2003 Donington Park Race

2003 Donington Park Race
Donington Park returned for 2003.
Race Information
Date	27 July 2003
No.	62 (6 of 2003)
Event	DTM Donington Park 2003
Location	Donington Park Castle Donington, Leicestershire, UK
Format	140 km / 70 min (Championship Race)
Lap length	4.020 km (2.498 mi)
Distance	36 laps / 144.720 km (89.925 mi)
Qualifying Result
Pole Sitter	Bernd Schneider
Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:28.206
Fastest Lap
Driver	Bernd Schneider
Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:29.640 on lap 22
Race Result
First	Second	Third
Jean Alesi	Bernd Schneider	Mattias Ekström
Winner Team	AMG-Mercedes
Time	55:08.354
Race Guide
Previous		Next
2003 Norisring Race		2003 Nürburgring II Race

The 2003 Donington Park Race, formally known as the DTM Donington Park 2003, was the sixth race of the 2003 DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship, staged at Donington Park in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, UK, on 27 July 2003. The race, which was the second of the season to be staged outside of Germany, would see Jean Alesi secure victory as Bernd Schneider reclaimed the Championship lead.

The Qualifying sessions for the sixth race of 2003 saw Schneider secure his fourth pole position of the season, defeating Alesi by 0.190s. Mattias Ekström and Laurent Aïello were next up for Abt-Audi, while Peter Dumbreck and Alain Menu would lead the Opel challenge from row four.

At the start Schneider would be beaten off the line by Alesi, who did not jump the lights for the second straight race and instead powered into the first corner ahead of his former teammate. Behind, a barnstorming start for Marcel Fässler saw the #9 Mercedes leap between Ekström and Aïello for third, with the rest of the field getting off the grid cleanly.

Instead, the drama would come in the midst of the first corner, as Martin Tomczyk was spun around and then collected by Manuel Reuter dumping both out of the race. That incident was cleared without outside intervention, allowing Christijan Albers to battle past Aïello for fourth, while Schneider threw everything he had at Alesi for the lead.

There would be further drama on the third tour, with Aïello spinning at the exit of chicane before being smacked by Alain Menu who then collected Christian Abt. The miserable moments for Abt-Audi continued as Karl Wendlinger was spun around by Thomas Jäger at the final corner, leaving Wendlinger with damage.

Aïello would rejoin the fray with what would ultimately prove to be terminal damage to his car, while Abt was out with a shredded right rear. That left Ekström as their only real points contender in fifth, with the Mercedes quartet of Alesi, Schneider, Fässler and Albers leading the charge.

Ekström, as well as the lead Opel of Dumbreck, would make early stops to try and challenge the Mercedes quartet, coming in right as the pits opened on lap five. Alesi and Schneider duly dived in on the following tour to cover them off, rejoining in formation still ahead of Swede, while Fässler and Albers would rejoin either side of the lead Audi.

The second round of stops would see further progress for Ekström, with the Swede clearing Fässler to move up to third behind Alesi and Schneider. Indeed, Ekström was still in contention for victory as Schneider was harassing him hard for the lead, hoping that the two Mercedes would trip each other up.

Yet, it was not to be, with Alesi resisting the pressure from Schneider throughout the race to claim his first victory of the campaign, a second clear of the German ace. Ekström duly completed the podium, right on their tail and a few seconds clear of Fässler and Albers, while Dumbreck was a distant sixth. Jäger and Timo Scheider then completed the scorers ahead of Gary Paffett, the Brit having been in contention for his first points finish before making a mistake and sliding into the gravel after his first stop.

Background

After a month break the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship reconvened for the sixth round of the 2003 season, arriving in the paddock at Donington Park in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, UK in mid-July. The circuit itself was unchanged for the DTM's second trip across the English Channel, which had hosted the series in 2002, with the entry list likewise unchanged from the previous round in Norisring.

Street Support

Victory for the third time moved Christijan Albers back to the top of the Championship, the Dutchman having moved back ahead of teammate Bernd Schneider and onto 36 points at the halfway point of the campaign. Schneider himself had moved onto 35 points, leaving him just a point behind, while Marcel Fässler had retained third and was still in the hunt just seven off the lead. Peter Dumbreck and Laurent Aïello then completed the top five, with eleven of the twenty drivers to have entered the DTM in 2003 having scored points in the first half of the season.

In the Teams' Championship Vodaone/ES AMG-Mercedes were in total control as the season reached its halfway point, the German squad having scored 71 points in five races. Sister squad AMG-Mercedes were in second, 27 off the lead, while OPC Team Phoenix led the anti-HWA charge in third on 30 points. Mercedes, meanwhile, reigned supreme in the Manufacturers' Championship at the halfway point, the Stuttgart manufacture having scored 115 points and five wins out of five.

