2003 Hockenheim Opening Race

2003 Hockenheim Opening Race
The Hockenheimring opened the 2003 season
Race Information
Date	27 April 2003
No.	57 (1 of 2003)
Event	DTM Hockenheim Opening 2003
Location	Hockenheimring Hockenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Format	165 km / 70 min (Championship Race)
Lap length	4.574 km (2.842 mi)
Distance	37 laps / 169.238 km (105.159 mi)
Qualifying Result
Pole Sitter	Bernd Schneider
Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:35.141
Fastest Lap
Driver	Bernd Schneider
Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:37.089 on lap 16
Race Result
First	Second	Third
Bernd Schneider	Marcel Fässler	Laurent Aïello
Winner Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:11:06.451
Race Guide
Previous		Next
2002 Hockenheim Finale Feature Race		2003 Adria Race

The 2003 Hockenheim Opening Race, otherwise known as the DTM Hockenheim Opening 2003, was the opening round of the 2003 DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship, staged at the Hockenheimring in Hockenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on 27 April 2003. The race would see Bernd Schneider sweep to an impressive victory, claiming pole and fastest lap to beat Marcel Fässler by almost half a minute.

A busy winter had seen some changes to the rules for the fourth DTM season, with the Qualifikationslauf dropped and replaced by a two-part qualifying session. The Championship Race, meanwhile, was extended to 165 km or 70 minutes, points were extended to the top eight according to the new FIA championship formula, while a Manufacturers' Championship was introduced for Abt-Audi, Mercedes and Opel to compete for.

Elsewhere, all three manufacturers had made minor modifications to their driver line-ups, with Audi introducing a sixth car for Peter Terting as they moved to take over the ABT Sportsline effort as a full factory entity. Elsewhere, Mercedes had to shuffle their drivers after Uwe Alzen left HWA Team on the eve of the season, resulting in Christijan Albers moving up to partner Bernd Schneider, while Opel secured the services of Peter Dumbreck to fill their sixth entry.

The first Super Pole shootout for the opening race of the season saw Schneider sweep to pole position, a tenth ahead of Martin Tomczyk in second. Fässler was next up ahead of defending Champion Laurent Aïello, while Manuel Reuter was the lead Opel driver in seventh.

Rain was falling as the DTM field launched off the grid to start the season on slick Dunlop tyres, with Schneider easing into the lead while Jean Alesi stormed up to second from fifth. Fässler, meanwhile, would slither ahead of Tomczyk for third into the first corner, while Aïello got away in fifth, before the intense rain fall triggered an appearance for the Safety Car on lap three.

The SC intervention saw almost everyone stop immediately for wet tyres, with Fässler, Albers and Jeroen Bleekemolen the only ones to hold out. That was until the end of the sixth lap when the pit window formally opened, resulting in all three diving in for wet tyres and to serve their compulsory stop.

They duly dropped to the back of the field but knew that they would only have to make one more stop, while the rest of the field would have to make two. Regardless, when the race resumed there would be no stopping Schneider, who stormed away to secure an early lead ahead of Alesi, while Aïello and Tomczyk fought for third.

The rest of the race saw the circuit steadily dry and instead see Alesi, Aïello and Fässler fight for second, third and fourth, the latter gaining a lot of ground due to his strategy. That fight would eventually be won by Fässler, while Aïello overcame Alesi during the second pit-phase to claim third.

Out front, meanwhile, Schneider simply eased away to secure an impressive opening victory, 28 seconds clear of second placed Fässler, who had Aïello tucked under his rear-wing as they crossed the line. Alesi was next up ahead of Albers, while Dumbreck was the best of the Opels ahead of Timo Scheider and Mattias Ekström, the latter rounding out the scorers in eighth.

Background

Entry List

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

2003 Hockenheim Opening 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 Hockenheim Opening Race are outlined below:

