2003 Nürburgring II Race

2003 Nürburgring II Race
The Nürburgring returned for the third round of 2003.
Race Information
Date	17 August 2003
No.	63 (7 of 2003)
Event	DTM Nürburg II 2003
Location	Nürburgring Sprint Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Format	145 km / 70 min (Championship Race)
Lap length	3.625 km (2.249 mi)
Distance	41 laps / 148.789 km (92.453 mi)
Qualifying Result
Pole Sitter	Mattias Ekström
Team	PlayStation 2 Red Bull Abt-Audi
Time	1:25.095
Fastest Lap
Driver	Peter Dumbreck
Team	OPC Team Phoenix
Time	1:25.768 on lap 33
Race Result
First	Second	Third
Laurent Aïello	Christijan Albers	Bernd Schneider
Winner Team	Hasseröder Abt-Audi
Time	1:00:10.575
Race Guide
Previous		Next
2003 Donington Park Race		2003 Spielberg Race

The 2003 Nürburgring II Race, otherwise known as the DTM Nürburg II 2003, was the seventh race of the 2003 DMSB Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Championship, staged at the Nürburgring Sprint Circuit in Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on 17 August 2003. The race would see Laurent Aïello claim victory for the first time in 2003, a win which proved to be the only non-Mercedes triumph of the season.

Qualifying would see the DTM hold its first ever night session, with the Super Pole shootout on Saturday evening seeing Mattias Ekström sweep to pole position. Aïello shared the front row with the Swede ahead of Christijan Albers, while Championship leader Bernd Schneider would occupy sixth behind the lead Opel of Peter Dumbreck.

The start of the race saw Aïello ease past Ekström into the first corner to secure the lead, with the Swede instead moving across the block Albers. Further down the field Christian Abt was put himself into a spin and ended up at the back of the field, while Schneider snagged the back of Martin Tomczyk.

The early laps would see the order at the head of the field stabilise, with Aïello inching into a small lead while Ekström fended off the attentions of Albers. Behind, Tomczyk was fighting a similar rearguard action to keep Schneider at bay, while Dumbreck dropped back after being nudged off the circuit by Marcel Fässler.

Ekström and Albers would be the first of the lead group to jump into the pits for their first pitstops as soon as the pits opened, with those two coming out as they came in with Ekström ahead. Aïello and Tomczyk were in on the following tour, Aïello retaining the de facto lead, while Schneider completed two more laps and dropped behind Fässler.

Gary Paffett would lead the race briefly ahead of teammate Stefan Mücke and Katsutomo Kaneishi before they made their stops, while Dumbreck appeared to have an issue as he spun and cut the chicane on the same lap. Tomczyk, meanwhile, would begin to struggle with the damage to the rear of his car and dropped behind both Fässler and Schneider, with the latter also forcing his way past the sister car.

Aïello eventually returned to the lead of the race when Paffett and co. made their first stops, and would duly retain the lead after the second round of stops. However, that exchange would see the Frenchman lose his rear gunner in the form of Ekström, as Schneider and Albers both moved past the Swede to claim second and third.

The rest of the race was about how Mercedes tried to hunt down the lone Abt-Audi out front, with Albers seemingly letting Schneider through without a fight after the German racer appeared to have stronger pace. Yet, within two laps Albers was elbowing his way back past his teammate for second, meaning both lost ground to Aïello that they struggled to recover.

Indeed, Aïello would make it to the chequered flag without having to fight Albers and Schneider behind to claim victory, the first and ultimately only win in 2003 for a non-Mercedes pilot. Albers, meanwhile, would ease clear of Schneider to claim second, while Ekström secured fourth having close onto Schneider's tail. Fässler was next up ahead of Jean Alesi and Timo Scheider, while Paffett claimed his maiden points finish in eighth.

Background

Three weeks after the expedition to Donington Park the 2003 edition of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters returned to the Nürburgring in Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany for the seventh round of the season. It would be the DTM's second trip to the Eifel Mountains in 2003, with the DTM again opting to use the Sprint Circuit, rather than the Grand Prix layout or the Nordschleife itself. Yet, there would be a cosmetic change for the series, with the Super Pole shootout set to be held in the darkness as the DTM looked into increasing the spectacle of its events.

Donington Dance

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.

Entry List

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

2003 Nürburgring II 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 Nürburgring II Race are outlined below:

2003 Nürburgring II Race Qualifying Result
Super Pole Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:25.095	—	153.527 km/h	1
2nd	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:25.194	+0.099s	153.348 km/h	2
3rd	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:25.328	+0.233s	153.108 km/h	3
4th	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:25.335	+0.240s	153.095 km/h	4
5th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:25.340	+0.245s	153.086 km/h	5
6th	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:25.382	+0.287s	153.011 km/h	6
7th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:25.589	+0.494s	152.641 km/h	7
8th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:25.757	+0.662s	152.342 km/h	8
9th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:25.860	+0.765s	152.159 km/h	9
10th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:26.019	+0.924s	151.878 km/h	10
Qualifying Results
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Time	Gap	Ave. Speed	Grid
1st	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:25.031	—	153.642 km/h	SP
2nd	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:25.044	+0.013s	153.619 km/h	SP
3rd	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:25.099	+0.068s	153.520 km/h	SP
4th	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:25.261	+0.230s	153.228 km/h	SP
5th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	1:25.435	+0.404s	152.916 km/h	SP
6th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	1:25.498	+0.467s	152.803 km/h	SP
7th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	1:25.524	+0.493s	152.757 km/h	SP
8th	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	1:25.529	+0.498s	152.748 km/h	SP
9th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	1:25.575	+0.544s	152.666 km/h	SP
10th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	1:25.663	+0.632s	152.509 km/h	SP
11th	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	1:25.726	+0.695s	152.397 km/h	11
12th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	1:25.747	+0.716s	152.359 km/h	12
13th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	1:26.105	+1.074s	151.726 km/h	13
14th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	1:26.113	+1.082s	151.712 km/h	14
15th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	1:26.120	+1.089s	151.699 km/h	15
16th	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:26.333	+1.302s	151.325 km/h	16
17th	24	Gary Paffett	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:26.497	+1.466s	151.038 km/h	17
18th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	1:26.677	+1.646s	150.725 km/h	18
19th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	1:26.701	+1.670s	150.683 km/h	19
20th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:26.972	+1.941s	150.213 km/h	20
21st	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	1:27.080	+2.049s	150.027 km/h	21
107% Time: 1:30.983
Source:

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

Grid

The starting grid for the 2003 Nürburgring II Race in shown below:

		20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	1:27.080			42	Stefan Mücke	1:26.701			24	Gary Paffett	1:26.497			16	Joachim Winkelhock	1:26.120			17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	1:26.105			2	Christian Abt	1:25.726			7	Manuel Reuter	1:25.860			8	Alain Menu	1:25.589			19	Peter Dumbreck	1:25.340			4	Christijan Albers	1:25.328			5	Mattias Ekström	1:25.095
						12	Bernd Mayländer		1:26.972		15	Peter Terting		1:26.677		11	Thomas Jäger		1:26.333		18	Timo Scheider		1:26.113		6	Karl Wendlinger		1:25.747		9	Marcel Fässler		1:26.019		10	Jean Alesi		1:25.757		3	Bernd Schneider		1:25.382		14	Martin Tomczyk		1:25.335		1	Laurent Aïello		1:25.194

Race

Results

The final classification of the 2003 Nürburgring II Race is displayed below:

