Spengler sets first fastest time

In the first test at the Norisring, the 20 DTM drivers got a taste of what they can expect during the next two days: a hot weekend. In bright sunshine and with temperatures above 30 degrees, Bruno Spengler set the first fastest time.

The Franco-Canadian lapped the 2.3 kilometres short street circuit in the city of Nuremberg in 49.730 seconds with his AMG-Mercedes C-Class. Jean Alesi was second with the fastest C-Class from last year, 0.067 seconds down. In third position, Brands Hatch-winner Mattias Ekström set the best time with an Audi A4 DTM with 49.880 seconds.

Behind the two championship leaders, Bernd Schneider (AMG-Mercedes C-Class) and Tom Kristensen (Audi A4 DTM) in fourth and fifth place, Jeroen Bleekemolen was an excellent sixt with his 2004-spec Audi. The Dutchman completed a total of 56 laps, which made him the most prolific diver on Friday morning.

As could be expected, it was already extremely close during the first test. From Bruno Spengler to Susie Stoddart with the 2004-spec AMG-Mercedes C-Class, there were 18 drivers within one second after the test. Only the two rookies Mathias Lauda and Vanina Ickx were more than a second down on the front runners after 90 minutes of testing. The first eleven drivers were even separated by less than half a second. The second DTM test at the Norisring is starting at 14.00 h and will also last 90 minutes.