• Timo Scheider sets day’s best time at Oschersleben
  • Katherine Legge quicker than Ralf Schumacher
  • Teams’ work hampered by cold temperatures and rain
DTM 2008
Gebrauchtwagen:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM #10 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline), Timo Scheider

In the second round of the DTM the new Audi A4 DTM is again the car to be beaten. Five days after the 1-2-3 victory at the Hockenheim season opener Audi’s new touring car set the pace at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben as well: Audi driver Timo Scheider clearly set the best time in both tests on Friday.

In the morning the German was 0.382 seconds in front of his team-mate Tom Kristensen. In the afternoon he outperformed Mercedes driver Paul di Resta by as much as 0.657 seconds. “Starting a DTM weekend with two first places is a nice feeling,” said Scheider. “Being the quickest twice with a considerable margin – I wouldn’t mind if things continued this way. Our dry performance today was perfect. On the wet track we still need to improve a bit with the new car.“

Due to the changing weather in the Börde region near Magdeburg both of the two 90-minute sessions allowed the teams to test in virtually all conditions. “The times have to be judged with caution,” emphasised Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. “The situation also depended on the type of tyres being used at any particular time. But everyone today learned a lot – in the rain as well as in dry conditions. That’s why I’m sure that we’ll be able to come up with good setups for our cars tomorrow in any type of weather.”

Audi’s cars from last year were quick on Friday as well. Markus Winkelhock achieved the third-best time in the morning, while DTM newcomer Oliver Jarvis in position five was the quickest driver of a 2007-spec car in the afternoon. 30 minutes before the end of the second test the Brit spun into the gravel trap of the fast chicane, but with no serious consequences.

With a smile on her face as well, Katherine Legge climbed out of the cockpit of her Audi A4 DTM: the female British driver was quicker than Ralf Schumacher.

For Saturday’s qualifying, dry weather – but with chilly temperatures again – has been predicted. ARD willl broadcast the fight for the pole position on “Das Erste” live from Oschersleben starting at 1:30 p.m. (local time). In the past four years an Audi A4 DTM started from the top position of the grid at the “Motorsport Arena” three times. In 2007 Mike Rockenfeller was on the front row as a DTM rookie.