Audi DTM on top in first test at Mugello

By Steven English

Friday, March 14th 2008

Markus Winklehock's Audi set the fastest lap of the first DTM test of the season at Mugello this week.

The German set his best time on the final afternoon of the three-day test, beating Jamie Green's Mercedes by 0.166 seconds.

Paul Di Resta was third overall for Mercedes, but Audi was the stronger car over the three days, despite Tom Kristensen and Mike Rockenfeller leaving the test on the second morning to head to Sebring to contest the ALMS opener for Audi.

Alexandre Premat and Mattias Ekstrom also topped sessions on each day of the test and Premat is happy with the progress made by the team, and believes Audi will be in a strong position for the first race.

"These were some great days of testing for us," he said. "We were at the front of the field in all conditions and that's a tremendous feeling. It inspires even more enthusiasm in the team for the new season."

In addition to the 18 works drivers at the test, Christijan Albers made his series comeback, testing a 2006-spec Audi for Team Futurecom. The Dutchman previously finished runner-up in the DTM with Mercedes in 2003.

There was a huge difference between the quickest and slowest times across the three days at Mugello, but several drivers didn't complete a lap on the final day when conditions were much faster than earlier in the week.

Combined times:

Pos Driver              Team          Time        Laps
1. Markus Winkelhock   Audi          1:42.132     138
2. Jamie Green         Mercedes      1:42.298     103
3. Alexandre Premat    Audi          1:42.764     140
4. Paul Di Resta       Mercedes      1:42.986      97
5. Gary Paffett        Mercedes      1:43.121     105
6. Mattias Ekström     Audi          1:43.192     174
7. Ralf Schumacher     Mercedes      1:43.506     111
8. Christijan Albers   Audi          1:43.638      98
9. Timo Scheider       Audi          1:43.952      98
10. Susie Stoddart      Mercedes      1:43.988     139
11. Martin Tomczyk      Audi          1:44.409      95
12. Oliver Jarvis       Audi          1:47.811      98
13. Katherine Legge     Audi          1:49.565     105
14. Maro Engel          Mercedes      1:56.358     118
15. Mathias Lauda       Mercedes      1:57.974     101
16. Mike Rockenfeller   Audi          1:58.268      86
17. Tom Kristensen      Audi          1:58.451      31
18. Bruno Spengler      Mercedes      1:58.513      84
19. Bernd Schneider     Mercedes      1:58.617      68