Entry List

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

2003 Donington Park 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	Gary Paffett	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 Donington Park Race are outlined below:

2003 Donington Park Race Qualifying Result
Super Pole Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:28.206	—	164.192 km/h	1
2nd	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:28.396	+0.190s	163.839 km/h	2
3rd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:28.481	+0.275s	163.682 km/h	3
4th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:28.528	+0.322s	163.595 km/h	4
5th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:28.581	+0.375s	163.497 km/h	5
6th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:28.717	+0.511s	163.247 km/h	6
7th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:28.751	+0.545s	163.184 km/h	7
8th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:29.168	+0.962s	162.421 km/h	8
9th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:29.674	+1.468s	161.505 km/h	9
10th	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:30.341	+2.135s	160.312 km/h	10
Qualifying Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:28.527	—	163.597 km/h	SP
2nd	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:28.583	+0.056s	163.494 km/h	SP
3rd	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:28.651	+0.124s	163.368 km/h	SP
4th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:28.690	+0.163s	163.296 km/h	SP
5th	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:28.694	+0.167s	163.289 km/h	SP
6th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:28.805	+0.278s	163.085 km/h	SP
7th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:28.838	+0.311s	163.024 km/h	SP
8th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:29.045	+0.518s	162.645 km/h	SP
9th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:29.107	+0.580s	162.532 km/h	SP
10th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:29.109	+0.582s	162.529 km/h	SP
11th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	1:29.263	+0.736s	162.248 km/h	11
12th	24	Gary Paffett	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:29.298	+0.771s	162.185 km/h	12
13th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:29.439	+0.912s	161.929 km/h	13
14th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:29.599	+1.072s	161.640 km/h	14
15th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	1:29.609	+1.082s	161.622 km/h	15
16th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:29.682	+1.155s	161.490 km/h	16
17th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:29.797	+1.270s	161.283 km/h	17
18th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	1:29.808	+1.281s	161.264 km/h	18
19th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:29.839	+1.312s	161.208 km/h	19
20th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:30.212	+1.685s	160.541 km/h	20
21st	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	1:30.936	+2.409s	159.263 km/h	21
107% Time: 1:34.723
Source:

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

Grid

The starting grid for the 2003 Donington Park Race in shown below:

		20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	1:30.936			6	Karl Wendlinger	1:29.839			12	Bernd Mayländer	1:29.797			16	Joachim Winkelhock	1:29.609			11	Thomas Jäger	1:29.439			18	Timo Scheider	1:29.263			2	Christian Abt	1:29.674			19	Peter Dumbreck	1:28.751			9	Marcel Fässler	1:28.581			5	Mattias Ekström	1:28.481			3	Bernd Schneider	1:28.206
						42	Stefan Mücke		1:30.212		17	Jeroen Bleekemolen		1:29.808		15	Peter Terting		1:29.682		7	Manuel Reuter		1:29.599		24	Gary Paffett		1:29.298		14	Martin Tomczyk		1:30.341		8	Alain Menu		1:29.168		4	Christijan Albers		1:28.717		1	Laurent Aïello		1:28.528		10	Jean Alesi		1:28.396

Race

Results

The final classification of the 2003 Donington Park Race is displayed below:

2003 Donington Park Race Result
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Laps	Race Time	Fastest lap	Pts.
1st	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	36	55:08.354		10
2nd	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	36	+1.466s	1:29.640	8
3rd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	36	+1.841s		6
4th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	36	+4.497s		5
5th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	36	+5.459s		4
6th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	36	+24.430s		3
7th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	36	+41.669s		2
8th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	36	+49.075s		1
9th	24	Gary Paffett	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	36	+55.115s
10th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	36	+58.363s
11th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	36	+58.682s
12th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	36	+1:14.524
13th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	36	+1:20.114
14th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	36	+1:26.063
15th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	35	+1 Lap
Ret	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	26	Damage
Ret	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	19	Retired
Ret	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	3	Collision
Ret	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	3	Collision
Ret	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1	Collision
Ret	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	0	Collision
Source:

• Bold indicates a driver started from pole.
• Italics indicate that a driver set fastest lap.

Milestones

• Third career victory for Jean Alesi.
• 34th win for HWA Team as an entrant.
  • Mercedes secured their 36th victory as a manufacturer.

Standings

Despite failing to claim victory at Donington, Bernd Schneider moved back to the top of the Championship, the German racer having ascended to 43 points for the season. That meant that Schneider had established a three point lead over Christijan Albers during the trip the England, with those two the main title protagonists after the summer break. Indeed, Marcel Fässler remained a contender but was nine behind, and yet to win a race in 2003, while Peter Dumbreck and Jean Alesi completed the top five.

Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes continued their ominous march to the Teams' Championship crown after the Donington round came to a close, having moved onto 83 points for the season. Their advantage had been reduced to sister squad AMG-Mercedes, who were within 24 points, although third placed OPC Team Phoenix were 49 away as the best non-HWA entry. The Manufacturers' Championship, meanwhile, also seemed to be predetermined with four races to go, with Mercedes-AMG leading the charge on 144 points, 96 points clear of Abt-Audi in second.

 

2003 Drivers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Bernd Schneider 43 ▲1 2nd Christijan Albers 40 ▼1 3rd Marcel Fässler 34 ◄0 4th Peter Dumbreck 26 ◄0 5th Jean Alesi 25 ▲2 6th Mattias Ekström 23 ◄0 7th Laurent Aïello 22 ▼2 8th Timo Scheider 8 ◄0 9th Alain Menu 7 ◄0 10th Christian Abt 3 ◄0 11th Thomas Jäger 2 ▲3 12th Joachim Winkelhock 1 ▼1

2003 Teams' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes 83 ◄0 2nd AMG-Mercedes 59 ◄0 3rd OPC Team Phoenix 34 ◄0 4th Hasseröder Abt-Audi 25 ◄0 5th PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi 23 ◄0 6th OPC Team Holzer 7 ◄0 7th Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes 2 ▲1 8th OPC Euroteam 1 ▼1 2003 Manufacturers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st AMG-Mercedes 144 ◄0 2nd Abt-Audi 48 ◄0 3rd Opel 42 ◄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: