Tomczyk fastest in first Test
With a delay, the first DTM test got underway at Hockenheim on Friday. Martin Tomczyk was the first driver of the season to post a fastest lap time with his new Audi A4 DTM. The driver from Rosenheim lapped the 4.574 kilometres long Hockenheimring in 1.34.543 minutes. The third-placed of the 2007 DTM season led a group of no less than seven Audis.
Behind Tomczyk, his team-mate Timo Scheider ended up second, 0.329 seconds down. DTM novice Oliver Jarvis from the Audi Sport Team Phoenix occupied third place from reigning champion Mattias Ekström. The Audi septet was completed by Alexandre Prémat, Mike Rockenfeller and Tom Kristensen.
BILD2LHWA-graduate Paul di Resta was the fastest driver with an AMG Mercedes C-Class. 1.013 seconds down on Tomczyk’s fastest time, the Scotsman ended up eighth overall. Returnee Christijan Albers caused a little surprise, claiming ninth place with his 2006-spec Audi A4 DTM. Rookie driver Maro Engel was tenth. Ralf Schumacher had to park his AMG Mercedes C-Class early due to a technical problem. The former F1 driver was 15th in the first test at Hockenheim with a lap time of 1.36.175 minutes. With five minutes remaining, the session had to be red-flagged, after a fire emerged on the left front part of Susie Stoddart’s car. The marshalls extinguished the fire quickly.
