reading

Opel preparing for driver assessments

Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:07:02 +0000

As the manufacturer did last winter, Opel is preparing to run driver assessments in November with a view to next year's signings. The test was originally scheduled for this month, at the Lausitzring, but was cut short due to bad weather. As previously, there is quite a list of drivers scheduled to take part: former Formula One driver Luciano Burti was one of the participants ... Keep reading

Mercedes Stars & Cars 2003

Wed, 29 Oct 2003 20:47:02 +0000

This year's motor sport season ends traditionally with the Mercedes-Benz Stars & Cars event on the DaimlerChrysler Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant premises on Saturday, November 8, 2003 from 10:00 until 16:00. All Mercedes-Benz race drivers of the 2003 season will take part: Formula One Wold Championship runner-up Kimi Räikkönen, David Coulthard, Alexander Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa; ... Keep reading

Tyre testing at Lausitz

Sun, 19 Oct 2003 21:19:33 +0000

One driver from each of the three DTM manufacturers completed the first winter test of Dunlop tyres at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz last week. Mercedes' 2003 champion Bernd Schneider, Opel's test driver Marcel Tiemann and Abt-Audi's Martin Tomczyk tried out the new tyres for the 2004 season. Besides the normally used tyre, the three drivers compared a new construction during simulated ... Keep reading

Alesi wins Hockenheim, Schneider is champion

Tue, 07 Oct 2003 13:19:36 +0000

Jean Alesi won the last DTM race of the season at Hockenheim and Bernd Schneider took the 2003 championship, his third title in four years and his fourth in the DTM since 1995. Third on the grid, Alesi overtook the second placed Opel of Peter Dumbreck on the opening lap and dispatched Audi's pole-sitter Mattias Ekstr?m after the first round of pit stops. The Mercedes driver then held ... Keep reading

Final 2003 standings

Mon, 06 Oct 2003 19:59:23 +0000

@>Drivers' Championship: Pos Driver Nat Points --- ---------------------------------------- ----- ---------- 1. Bernd Schneider D 68 2. Christijan Albers NL 64 3. Marcel Fassler CH 57 4. Mattias Ekstrom S ... Keep reading

Hockenheimring II: Opel race report

Mon, 06 Oct 2003 19:59:02 +0000

Opel's Peter Dumbreck on fourth in DTM -- F3 title win for Briscoe and Opel In front of a massive 105,000-strong crowd at Hockenheim in Germany, Opel ended its DTM season just one-second away from the podium after a thrilling final round. Scotland's Peter Dumbreck (OPC Team Phoenix), who qualified in an excellent second position in his Astra V8 Coupe, couldn't manage to keep the ... Keep reading

Audi Motorsport newsletter 2003-10-04

Mon, 06 Oct 2003 19:59:02 +0000

First DTM point for Audi Junior Peter Terting Audi Junior Peter Terting exceeded his season's expectations at the DTM finale (German Touring Car Masters) at Hockenheim: The youngest DTM driver ever in "Touring Car's Premiere Division" collected his first point in front of an impressive backdrop of 105,000 spectators. "I'm absolutely over the moon," said the joyous 'Star of Tomorrow' ... Keep reading

Hockenheimring II: Abt Sportsline race report

Mon, 06 Oct 2003 19:58:55 +0000

Abt driver Mattias Ekström on the podium at DTM-final With a veritable motorsport thriller and another podium finish, Abt Sportsline has bowed out of the DTM-season. In front of the absolute dream crowd of 105,000 spectators, Mattias Ekström finished second and only just missed out on victory by the tiny margin of two tenths of a second. Laurent Aiello completed the strong team ... Keep reading