2003 Lausitzring Race

2003 Lausitzring Race
The Lausitzring in 2003 was unchanged.
Race Information
Date	8 June 2003
No.	60 (4 of 2003)
Event	DTM Lausitz 2003
Location	Lausitzring Klettwitz, Brandenburg, Germany
Format	155 km / 70 min (Championship Race)
Lap length	4.534 km (2.817 mi)
Distance	35 laps / 158.690 km (98.605 mi)
Qualifying Result
Pole Sitter	Bernd Schneider
Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	1:39.437
Fastest Lap
Driver	Alain Menu
Team	OPC Team Holzer
Time	1:40.265 on lap 14
Race Result
First	Second	Third
Bernd Schneider	Peter Dumbreck	Mattias Ekström
Winner Team	Vodafone/Express Service AMG-Mercedes
Time	59:49.631
Race Guide
Previous		Next
2003 Nürburgring I Race		2003 Norisring Race

The 2003 Lausitzring Race, otherwise known as the DTM Lausitz 2003, was the fourth race of the 2003 DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship, staged at the Lausitzring in Klettwitz, Brandenburg, Germany, on 8 June 2003. The race would see Bernd Schneider storm to his second win of the campaign in dominant fashion, a result which saw him move to the top of the combined winner's list for the DTM and its predecessor, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft.

The series had initially planned to sample the banked first corner of the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, although after two heavy accidents for Laurent Aïello and Christian Abt in Free Practice, this plan was abandoned. Indeed, having attributed the accidents to tyre damage caused by the strains of the banked corners on the Dunlop rubber the decision was made to solely use the Grand Prix circuit, while ABT shuffled Martin Tomczyk and Peter Terting's cars over to Aïello and Abt.

Qualifying saw Schneider secure pole position, defeating Mattias Ekström of Abt-Audi and Peter Dumbreck of Opel as all three manufacturers got into the top three spots on the grid. Marcel Fässler followed them up ahead of another pair of Opels, their strongest qualifying showing in over two seasons, while Championship leader Christijan Albers claimed ninth on the grid.

The start saw Schneider storm into an early lead off the grid, leaving Ekström to try and hold second. However, a slow start for Ekström saw him instead swarmed by Dumbreck and Fässler into the first corner, with the #18 Opel emerging ahead of the #9 Mercedes.

The order quickly stabilised after the opening tour, although Fässler would make a mistake on lap four at turn one and slid off track. Ekström and Menu duly darted past the the scrambling Mercedes, with Fässler rejoining down in fifth just ahead of Aïello.

Dumbreck was the first driver to complete his first stop, with Menu and Ekström following him in and all holding position behind. Schneider stopped a lap later and held the lead ahead of Dumbreck, while Fässler gambled on a long first stint to try and overcome his early mistake.

That ploy would make no real impact on Fässler's position overall after the first round of stops, the Swiss racer rejoining behind Menu and ahead of Aïello as before. Aïello then triggered the second round of stops by coming in first, although the Frenchman would struggle to get his car out of the pits and lost a lot of time.

The second trips to the pits would have a greater impact on the order, with Fässler able to gain a lot of ground and close onto the tail of Menu ahead. Unfortunately the pair would make contact at turn two as the Swiss racer rejoined, sending Menu into a spin across the grass although he continued behind Timo Scheider and Jean Alesi, while Fässler fell down to ninth.

Untroubled by all of that, however, was Schneider, who duly swept across the line after his second stop unopposed to secure victory, six seconds clear of Dumbreck in second. Ekström, meanwhile, resisted intense pressure from Scheider to complete the podium, while Alesi claimed fifth ahead of Menu. Albers was next up in seventh ahead of Aïello, the last of the scorers, while Abt passed Fässler for ninth in the closing stages.

Background

After a two week pause the 2003 DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters arrived at the Lausitzring for the fourth round of the season in early June. The DTM continued to use the Grand Prix in-field circuit for the 2003 visit, although there were plans to use the banked first corner of the EuroSpeedway. Elsewhere there was stability on the entry list, with Mercedes junior Gary Paffett getting his second race in the #24 Team Rosberg entry.

Albers' Double

Victory for the second race in succession left Christijan Albers atop the Championship hunt after the third round in Nürburg, the Dutchman having moved onto 24 points for the campaign. Marcel Fässler, meanwhile, had ascended to second but slipped three off the lead, while Bernd Schneider slipped five off the lead in third, having arrived at the Nürburgring level with his teammate. Laurent Aïello and Mattias Ekström then completed the top five, while Peter Dumbreck led the Opel contingent in sixth.

Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes led the charge in the Teams' Championship after three rounds, with Albers and Schneider having won all three races to earn the German squad 43 points. Sister squad AMG-Mercedes were in second, fifteen off the lead, while Hasseröder Abt-Audi occupied third on nineteen. In the Manufacturers' Championship AMG-Mercedes continued to head the charge, having moved onto 71 points for the season to leave them 41 clear of Abt-Audi.

Entry List

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

2003 Lausitzring 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:

• * Aïello and Abt used Tomczyk and Terting's cars after damage sustained during practice.