2003 Nürburgring II Race Result
Pos.	No.	Name	Team	Laps	Race Time	Fastest lap	Pts.
1st	1	Laurent Aïello	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	41	1:00:10.575		10
2nd	4	Christijan Albers	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	41	+1.387s		8
3rd	3	Bernd Schneider	Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes	41	+6.238s		6
4th	5	Mattias Ekström	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	41	+7.562s		5
5th	9	Marcel Fässler	AMG-Mercedes	41	+15.239s		4
6th	10	Jean Alesi	AMG-Mercedes	41	+34.468		3
7th	18	Timo Scheider	OPC Team Phoenix	41	+36.174s		2
8th	24	Gary Paffett	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	41	+36.756s		1
9th	8	Alain Menu	OPC Team Holzer	41	+43.394s
10th	19	Peter Dumbreck	OPC Team Phoenix	41	+48.910s	1:25.768
11th	6	Karl Wendlinger	PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi	41	+1:04.202
12th	42	Stefan Mücke	Service 24h AMG-Mercedes	41	+1:07.754
13th	16	Joachim Winkelhock	OPC Euroteam	41	+1:09.744
14th	12	Bernd Mayländer	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	40	+1 Lap
15th	7	Manuel Reuter	OPC Team Holzer	38	+3 Laps
16th	20	Katsutomo Kaneishi	ARTA AMG-Mercedes	38	+3 Laps
17th	17	Jeroen Bleekemolen	OPC Euroteam	34	+7 Laps
18th	15	Peter Terting	S-Line Audi Junior Team	33	+8 Laps
Ret	11	Thomas Jäger	Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes	17	Damage
Ret	2	Christian Abt	Hasseröder Abt-Audi	15	Damage
Ret	14	Martin Tomczyk	S-Line Audi Junior Team	13	Damage
Source:

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

Milestones

• Thirteenth and final win for Laurent Aïello.
  • This was also the first and only win for a non-Mercedes driver in 2003.
• ABT Sportsline claimed their eighteenth victory as an entrant.
  • Abt-Audi earned their eighteenth win as a manufacturer.
• Gary Paffett claimed his maiden points finish.

Standings

Bernd Schneider retained his lead in the Championship after the seventh round of the season, although the German ace had seen his lead cut to a single point after his podium finish. Christijan Albers had done the damage to his teammate's lead, setting up an interesting final third of the season, with third placed Marcel Fässler eleven off the lead. Behind, Laurent Aïello had leapt into fourth after his first victory of the campaign, with Jean Alesi occupying fifth.

Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes would leave the Nürburgring still with a daunting lead in the Teams' Championship, the German squad just three off the 100 point mark after seven rounds. Second place was occupied by sister squad AMG-Mercedes, while OPC Team Phoenix were a point ahead of Hasseröder Abt-Audi in the fight for third. Elsewhere, Mercedes-AMG had continued their march to the Manufacturers' Championship despite failing to win a race for the first time in 2003, having moved 103 points clear of Abt-Audi in second.

 

2003 Drivers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Bernd Schneider 49 ◄0 2nd Christijan Albers 48 ◄0 3rd Marcel Fässler 38 ◄0 4th Laurent Aïello 32 ▲3 5th Jean Alesi 28 ◄0 6th Mattias Ekström 28 ◄0 7th Peter Dumbreck 26 ▼3 8th Timo Scheider 10 ◄0 9th Alain Menu 7 ◄0 10th Christian Abt 3 ◄0 11th Thomas Jäger 2 ◄0 12th Joachim Winkelhock 1 ◄0 13th Gary Paffett 1 ▲1

2003 Teams' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st Vodafone/ES AMG-Mercedes 97 ◄0 2nd AMG-Mercedes 66 ◄0 3rd OPC Team Phoenix 36 ◄0 4th Hasseröder Abt-Audi 35 ◄0 5th PS2 Red Bull Abt-Audi 28 ◄0 6th OPC Team Holzer 7 ◄0 7th Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes 2 ◄0 8th OPC Euroteam 1 ◄0 9th Service 24h AMG-Mercedes 1 ◄0 2003 Manufacturers' Championship Pos. Name Pts. +/- 1st AMG-Mercedes 166 ◄0 2nd Abt-Audi 63 ◄0 3rd Opel 44 ◄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: