2003 Adria Race

2003 Adria Race
The Adria International Raceway made its DTM debut in 2003.
Race Information
Date	11 May 2003
No.	58
Event	DTM Adria 2003
Location	Adria International Circuit Adria, Veneto, Italy
Format	125 km / 70 min (Championship Race)
Lap length	2.702 km (1.679 mi)
Distance	47 laps / 126.994 km (78.910 mi)
Qualifying Result
Pole Sitter	Marcel Fässler
Team	AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:12.173
Fastest Lap
Driver	Bernd Schneider
Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:11.669 on lap 44
Race Result
First	Second	Third
Christijan Albers	Mattias Ekström	Laurent Aïello
Winner Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	58:00.584
Race Guide
Previous		Next
2003 Hockenheim Opening Race		2003 Nürburgring I Race

The 2003 Adria Race, formally known as the DTM Adria 2003, was the second round of the 2003 DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship, staged at the Adria International Raceway in Adria, Veneto, Italy on 11 May 2003. The race, which was the first DTM round to be held at Adria and in Italy, would see Christijan Albers claim victory as Mattias Ekström and Laurent Aïello stormed towards the front late on.

Qualifying saw Marcel Fässler secure pole position in the second Super Pole shootout of the season, the Swiss race beating Bernd Schneider by 0.006s. Ekström was best of the rest for Abt-Audi in third ahead of Albers, while Peter Dumbreck led the Opel charge for the second successive race in fifth.

The start of the race saw Fässler ease ahead of Schneider to secure the lead into the first corner, although attention was quickly focused on the back of the field instead. Indeed, in the middle of the sprint to the first corner Stefan Mücke, Patrick Huisman and Manuel Reuter came together, with Timo Scheider and Thomas Jäger also involved.

That incident was cleared without outside intervention, allowing Fässler to escape with Schneider and Albers in tow. They were escaping at a fair rate from a fast starting Dumbreck, who had jumped Ekström at the start, with the Swede himself trying to find a way past the #19 Opel throughout the early stages.

Fässler would come into the pits for his first mandatory stop on lap twelve, but would rejoin behind Aïello who put up a stubborn defence of his position. That would allow both Albers and Schneider to jump him, with Fässler getting further delayed by Peter Terting when the German youth allowed Aïello through.

The next drama saw Schneider receive a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane, handing the lead to Albers as the two-time Champion slipped back to sixth. A lap later Schneider dived in to serve an early second stop, with the rest of the leaders waiting until the final third of the race to make their stops.

After the second round of stops Albers retained the lead ahead of Fässler, while Schneider had moved back up to third ahead of Aïello and Ekström. In the closing stages the two Abt-Audis would elbow their way past Schneider and then Fässler, albeit after Team Abt allowed Ekström to pass the defending Champion before they managed to lunge past Schneider.

With that the race was run, with Albers securing victory at a canter ahead of a charging Ekström, who had to resist pressure from Aïello in the closing stages to secure second. Behind them, Fässler kept the sister car of Schneider at bay to claim fourth, while Dumbreck was a lonely sixth in the first of the Opels. Jean Alesi ran out of time to hunt down the #19 Opel and so settled for seventh, with Alain Menu the last of the scorers in eighth.

Background

Two weeks after the season opening race in Hockenheim the 2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship arrived at a new venue, the Adria International Raceway in Adria, Veneto, Italy in mid-May. A new circuit opened only in 2002, the Adria course was one of the shortest the new DTM had raced on, measuring just 2.702 km around with sixteen corners, many of which were little more than kinks. The DTM would duly become the new circuit's first major International visitor, with the DTM's entry list unchanged ahead of its second round of the campaign.

Schneider Supremacy

Bernd Schneider would unsurprisingly lead the charge after the opening race of the season, the German racer having been awarded ten points for his opening day triumph. Marcel Fässler was next up ahead of Laurent Aïello, who opened his title defence with six points, while Jean Alesi, Christijan Albers, Peter Dumbreck, Timo Scheider and Mattias Ekström also registered opening day points.

Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes led the charge in the Teams' Championship with 14 points, a point more than sister squad AMG-Mercedes in second. Hasseröder Abt-Audi were next up ahead of OPC Team Phoenix, while PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi were the last of the opening day scorers in fifth. In the Manufacturers' Championship, meanwhile, AMG-Mercedes led the charge with 27 points, while Abt-Audi were ahead of Opel with seven points to the latter's five.

Entry List

The full entry list for the 2003 Adria Race is displayed below:

2003 Adria Race Entry List
No.	Name	Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Livery
1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	Abt-Audi	TT-R 2003
2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	Abt-Audi	TT-R 2003
3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2003
4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2003
5	Mattias Ekström	PlayStation 2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	Abt-Audi	TT-R 2003
6	Karl Wendlinger	PlayStation 2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	Abt-Audi	TT-R 2003
7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	Opel	Astra V8 Coupé DTM
8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	Opel	Astra V8 Coupé DTM
9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2003
10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2003
11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2002
12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2002
14	Martin Tomczyk	S Line Audi Junior Team	Abt-Audi	TT-R 2002
15	Peter Terting	S Line Audi Junior Team	Abt-Audi	TT-R 2002
16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	Opel	Astra V8 Coupé DTM
17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	Opel	Astra V8 Coupé DTM
18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	Opel	Astra V8 Coupé DTM
19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	Opel	Astra V8 Coupé DTM
20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2002
24	Patrick Huisman	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2001
42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	AMG-Mercedes	CLK-DTM 2001
Source:

Qualifying

Results

The final qualifying result for the 2003 Adria Race are outlined below:

2003 Adria Race Qualifying Result
Super Pole Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:12.173	—	134.776 km/h	1
2nd	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:12.179	+0.006s	134.764 km/h	2
3rd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:12.269	+0.096s	134.597 km/h	3
4th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:12.512	+0.339s	134.146 km/h	4
5th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:12.667	+0.494s	133.859 km/h	5
6th	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:12.695	+0.522s	133.808 km/h	6
7th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:12.707	+0.534s	133.786 km/h	7
8th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	1:12.800	+0.627s	133.615 km/h	8
9th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:13.604	+1.431s	132.155 km/h	9
NC	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	—			10
Qualifying Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:11.944	—	135.205 km/h	SP
2nd	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:12.067	+0.123s	134.974 km/h	SP
3rd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:12.440	+0.496s	134.279 km/h	SP
4th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:12.546	+0.602s	134.083 km/h	SP
5th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:12.620	+0.676s	133.946 km/h	SP
6th	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:12.695	+0.751s	133.808 km/h	SP
7th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:12.704	+0.760s	133.791 km/h	SP
8th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:12.906	+0.962s	133.421 km/h	SP
9th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:12.934	+0.990s	133.369 km/h	SP
10th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	1:13.023	+1.079s	133.207 km/h	SP
11th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:13.053	+1.109s	133.152 km/h	11
12th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	1:13.092	+1.148s	133.081 km/h	12
13th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:13.198	+1.254s	132.888 km/h	13
14th	24	Patrick Huisman	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:13.209	+1.265s	132.868 km/h	14
15th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:13.225	+1.281s	132.839 km/h	15
16th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	1:13.239	+1.295s	132.814 km/h	16
17th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:13.465	+1.521s	132.405 km/h	17
18th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:13.720	+1.776s	131.947 km/h	18
19th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:13.730	+1.786s	131.930 km/h	19
20th	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	1:13.779	+1.835s	131.842 km/h	20
21st	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:13.930	+1.986s	131.573 km/h	21
107% Time: 1:16.980
Source:

• Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.