Qualifying

Results

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

2003 Lausitzring Race Qualifying Result
Super Pole Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:39.437	—	165.632 km/h	1
2nd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:39.930	+0.493s	164.815 km/h	2
3rd	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:40.114	+0.677s	164.512 km/h	3
4th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:40.204	+0.767s	164.364 km/h	4
5th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	1:40.331	+0.894s	164.156 km/h	5
6th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:40.366	+0.929s	164.099 km/h	6
7th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:40.435	+0.998s	163.986 km/h	7
8th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:40.535	+1.098s	163.823 km/h	8
9th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:41.157	+1.720s	162.816 km/h	9
10th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:41.583	+2.146s	162.133 km/h	10
Qualifying Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:39.761	—	165.094 km/h	SP
2nd	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:39.827	+0.066s	164.985 km/h	SP
3rd	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:39.864	+0.103s	164.924 km/h	SP
4th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:39.912	+0.151s	164.845 km/h	SP
5th	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:39.957	+0.196s	164.770 km/h	SP
6th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:40.015	+0.254s	164.675 km/h	SP
7th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:40.065	+0.304s	164.593 km/h	SP
8th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	1:40.300	+0.539s	164.207 km/h	SP
9th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:40.349	+0.588s	164.127 km/h	SP
10th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:40.352	+0.591s	164.122 km/h	SP
11th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:40.391	+0.630s	164.058 km/h	11
12th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:40.534	+0.773s	163.825 km/h	12
13th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	1:40.574	+0.813s	163.760 km/h	13
14th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	1:40.826	+1.065s	163.350 km/h	14
15th	24	Gary Paffett	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:41.259	+1.498s	162.652 km/h	15
16th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:41.275	+1.514s	162.626 km/h	16
17th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:41.300	+1.539s	162.586 km/h	17
18th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:41.783	+2.022s	161.814 km/h	18
19th	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	1:42.344	+2.583s	160.927 km/h	19
WD*	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	—
WD*	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	—
107% Time: 1:46.744
Source:

• Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
• * Tomczyk and Terting were unable to take part in qualifying after their cars were used by Aïello and Abt.

Grid

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

		20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	1:42.344			11	Thomas Jäger	1:41.300			24	Gary Paffett	1:41.259			16	Joachim Winkelhock	1:40.574			2	Christian Abt	1:40.391			4	Christijan Albers	1:41.157			1	Laurent Aïello	1:40.435			18	Timo Scheider	1:40.331			19	Peter Dumbreck	1:40.114			3	Bernd Schneider	1:39.437
						12	Bernd Mayländer		1:41.783		42	Stefan Mücke		1:41.275		17	Jeroen Bleekemolen		1:40.826		7	Manuel Reuter		1:40.534		6	Karl Wendlinger		1:41.583		10	Jean Alesi		1:40.535		8	Alain Menu		1:40.366		9	Marcel Fässler		1:40.204		5	Mattias Ekström		1:39.930

Race

Results

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

2003 Lausitzring Race Result
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Laps	Race Time	Fastest lap	Pts.
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	35	59:49.631		10
2nd	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	35	+6.813s		8
3rd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	35	+22.443s		6
4th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	35	+22.978s		5
5th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	35	+27.291s		4
6th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	35	+28.253s	1:40.265	3
7th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	35	+28.470s		2
8th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	35	+36.866s		1
9th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	35	+41.586s
10th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	35	+46.605s
11th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	35	+47.750s
12th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	35	+48.373s
13th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	35	+55.973s
14th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	35	+58.767s
15th	24	Gary Paffett	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	35	+1:08.135
16th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	34	+1 Lap
17th	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	34	+1 Lap
Ret	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	5	Retired
DNS*	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes
WD	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team
WD	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team
Source:

• Bold indicates a driver started from pole.
• Italics indicate that a driver set fastest lap.
• * Mücke was unable to start the race due to an engine issue.

Milestones

• Sixteenth victory for Bernd Schneider.
  • Schneider moved ahead of Klaus Ludwig on the combined DTM/Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft most-wins list - 37.
• 32nd win for HWA Team as an entrant.
  • Mercedes secured their 34th victory as a manufacturer.

Standings

Bernd Schneider used his second victory of the campaign to move back to the top of the Championship, the German ace having moved onto 29 points for the season. Teammate Christijan Albers made way for him, slipping three off the lead, while Marcel Fässler remained a title contender in third, eight off the lead. Defending Champion Laurent Aïello was next up in fourth, ten off the lead, and ahead of Peter Dumbreck, with ten drivers having scored in 2003.

The Teams' Championship saw Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes extend their lead as they continued their march to their fourth Teams' Championship, the German squad having moved onto 55 points. Sister squad AMG-Mercedes were next up in second, 23 off the lead, while OPC Team Phoenix found themselves ahead of Hasseröder Abt-Audi in third. Elsewhere, AMG-Mercedes continued to head the charge in the Manufacturers' Championship, 50 points clear of closest challengers Abt-Audi, and 55 ahead of Opel in third.

 

2003 Drivers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Bernd Schneider 29 ▲2 2nd Christijan Albers 26 ▼1 3rd Marcel Fässler 21 ▼1 4th Laurent Aïello 19 ◄0 5th Mattias Ekström 11 ◄0 6th Peter Dumbreck 18 ◄0 7th Jean Alesi 11 ◄0 8th Timo Scheider 7 ▲1 9th Alain Menu 7 ▼1 10th Christian Abt 1 ◄0

2003 Teams' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes 55 ◄0 2nd AMG-Mercedes 32 ◄0 3rd OPC Team Phoenix 25 ▲1 4th Hasseröder Abt-Audi 20 ▼1 5th PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi 17 ◄0 6th OPC Team Holzer 7 ◄0 2003 Manufacturers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st AMG-Mercedes 87 ◄0 2nd Abt-Audi 37 ◄0 3rd Opel 32 ◄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: