3.5.2004
More DTM points for Opel at Estoril

The DTM returned to the former Portuguese Grand Prix venue for the first time in eight years.

Opel scored a double points haul in the second round of the DTM Championship at Estoril in Portugal, but it was robbed of a likely podium finish when its leading driver, Timo Scheider, was forced to go briefly off the track due to a mechanical problem. He rejoined to finish sixth, while recent signing Laurent Aiello scored his first point for Opel in eighth.

The DTM returned to the former Portuguese Grand Prix venue for the first time in eight years and Opel showed its potential in qualifying when Timo Scheider placed his OPC Team Holzer Vectra GTS V8 racecar third on the grid following an excellent lap time just 0.4secs off pole position. His teammate, former F1 star Heinz-Harald Frentzen, also made it into the top 10 Super Pole session and qualified eighth.

Despite a strong attack from multiple Le Mans 24 Hour winner Tom Kristensen (Audi), Scheider made a great start and defended his third position at the first corner. Scheider kept the leading duo of Christijan Albers (Mercedes) and Mattias Ekstrom (Audi) in his sights throughout the early and middle stages of the race.

With 13 laps to go and a podium finish apparently secure thanks to healthy advantage over the chasing Audis behind him, Scheider went off the track at Turn 7 when his throttle pedal momentarily jammed. He did a great job to steer his Vectra back on to the track from the gravel trap, but three places had been lost. Timo spent the rest of the race ensuring that former Formula 1 star Jean Alesi could not get past him.

Aiello (OPC Team Phoenix) finished eighth, despite a spin while chasing Marcel Fässler (OPC Team Phoenix). The latter was forced to retire with a broken suspension link late on, which promoted OPC Team Phoenix teammate Peter Dumbreck to ninth.

Frentzen ran strongly early on until he was hit by former grand prix sparring partner Alesi, and sent into the gravel trap. Following another spin later on, he finished 12th. Manuel Reuter (OPC Team Holzer) finished 16th after making an unexpected extra pitstop late on.

Despite the DTM's eight-year absence, the Estoril event attracted 20,000 spectators.

Formula 3: two podium finishes
Opel kept its Formula 3 Euroseries campaign on track at Estoril thanks to a brilliant performance by Nicolas Lapierre in the third round. From 13th on the grid, he swept through the pack with some stunning overtaking moves in his Opel Team Signature-Plus Dallara to finish on the podium in third position. He repeated the position in Sunday's round four in rather different circumstances, when a poor start from pole position meant he had to fight his way past Nico Rosberg's Opel-powered Team Rosberg Dallara.

DTM, Race:
1. C.Albers/Mercedes 37 laps/1h00m22.163s, 2. M.Ekström/Audi +0.652s, 3. M.Tomczyk/Audi +3.898, 4. T.Kristensen/Audi +5.101s, 5. B.Schneider/Mercedes +6.036s, 6. T.Scheider/Opel +9.467s, 7. J.Alesi/Mercedes +10.032s, 8. L.Aiello/Opel +33.985s, 9. P.Dumbreck/Opel +36.281s, 10. C.Abt/Audi + 46.048s, ... 12. H.-H. Frentzen/Opel + 52.144s, ... 16. M.Reuter/Opel +1m00.822s, ... 19. J.Bleekemolen/Opel +1m35.207s, ... M.Fässler/Opel – 6 laps/retired

DTM, standings after two out of ten races:
1. Albers 18 points, 2. Ekström 14, 3. Paffett 10, 4. Tomczyk 10, 5. Kristensen 10, 6. Schneider 4, 7. Scheider 4, 8. Dumbreck 3, 9. Alesi 2, 10. Pirro 2, 11. Aiello 1.

The next round of the DTM is May 14 – 16, 2004 in Adria Italy.