[DTM] Round 3 - Mugello, 4th May 2008

[JMeissner]

Time for the third round of DTM - Mugello in Italy.

Will Mercedes get their first win of the season?

Saturday 03.05.2008
09.40-10.40 hrs DTM free practice
10.55-11.25 hrs Superstars Series free practice 2
11.50-12.30 hrs Formula 3 Euro Series start race 1
12.45-13.15 hrs Event Programme pitwalk
13.28-14.15 hrs DTM qualifying
14.30-14.55 hrs DTM international press conference
15.00-15.40 hrs Porsche Carrera Cup qualifying
15.55-16.25 hrs Superstars Series qualifying
16.35-17.35 hrs Event programme taxi drives
17.45-19.00 hrs Event programme Mercedes driving experience
Sunday 04.05.2008
09.55-10.30 hrs Porsche Carrera Cup start race
10.55-11.35 hrs Formula 3 Euro Series start race 2
11.50-12.10 hrs DTM warm up
12.20-13.10 hrs Event programme pit walk/taxis/event programme
13.20-13.30 hrs DTM information laps
13.30-13.45 hrs DTM start grid presentation
14.03 hrs DTM start race
15.05 hrs DTM finish
ca. 15.15 hrs DTM podium ceremony
15.30-15.55 hrs DTM international press conference
16.00-16.30 hrs Superstars Series start race

[JMeissner]

Don't miss the predictions competittion for Mugello:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105997

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Not to be a troll, but isn't DTM just too dull? I haven't missed a race for some time because of Ektröm's involvement, but come on. Nothing ever happens.

[Last2LiftOff]

Nice post Jim.

With all of its faults, I still enjoy watching these guys pound cars around a track - literally banging over the curbs in Oschersleben as an example - love the sound of the V8's, and indifferent with all the aero really. You still have to get a car around a track quicker than your teammate(s). So, its not for everybody, no problem.

For what it's worth at this point, I notice the race highlight packages are back-up at dtm.com-videos, Oschersleben and Hockenheim in englais. Signing in...mandatory, this thread, optional.

[stedevil]

Looking at the testing times, I'm wondering what on earth is going on in the Merc shop this year. For crying out loud, the 2007 Audi is lapping on similar times as the 2008 Merc and it even weighs 5kg MORE then the Merc... and vs the 2008 Audi it's barely on the same pace even though 20kg lighter...

Was the McLaren fine in F1 lifted out of the budget for Mercs DTM budget, or whats up?!?

[Hazard]

Grid for Race

Even with weight, Timo's on a bit of a roll this year.

1 - Timo Scheider - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2008 - 1:43.079


2 - Jamie Green - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2008 - 1:43.401


3 - Tom Kristensen - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2008 - 1:43.420


4 - Mattias Ekström - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2008 - 1:43.472


5 - Paul di Resta - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2008 - 1:43.487


6 - Bruno Spengler - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2008 - 1:43.579


7 - Bernd Schneider - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2008 - 1:43.579


8 - Markus Winkelhock - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2007 - 1:44.025


9 - Alexandre Prémat - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2007 - 1:43.927


10 - Mike Rockenfeller - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2007 - 1:43.997


11 - Oliver Jarvis - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2007 - 1:44.031


12 - Martin Tomczyk - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2008 - 1:44.154


13 - Ralf Schumacher - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2007 - 1:44.735


14 - Maro Engel - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2007 - 1:45.357


15 - Gary Paffett - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2007 - 1:44.914


16 - Christijan Albers - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2006 - 1:44.986


17 - Mathias Lauda - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2007 - 1:45.644


18 - Katherine Legge - Audi A4 DTM - DTM2006 - 1:46.086


19 - Susie Stoddart - Mercedes C-Klasse - DTM2007 - 1:46.258

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by stedevil

Looking at the testing times, I'm wondering what on earth is going on in the Merc shop this year. For crying out loud, the 2007 Audi is lapping on similar times as the 2008 Merc and it even weighs 5kg MORE then the Merc... and vs the 2008 Audi it's barely on the same pace even though 20kg lighter...