2003 Hockenheim Opening Race Qualifying Result
Super Pole Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:35.141	—	173.073 km/h	1
2nd	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi	1:35.285	+0.144s	172.812 km/h	2
3rd	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:35.474	+0.333s	172.469 km/h	3
4th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:35.502	+0.361s	172.419 km/h	4
5th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:35.627	+0.486s	172.194 km/h	5
6th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:35.797	+0.656s	171.888 km/h	6
7th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:35.994	+0.853s	171.535 km/h	7
8th	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:36.196	+1.055s	171.175 km/h	8
9th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:36.243	+1.102s	171.091 km/h	9
10th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:39.970	+4.829s	164.713 km/h	10
Qualifying Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:35.486	—	172.448 km/h	SP
2nd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:35.672	+0.186s	172.113 km/h	SP
3rd	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:35.720	+0.234s	172.026 km/h	SP
4th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:35.884	+0.398s	171.732 km/h	SP
5th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:35.910	+0.424s	171.685 km/h	SP
6th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:35.922	+0.436s	171.664 km/h	SP
7th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:35.959	+0.473s	171.598 km/h	SP
8th	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi	1:35.970	+0.484s	171.578 km/h	SP
9th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:36.099	+0.613s	171.348 km/h	SP
10th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:36.470	+0.984s	170.689 km/h	SP
11th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	1:36.476	+0.990s	170.678 km/h	11
12th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:36.672	+1.186s	170.332 km/h	12
13th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:36.705	+1.219s	170.274 km/h	13
14th	24	Patrick Huisman	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:37.051	+1.565s	169.667 km/h	14
15th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	1:37.150	+1.664s	169.494 km/h	15
16th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	1:37.163	+1.677s	169.471 km/h	16
17th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:37.256	+1.770s	169.309 km/h	17
18th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:37.651	+2.165s	168.625 km/h	18
19th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:37.754	+2.268s	168.447 km/h	19
20th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi	1:37.889	+2.403s	168.215 km/h	20
21st	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	1:38.266	+2.780s	167.569 km/h	21
107% Time: 1:42.170
Source:

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

Grid

The starting grid for the 2003 Hockenheim Opening Race in shown below:

		20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	1:38.266			11	Thomas Jäger	1:37.754			24	Stefan Mücke	1:37.256			16	Joachim Winkelhock	1:37.150			4	Christijan Albers	1:36.705			18	Timo Scheider	1:36.476			19	Peter Dumbreck	1:36.243			7	Manuel Reuter	1:35.994			10	Jean Alesi	1:35.627			9	Marcel Fässler	1:35.474			3	Bernd Schneider	1:35.141
						15	Peter Terting		1:37.889		12	Bernd Mayländer		1:37.651		17	Jeroen Bleekemolen		1:37.163		42	Patrick Huisman		1:37.051		8	Alain Menu		1:36.672		2	Christian Abt		1:39.970		5	Mattias Ekström		1:36.196		6	Karl Wendlinger		1:35.797		1	Laurent Aïello		1:35.502		14	Martin Tomczyk		1:35.285

Race

Results

The final classification of the 2003 Hockenheim Opening Race is displayed below:

2003 Hockenheim Opening Race Result
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Laps	Race Time	Fastest lap	Pts.
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	37	1:11:06.451	1:37.089	10
2nd	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	37	+28.002s		8
3rd	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	37	+28.292s		6
4th	4	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	37	+38.467s		5
5th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	37	+1:01.237		4
6th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	37	+1:16.749		3
7th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	37	+1:19.342		2
8th	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	37	+1:22.578		1
9th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	37	+1:26.139
10th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	37	+1:28.728
11th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	37	+1:29.327
12th	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi	36	+1 Lap
13th	24	Patrick Huisman	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	36	+1 Lap
14th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	36	+1 Lap
15th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	36	+1 Lap
16th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	36	+1 Lap
17th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	36	+1 Lap
18th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	35	+2 Laps
19th	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	35	+3 Laps
20th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	32	Engine
Ret	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi	0	Accident	—
Source:

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

Milestones

• Debut race for Jeroen Bleekemolen, Katsutomo Kaneishi and Peter Terting.
  • Terting became the DTM's youngest ever driver aged 19 years 68 days.
• Bernd Schneider claimed his fifteenth victory.
  • Schneider moved level with Klaus Ludwig on the combined Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft winners list (36 wins).
• 30th win for HWA Team as an entrant.
  • Mercedes secured their 32nd victory as a manufacturer.

Standings

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.

 

2003 Drivers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Bernd Schneider 10 ◄0 2nd Marcel Fässler 8 ◄0 3rd Laurent Aïello 6 ◄0 4th Jean Alesi 5 ◄0 5th Christijan Albers 4 ◄0 6th Peter Dumbreck 3 ◄0 7th Timo Scheider 2 ◄0 8th Mattias Ekström 1 ◄0

2003 Teams' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes 14 ◄0 2nd AMG-Mercedes 13 ◄0 3rd Hasseröder Abt-Audi 6 ◄0 4th OPC Team Phoenix 5 ◄0 5th PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi 1 ◄0 2003 Manufacturers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st AMG-Mercedes 27 ◄0 2nd Abt-Audi 7 ◄0 3rd Opel 5 ◄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: