Zandvoort Report

The newest racing machine out of the Audi AG shops is definitely a show stopper, both on and off track. The new Audi A4 was a class unto itself in both practice sessions at Zandvoort, Netherlands.

In the DTM series, the first day of on-track activity is considered, like many top touring and endurance series, more of a shakedown/test day rather than showing what you have to your competition. Yet, Audi may have tipped their hand on Friday unless the Mercedes factory teams were holding back.

"Things are starting out well again, an experience we're almost used to at Zandvoort," said current points leader Timo Scheider. "That's great because it's the circuit I've been looking forward to more than to any other one. Although that doesn't mean much we did reel off a long distacnce in the first practice session. That worked out quite well. In the second test, we were able to concentrate on the setup for the qualifying and immediately headed in the right direction."

The first session had Audi in the top four positions of the time chart with Timo Scheider (Audi Sport Team Abt) at a best lap of 1:34.170 followed by his teammate Tom Kristensen at 1:34.240, a mere 0.070 seconds adrift.

"With stable weather, Friday made it possible for us to do the work we'd planned on," said Audi Head of Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Having eight cars in the top ten is a good sign, but it shouldn't be overrated. We did some good basic work and simulated a racing distance very well with Tom Kristensen. We've accomplished a solid preparation for the weekend."

In the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline A4 for third was Mattias Ekstrom at 1:34.336 with Audi Sport Team Phoenix's Oliver Jarvis fourth with a 1:34.457 in the year-old Audi A4.

Adrift of the overall pace setter by nearly three-tenths of a second was Paul di Resta for AMG Mercedes with a 1:34.465 to place fifth in the first test of the day.

di Resta and team did not fare as well in the afternoon runs, nearly six-tenths off the fast lap laid down again by Scheider. The Audi driver topped both speed charts with his best lap of the day at 1:33.935.

The second test saw Ekstrom's teammate Martin Tomczyk take the second fastest time of the day at 1:33.935, only 0.26 seconds off the pace of Scheider. Ekstrom hit his best lap of 1:24.047 to again be third in the session.

Jarvis kept a Mercedes at bay with his time of 1:24.112 to remain in the top four overall Friday times a the end of the day.

For the stern AMG Mercedes team it was Gary Paffett taking the fifth best of the day at 1:34.292 and closed the gap a bit by being only four-tenths off the pace of Scheider.

Mercedes has their work cut out to find the extra speed needed on the Dutch circuit to stay in touch with Audi's performance, not only today but with their past win record at the unique sand dune circuit.