Was the McLaren fine in F1 lifted out of the budget for Mercs DTM budget, or whats up?!?

TAG-McLaren paid the fine, not Mercedes - no excuses, they just suck

[stedevil]

Amazing lap Timo managed to pull out from the hat in the last seconds. But lugging around on 20kg extra I'm pretty sure the 08 Audis will be seriously struggling vs the 08 Mercs on the hot, abrasive and fast track in Mugello...

I'd be most impressed if Timo manages to take home the win over the race distance.

[dj4monie]

DTM needs a 3rd and even a 4th manufacture; This just isn't fair to pass champions like Gary Paffett, who I think may need to make a clean break with Mercedes because they choose to not put him in a latest spec car, but a year old version with updates, but proves to be slower.

They didn't give him an F1 seat and they give him year old cars in DTM.

Not sure I understand what your saying Stendevil, they change tires twice in the single race, I don't see wear being an issue at all.

[stedevil]

Indeed, what basically boils down to 2 teams, makes for crappy racing over all.

And being in a 07 Merc right now must really suck, given the 08 Merc is performing so badly compared to the 08 Audi that it is now weighing LESS then both the 07 Merc and 07 Audi... you can't do **** with an 07 Merc in such circumstances.

Re tires, the less weight of the car, the more you can push for many laps before your tires reach the point of dramatical performance loss. In short, the Mercs should be able to push harder then the Audis throughout the race since their tires will relatively lose less performance from it.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by dj4monie

DTM needs a 3rd and even a 4th manufacture

Why can't our government just pass a law that makes it illegal to sell a new mid-size sedan in Germany unless it's entered in DTM?

[roachy101]

3 audis in top 5, i can guess that it'll be an audi win

[Bernard Bram]

Originally Posted by dj4monie

Not sure I understand what your saying Stendevil, they change tires twice in the single race, I don't see wear being an issue at all.

According to Manuel Reuter they reach temperatures over 140°C and the track surface is very hard on tyres. IIRC they struggled with tyres last year too. It's probably the fastest track in DTM and seeing these cars on the edge around the fast bends is mind boggling.

Pity the race is not at the same time as the Mille Miglia, as i'm taking my Elise down there in two weeks.

[roachy101]

Originally Posted by roachy101

3 audis in top 5, i can guess that it'll be an audi win

i got that slightly wrong

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by roachy101

i got that slightly wrong

Yupp, the 20kg extra is even more damaging on a racetrack like mugello in the race then over a 1 lap quali. Timos jumpstart was just the final nail in this particular coffin.

[Valenok]

Nice race, but nothing else
I think, it's top-level of modern DTM
We need radical changes to get something better

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Well, that was exciting wasn't it...

[strider]

I didn't watch the race (too busy with A1GP), so correct me if I'm wrong, but it strikes me that Olly Jarvis's 5th place in a year old Audi (and second best Audi of all) was a pretty good effort. In fact it was a pretty good day for the Brits all round.

I tend not to watch the races for the reasons mentioned by others. Sure, the technology is amazing, but the spectacle has been lost somewhere along the way.

[stedevil]

Yeah, Jarvis has show a really good performance and the 07 Audi is still up to par even compared to 08 Merc.

But dont forget it had 15kg less weight then the 08 Audi on the tire killer track, it will be down to only 5kg less in next race.

Still the 07 Audis, both car and their driver lineup, will continue to cause the 08 Merc guys some serious headache when it comes to scoring points.

[FIRE]

First race of the season I have watched. For a DTM race it was okay but nothing special. Lauda was involved in some nice battles. Like Valenok already said it's time for some radical changes.

And Stoddart made it clear again the pitstop system isn't working in DTM because of politics.