Grid

The starting grid for the 2003 Adria Race in shown below:

		12	Bernd Mayländer	1:13.930			42	Stefan Mücke	1:13.730			7	Manuel Reuter	1:13.465			2	Christian Abt	1:13.225			11	Thomas Jäger	1:13.198			1	Laurent Aïello	1:13.053			6	Karl Wendlinger	1:13.604			8	Alain Menu	1:12.707			19	Peter Dumbreck	1:12.667			5	Mattias Ekström	1:12.269			9	Marcel Fässler	1:12.173
						20	Katsutomo Kaneishi		1:13.779		15	Peter Terting		1:13.720		18	Timo Scheider		1:13.239		24	Patrick Huisman		1:13.209		17	Jeroen Bleekemolen		1:13.092		10	Jean Alesi		—		16	Joachim Winkelhock		1:12.800		14	Martin Tomczyk		1:12.695		4	Christijan Albers		1:12.512		3	Bernd Schneider		1:12.179

Race

Results

The final classification of the 2003 Adria Race is displayed below:

2003 Adria Race Result
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Laps	Race Time	Fastest lap	Pts.
1st	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	47	58:00.584		10
2nd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	47	+8.511s		8
3rd	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	47	+9.106s		6
4th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	47	+10.611s		5
5th	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	47	+11.253s	1:11.669	4
6th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	47	+26.233s		3
7th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	47	+27.732s		2
8th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	47	+50.188s		1
9th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	47	+1:03.734
10th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	47	+1:11.389
11th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	47	+1:11.902
12th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	47	+1:12.643
13th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	46	+1 Lap
14th	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	46	+1 Lap
15th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	45	+2 Laps
Ret	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	29	Retired
DSQ*	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	17	Disqualified
Ret	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	5	Damage
Ret	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	2	Damage
Ret	24	Patrick Huisman	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1	Collision
Ret	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	0	Collision
Source:

• Bold indicates a driver started from pole.
• Italics indicate that a driver set fastest lap.
• * Abt was disqualified from the race for jumping the start.

Milestones

• First DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship race to be held at the Adria International Raceway.
  • Also the first DTM race to be staged in Italy.
• Maiden victory for Christijan Albers.
• 31st win for HWA Team as an entrant.
  • Mercedes secured their 33rd victory as a manufacturer.

Standings

Bernd Schneider continued to lead the way in the Championship after the second round of the campaign, although the German racer's lead was non-existent in terms of both of points and on count-back. Indeed, teammate Christijan Albers had moved level with the two-time Champion on fourteen points, and had matched Schneider's 2003 record of a victory and a fifth place finish. Behind them sat Marcel Fässler, just a point behind, while Laurent Aïello was himself just two off the leaders in fourth.

Elsewhere, Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes unsurprisingly continued to lead the early charge in the Teams' Championship, having claimed victory in the opening two rounds with both of their drivers. Sister squad AMG-Mercedes were next up in second, eight off the lead, while Hasseröder Abt-Audi were the best of the Audi squads in third, sixteen behind. In the Manufacturers' Championship, meanwhile, Mercedes continued to lead the charge on 48 points, leaving them 27 clear of Abt-Audi in second.

 

2003 Drivers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Bernd Schneider 14 ◄0 1st Christijan Albers 14 ▲4 3rd Marcel Fässler 13 ▼1 4th Laurent Aïello 12 ▼1 5th Mattias Ekström 9 ▲3 6th Jean Alesi 7 ▼2 7th Peter Dumbreck 6 ▼1 8th Timo Scheider 2 ▼1 9th Alain Menu 1 ▲9

2003 Teams' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes 28 ◄0 2nd AMG-Mercedes 20 ◄0 3rd Hasseröder Abt-Audi 12 ◄0 4th PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi 9 ▲1 5th OPC Team Phoenix 8 ▼1 6th OPC Team Holzer 1 ◄0 2003 Manufacturers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st AMG-Mercedes 48 ◄0 2nd Abt-Audi 21 ◄0 3rd Opel 9 ◄0

Only point scoring drivers and teams are shown.

References

Images and Videos:

• Liveries: byggxx, 'Rennwagen (2003)', dtm.fandom.com/de, (DTM Wiki/de, 2021), https://dtm.fandom.com/de/wiki/Kategorie:Rennwagen_(2003), (Accessed 03/07/2021)

References: