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Spa testing day one

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The second joint DTM tests in the 2005 season – held at Spa-Francorchamps – started the same way as the first had ended three weeks ago, at Mugello: with a fastest lap time set by an Opel driver. Behind the wheel of his Opel Vectra GTS V8, Heinz-Harald Frentzen lapped the 6.976-kilometre Ardennes rollercoaster in 2:14.312 minutes.

“For me, Spa-Francorchamps represents a kind of a home circuit,” said Frentzen, “as it’s located just some 100 kilometres from my hometown, Mönchengladbach. I don’t know if this has been the reason for my fastest lap, but I can say that we have experienced a problem-free first day of testing, here in Belgium. It’s a fantastic feeling to corner Eau Rouge with the Opel Vectra GTS V8.”

In his AMG-Mercedes C-Class, DTM rookie Jamie Green finished second on the time sheets, 0.389 seconds slower than Frentzen, while the busiest man of day one, Green’s brand-mate Jean Alesi, completed 77 laps and secured third place. “The car handles well,” said Green. “It’s great fun to drive here at Spa-Francorchamps. The circuit represents a true challenge for every driver. I’m satisfied with what we achieved to day.”

Alesi added: “It has been a productive day of testing and I have covered a total mileage of 77 laps. Three years have gone by since I have been at Spa for the last time so far, at that time with Formula One. And back in 1989, I succeeded in winning the Formula 3000 round, at this circuit. I’m very pleased with the results of today’s test. We have made some progress and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Stephan Mücke in his independently entered Mercedes-Benz finished fourth, ahead of the fastest Audi driver, Christian Abt in the Joest Racing entered Audi A4 DTM, with the man from the Allgaeu having been 0.905 seconds slower than Frentzen. “This is a truly impressive circuit,” beamed Abt in the evening, “Particularly the Eau Rouge and the 6-speed bend in front of the Bus Stop Chicane. Altogether, the circuit resembles the Nürburgring Nordschleife. While the sun shines over one section of the track, another sector can be hit by rain. Furthermore, there are many turns demanding for a lot of courage, and I’ve always loved this kind of corners.”

Spa-Francorchamps also represented the location of the new Audi A4 DTM’s first public appearance. Behind the wheel of the new car with its striking single-frame grille and its new body shape, Martin Tomczyk covered a total mileage of 38 problem-free laps, thus completing his scheduled testing programme. “We have executed all the tasks we had planned to do,” said Tomczyk. “We don’t bother the lap times, here, and the car has run without experiencing any problems whatsoever. Anything is going according to plan and I’m looking forward to the new Audi A4 DTM’s first race, at the Hockenheimring.”

Audi driver Tom Kristensen, however, had to experience a moment, in the morning session. Behind the wheel of his 2004 spec A4 DTM, the Dane went off in the fast bend Blanchimont and crashed into the tyre walls, thus seriously damaging his car. But thanks to the Audi A4 DTM’s great safety equipment, Kristensen was able to leave the car unhurt. The damaged car will be repaired by the Audi squad on site and is supposed to be used again tomorrow, with Rinaldo Capello behind its wheel.