24.6.2003
Peter Dumbrecks grabs fourth for Opel at Norisring

Opel enjoyed more success in the DTM at the famous Norisring circuit, around the streets of Nuernberg in Germany.

Peter Dumbreck (OPC Team Phoenix) scored a well-earned fourth place finish in front of a total of 128,000 spectators after driving a strong race in his Astra V8 Coupe.

Dumbreck leapt into sixth place at the start, and was closely followed by Reuter in the early stages. Unfortunately, Manuel Reuter (OPC Team Holzer) was judged to have jumped the start, and received a drive-through penalty. Dumbreck stayed in touch with Mercedes of Marcel Fassler in the early laps, but then had to fend off reigning champion Laurent Aiello of Audi. The Phoenix team elected to take a late first pitstop, so Dumbreck enjoyed a few laps in the lead before making his first mandatory stop.

Some super-quick pit work allowed him to gain a position and run in the top three for the middle stint of the race, but despite another lightning second stop, Dumbreck was held up by the a tail-end Audi, which allowed multiple DTM champion Bernd Schneider to steal the final position on the podium.

Joachim Winkelhock (OPC Euroteam) made it two Opels in the points with an excellent drive to eighth position. Alain Menu (OPC Team Holzer) was 10th, with Reuter (who incurred a second drive-through penalty due to a collision) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (OPC Euroteam) 13th and 14th respectively. Timo Scheider was disappointed with 16th.

Results
DTM, race:
1. C. Albers/Mercedes 72 laps/1h00m50,599s, 2. M. Fässler/Mercedes +5,753s, 3. B.Schneider/Mercedes +12,081, 4. P. Dumbreck/Opel +19,332, 5. J. Alesi/Mercedes +30,169, 6. L. Aiello/Audi +31,704, 7. C. Abt/Audi + 34,116, 8. J. Winkelhock/Opel +51,050, 9. T. Jäger/Mercedes -1 lap, 10. A. Menu/Opel -1, ... 13. M. Reuter/Opel -1, 14. J. Bleekemolen/Opel -1, 16. T. Scheider/Opel -2.

DTM, next race: 25-27 July 2003, Donington Park (GB)