Alesi cricital of DTM driving standards

[SJ Spode]

Autosport are quoting Jean Alesi as been critical of the driving standards in the DTM following the season's first meeting at Hockenheim. In particular he was angered by the tactics of Audi's Christian Abt as the pair clashed early in the feature race.

I know it's difficult to comment on the specifics, having not seen the race footage, but does he have a point or is it likely just a case of Jean needing to adapt to Touring Cars from F1??, as in the past some of the passing moves in DTM and BTCC have been what one could term robust.

[Speeddemon555]

Jean Alesi will have to get use to it in the touring car because these tourer can beat and bang and he's not in an F1 car where there is no bumping around the track.

[F1spanna]

I think you have to wait & see the race first. It's fair enough to say that there is contact in touring cars and its to be expected.
But it's not on if the other driver isn't driving fairly. For example - Larini punting out Tarquini last year enabling Giovanardi to take the title. That's just not on.
Also in '92 Soper took out Cleland and that allowed Harvey to take the BTCC title.
But then again I suppose some people would find this acceptable or say it was a racing incident. It's all a matter of opinion.

And before you say that I'm defending Alesi & I'm biased - I'm not - I'm a big fan of the Audi's!

[alesi95]

It didn't seem to me that Alesi was being that critical of DTM. He just happened to be a bit put out by what happened with Abt.

All touring car drivers complain about their rivals.
Take John Cleland for example. He never seemed to shut up about his competetors

But yes this is something Alesi will have to get used to.

[touringlegend]

Alesi was rambling on about some code of driving they had in F1, was that follow nicely around and only pass when people enter pits ??

[Chofar]

I remember Alesi coming back in french touring championship in the early 90's at Pau. He made a jump start in the first leg, was dqued, stayed on the track and made some other goodies in the second leg. All ended by some rude words with De Chaunac and other french drivers and managers. Be patient, Jean will quickly learn, he's not a follower, just a bit complainer.

[SJ Spode]

I finally got round to seeing the tape of the Hockenheim race, and didn't see Alesi's encounter with the Audi as anything more than a typical Touring Car incident