DTM - Zandvoort (NL) - Round 7, 29th July 07

[Last2LiftOff]

Qualifying from the Dutch coast on now. Live timing at dtm.com, but you have to sign in and it's again been pretty choppy this weekend. All Audi so far through this morning but we'll see what happens.

[cg7aa]

I was looking all week for a DTM Zandvoort thread and couldn't find one. Is it a case of people slowing turning off or are the usual suspects who tend to start race weekend threads busy elsewhere (Spa 24hrs)?

[Hazard]

They pop up as races happen for DTM. I think because there's always a lack of pre-event news for the DTM, unlike WTCC and BTCC.

Grid
1 - Timo Scheider [8] - Team Abt Sportsline - Audi A4 DTM - 1:32.823

2 - Mattias Ekström [3] - Team Abt Sportsline - Audi A4 DTM - 1:32.870


3 - Martin Tomczyk [4] - Team Abt Sportsline - Audi A4 DTM - 1:32.903

4 - Alexandre Prémat [17] - Team Phoenix - Audi A4 DTM - 1:33.036


5 - Tom Kristensen [7] - Team Abt Sportsline - Audi A4 DTM - 1:33.085

6 - Bruno Spengler [2] - HWA AG Mercedes - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:33.162


7 - Paul di Resta [19] - Persson Motorsport - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:33.400

8 - Mike Rockenfeller [11] - Team Rosberg - Audi A4 DTM - 1:33.617


9 - Gary Paffett [9] - Persson Motorsport - AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:33.562

10 - Lucas Luhr [12] - Team Rosberg - Audi A4 DTM - 1:33.691


11 - Christian Abt [16] - Team Phoenix - Audi A4 DTM - 1:33.746

12 - Markus Winkelhock [20] - Futurecom TME - Audi A4 DTM - 1:33.849


13 - Mika Häkkinen [6] - HWA AG Mercedes - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:33.905

14 - Bernd Schneider [1] - HWA AG Mercedes - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:34.026


15 - Alexandros Margaritis [10] - Persson Motorsport - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:34.200

16 - Daniel la Rosa [15] - Mucke Motorsport - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:34.240



17 - Mathias Lauda [18] - Mucke Motorsport - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:34.409

18 - Jamie Green [5] - HWA AG Mercedes - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:34.548


19 - Susie Stoddart [14] - Mucke Motorsport - AMG Mercedes C-Klasse - 1:34.670

20 - Vanina Ickx [21] - Futurecom TME - Audi A4 DTM - 1:35.723

[racefanhuib]

Here is a video filmed by my from the Vanina Ickx crash:


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mevZS0-up3E
http://media.putfile.com/Ickxflipdtm2007

[Last2LiftOff]

Well, the gravel part's nothing new but the barrel roll.....

Glad she's okay.

[Last2LiftOff]

Hey, rain there this morning for practise? Anybody know what the weather's like there now for the race?

[flor]

currently dry but dark clouds everywhere

[Last2LiftOff]

Thank you Flor. Oops, I must've had the start time wrong, a half-hour earlier start than I thought. Di Resta out already?

[flor]

i think someone hit him in turn one and he spun

[Last2LiftOff]

Spengler in for third...c'mon Bruno.

[mikmx]

Audi= Ferrari what a joke this top 3..

[flor]

i hate team orders, Premat really deserved to win this....

[Hazard]

That was a poor end to a good race. The irony of Audi's races being spoiled by farcical safety cars and them making it clear they're not happy about it, they then go and pull that stunt.

[Last2LiftOff]

So, Premat and Abt both moved over then apparently? Didn't see it but it sounded like a great race otherwise.

[luke]

Multiple cars moving over on the last lap including the leader. What a farce.

I know I'd be annoyed if I bought a ticket and spent a lot of money to travel there.

[Gaz]

I don't watch DTM often but I watched the race and at first found it difficult to follow as cars were coming in and out of the pits all the time and the order was changing from one lap to the other - but unfortunately not on track!

The last 10 laps were excellent though and there was some hard but fair moves and I really thought Premat had earned a victory through a combination of good strategy and racecraft. You kind of sensed what happened next would happen though and it left a sour taste in the mouth. I can understand the logic behind it and ofcourse motorsport is a team game and championships could be won or lost on it - I'm sure there could have been a much more discreet way of arranging it than the way they did though. The Germans have something about arranging finishes on the last corner though!

[Last2LiftOff]

Originally Posted by Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich

The fact that Alexandre Prémat and Timo Scheider decided by themselves to let Martin Tomczyk and Mattias Ekström through was also part of the team work. This was no decision made by us.

Originally Posted by Norbert Haug

Surely it will not come as a surprise that my impression of the race is much different than Dr. Ullrich’s.

Full article and interviews at dtm.com. If Premat and Scheider did take that upon themselves, shows quite a bit of class I'd say, as ugly as it may've looked. Dunno.

But I enjoyed that race - when they were racing. I think my guy had a great day, considerin' (he had the equivalent of a curling rock in the trunk). Judging by some of the lap times, same goes for Premat, Scheider and Ekstrom to name a few others. Gotta wait a week now for the video highlight reel though, it's the 'newsfeed' only one on there until then.

[Knowlesy]

I am finding DTM harder and harder to follow.

It really is the world championship of bizarreness this season!

[429CJ]

Yes, I agree Knowlesy 100%.

Even more so, when I watched the German Porsche Supercup event just after DTM race: more racing, more overtaking, MUCH easier to follow the race, because no mandatory pit stops to mess everything up.

And cheers for Chris Mamerow, great drive.

[TWRv12]

What a farce. If ever there was a case for maufacturers not being allowed to owe more than 49% of a team

[JamesRamone]

despsite a good 2nd half of the race, i feel DTM needs to change it format, as its becomming slightly stale. Also another manufacturer

I don't suppose Audi can be blamed but it does leave a sour taste, and i feel bad for Premat.

Still a reasonable race

[flor]

they plan big rule changes for 2009 and they need them

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by flor

they plan big rule changes for 2009 and they need them

I believe it when I see it. They said that about 07 and 08 as well.....
If I was them I'd talk to Japanese Super GT about a common set of rules. Though Super-GT might just be a bit too expensive for the likings of Audi and Merc, though.

[Last2LiftOff]

I might try and enjoy the final races of the season anyway. If Ekström does win the championship this year he would've earned it with his performance to date IMO, the last lap antics notwithstanding. Again, pretty selfless by both Premat and Scheider really. And if he does win it, it could open some doors for him (and his fans, I note he has a bit of a following in Sweden).

Besides, until another manufacturer joins the fray, those Red Bull Audi's are pretty serious looking machines in the meantime.

[henk4]

for those of you who, in spite of all the controversy, want to see some of the action...

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame...em.php&rid=157