Scheider tops Zandvoort test

The drivers were taking it rather easily in the first DTM test at Zandvoort on Friday morning. In the first 30 minutes of the 90 minutes’ session, only seven drivers set a timed lap at the 4.307 kilometres long track in the dunes. After that, traffic became more intense. With his Audi A4 DTM, Timo Scheider set the fastest time 1:35.372 minutes early in the session. His team-mate Tom Kristensen was second, 0.303 seconds down. Christian Abt completed the Audi trio on top by claiming third place.

Fastest driver with an AMG Mercedes C-Class was Bruno Spengler in fourth place. On his fastest lap, the Canadian lost 0.584 seconds to front runner Scheider. Spengler was followed by another two Mercedes-Benz drivers with Bernd Schneider and Jamie Green in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Vanina Ickx had a lot of bad luck in the first test: on her first lap already, the Belgian lady racer landed in the gravel trap of the Tarzan corner, which initially caused a brief yellow flag phase. After a little bit less than one hour, the session was red-flagged for the Audi A4 DTM to be recovered and to be taken back to the pit box. The Belgian remained the only driver without a timed lap.

Susie Stoddart completed the highest number of laps. With sunshine and a partly clouded sky, the driver from Scotland lapped the circuit at the North Sea 25 times. Her team-mate Mathias Lauda was also quite active: the Austrian completed 24 laps and was ranked 18th behind Stoddart.