10.6.2003
Second position in DTM crowns great week for Opel

Peter Dumbreck (OPC Team Phoenix) finished in second place in the DTM at EuroSpeedway Lausitz on Sunday.

Seven days after its historic victory in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Opel had more reason to celebrate in the DTM at EuroSpeedway Lausitz on Sunday, as Peter Dumbreck (OPC Team Phoenix) finished in second place - the best result Opel has scored in over two years in Europe's fastest touring car series.

Dumbreck led the Opel charge in qualifying, taking third position on the grid in his red Astra V8 Coupé. He was backed up by team mate Timo Scheider and Alain Menu, who locked out the third row of the grid.

Dumbreck made a great start to pass the Audi of Mattias Ekstrom before the first corner, and the Scottish driver gave chase to leader, Bernd Schneider. But the multiple DTM champion's Mercedes was just too strong and, despite some incredibly fast pitstops by OPC Team Phoenix and consistent lap times, Dumbreck had to settle for second, just 6.8secs behind the winner.

"This result almost feels like a win for us," said Dumbreck. "After winning the 24-hour race last weekend, it's another demonstration of how Opel is going in the right direction."

Backing up the Scot's excellent performance was Scheider, who battled up to fourth after making a poor start. He was also helped by some swift pitstops, but just couldn't find a way past Ekstrom to grab the final place on the podium and had to settle for fourth five tenth of a seconds behind.

Menu finished sixth, an amazing result given that he spun twice during the race. The first lost him time after he was battling for third with Ekstrom, but the second was caused when Marcel Fassler's Mercedes hit him as it left the pit lane exit.

Things didn't go to plan for all the Opel drivers, however. Manuel Reuter (OPC Team Holzer) was judged to have jumped the start and finished 12th after a drive-through penalty, one place behind Joachim Winkelhock (OPC Euroteam), who had a lonely race.

Dutch rookie Jeroen Bleekemolen's weekend ended in disappointment when an electrical problem tranded his OPC Euroteam car near the end of the race.

DTM, points standings after four of ten races: 1. Schneider 29 points, 2. Albers 26, 3. Fässler 21, 4. Aiello 19, 5. Dumbreck 18, 6. Ekström 17, 7. Alesi 11, 8. Scheider 7, 9. Menu 7, 10. Abt 1.

DTM, next race: 20-22 June 2003, Norisring / Nuremberg (D)