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00:20Welcome to our review of the 2004 German Touring Car Masters series,
00:26which started in the sleepy little town of Hockenheim, and some eight months later, also finished there.
00:35For 2004, the DTM line-up included former Grand Prix's Heinz Harald Frensen,
00:43while Audi joined the show officially with new A4 cars and some of their Le Mans heroes,
00:50like Emanuele Pirro, Frank Bieler and Tom Christensen.
00:56But it was another famous name who started from the pole in the first race, Jean-Elazy.
01:03He leads into the first turn, behind Audi driver Martin Tomczyk, followed by Tom Christensen,
01:10and they battle for second place in the blue and yellow Audis.
01:18As ever, it was flying bodywork.
01:23Let's see that start again.
01:30Meanwhile, Swiss star Marcel Fasler, driving her Opel for the first time switching from Mercedes-Benz,
01:37had this drama.
01:38He was soon to retire from the race.
01:42Olezy leads the Briton, Gary Paffet,
01:46the former champion Bert Schneider,
01:48Christian Albers,
01:50and Matthias Ekstrom of Sweden.
01:57Olezy, Paffet, Schneider, Albers, Ekstrom.
02:00That was the order in the early going.
02:04Olezy had to retire from the race on lap 26 due to technical problems.
02:12Gary Paffet and the black car with the green mirrors
02:15have been promoted for 2004
02:17to the top Mercedes-Benz squad.
02:21And here he is giving the master Bert Schneider
02:24really hard pressure,
02:25but he can't overtake.
02:33Schneider, of course, the reigning champion,
02:36the favourite son of Mercedes-Benz.
02:39Three manufacturers in the championship this year.
02:41Mercedes, Opel, and, of course, Audi.
02:45Stefan Mucker in a problem there.
02:49Mucker followed by Laurent Aiello.
02:53Meanwhile, has Jürgen Hubert,
02:55the Mercedes' boss consoles Jean Olezy.
02:59Jean always wears his heart on his sleeve.
03:03Bert Schneider suddenly starts to slow.
03:06He loses position.
03:08And like Jean Olezy,
03:10he has to leave the race early.
03:18This year, of course,
03:19Mercedes running a four-door machine
03:22rather than two-door cars.
03:28There is Schneider then,
03:30heading towards the pits.
03:34And retirement.
03:35No points for the champion.
03:38And it's Gary Paffet
03:40who takes the first round
03:42and wins his first DTM race.
03:47Christian Albers is second
03:48and Ekstrom is third for Audi.
03:53It had been a great day
03:54for the young British driver.
03:56I knew we were going to be quick in the race,
03:58but, you know, the car was great.
04:00It was great all the time.
04:00When I was following people,
04:01I could get quite close to them.
04:03And everything went well.
04:04I managed to get past the two Audis
04:05in the first couple laps
04:07and was quite comfortable
04:08sitting behind John.
04:09And I think John had a bit of a problem
04:10with the car, I don't know.
04:11So I'm basically getting to the lead there.
04:13And then Bernd caught me
04:14and, you know,
04:15he was pushing hard.
04:16I made a bit of a mistake
04:17and he got past.
04:18But after he got past,
04:19I could sit behind him quite comfortably.
04:21But, you know,
04:22it was going to be so difficult to pass him.
04:23And, you know,
04:24in the end, I didn't have to
04:25because he had a problem with the car, I think.
04:26But, you know,
04:28it was just an unbelievable race, as you say.
04:30I mean, starting fourth on the grid
04:31was good enough for me for the weekend, I think.
04:33But winning the race is incredible.
04:36And the champagne sprays
04:38and the DTM has a new first-time winner.
04:47Moving on, then,
04:49to Estoril, round two.
04:51The Portuguese former Grand Prix track
04:54in Southern Europe.
05:01The town, of course,
05:03very much a seafront city
05:05and an easy drive from Lisbon.
05:10Most of the drivers know the track pretty well.
05:13They also enjoy the pleasures
05:16of Estoril
05:17and the neighbouring seaside area.
05:25Estoril also hosts
05:27the largest casino in Europe.
05:35So, one round down,
05:37Mercedes-Benz the winner,
05:39but it's Matthias Ekstrom
05:40on the pole position
05:42in the new Audi A4.
05:45Ekstrom, Paffet, Schneider,
05:47Tomczyk for the top four.
05:52Ekstrom fast is away.
05:55But Paffet on the inside there.
05:57Schneider's in there.
05:58Christensen attacks.
06:05Tomczyk dropped back from the start
06:07after his third position
06:08on the starting grid.
06:10Ekstrom, Paffet, Schneider,
06:12Albers, Christensen.
06:14Sean Olesi
06:16passing Heinz, Harold, Frensen.
06:18Frensen in the Opal,
06:20taking to the gravel.
06:24Opal this year running
06:26a Vectra's rather than the Astra's
06:28they ran last year.
06:29Pip stops very much apart
06:31of the DTM.
06:32Paffet and Albers come in
06:34for the first of their
06:35two mandatory stops
06:37that they have to make
06:38at every single race.
06:43Pip crews work hard.
06:45Paffet back on the track
06:46in front of Ekstrom.
06:53In the lead there.
06:55Stefan Mooker.
06:56Look at that.
06:56Paffet feeding in.
06:58Paffet and Ekstrom
06:59side by side.
07:00Paffet managed to get
07:01the line in front of Ekstrom.
07:04And look at Ekstrom.
07:05Ekstrom down inside.
07:07Great racing
07:07in this second round
07:09of the DTM.
07:11Lazy it is through Leeds.
07:13He hasn't made his pit stop
07:14there.
07:14You can see it on the graphic.
07:16The numeral one
07:17on the right hand side
07:18indicating who has made
07:19the pit stop.
07:20Look at this.
07:21Bert Schneider
07:22overtaking Bert Maylander.
07:24The four door Mercedes-Benz
07:26alongside last year's
07:27two door model.
07:31The organisers of the DTM
07:32deciding that
07:33it would be better to race
07:35the family saloon shape
07:37to help promote those models.
07:40Ekstrom.
07:41Paffet.
07:42Albers.
07:42Albers out of shape.
07:44Albers almost loses it.
07:45They dive in.
07:46This is a tremendous battle.
07:48Look at Gary Paffet
07:49locking up.
07:50Ekstrom keeps his line
07:51but Albers is
07:52who dives ahead.
07:58In front of them
07:59John Alese
08:00who's yet to stop
08:01of course.
08:01This is the real battle
08:02for the lead.
08:05Christian Albers.
08:06What a great season
08:07last year.
08:08Look at that
08:08in Ripley.
08:10And a flame spinning
08:12from exhaust
08:12and there goes Paffet
08:14locking up the Dunlop's
08:15almost charging
08:17into the back
08:17of Ekstrom.
08:18This is what the DTM
08:20is all about.
08:29Christian Albers
08:30who really established
08:31himself last year
08:33going out of the pits.
08:34Can he hold on to that
08:36leading position?
08:42Currently it's
08:43Christiansen,
08:44Schneider,
08:45Elazi,
08:46Fasler
08:46and Aiello.
08:47All the positions
08:48mixed up at the moment
08:49until the second pit stops
08:51have cycled through.
08:53There you see
08:54the numeral two.
08:55Albers,
08:56the highest place
08:57that people
08:57have stopped
08:58for a second time.
09:00More bodywork rubbing.
09:02And still it's
09:04Ekstrom
09:05and Albers
09:06to the young stars
09:08of the DTM.
09:09Bang!
09:09And kissing bodywork
09:11and then Ekstrom
09:11goes to the outside.
09:14Switches back
09:15to the inside.
09:20Meanwhile,
09:21here's Heinz,
09:21Carol Frensen
09:22finding his Opel.
09:24A bit tricky
09:25to drive
09:25than the Jordan
09:26Grand Prix car.
09:30And Christian Albers
09:32comes home.
09:33The victor
09:34of the second round
09:35of the DTM.
09:38I took two cars
09:39in one corner
09:40and I think
09:41that was my success
09:41and I just
09:43couldn't get
09:44into my...
09:45I could get
09:46in my rhythm
09:46and driving
09:47some good times
09:48in the beginning
09:49but then the last set
09:50I put on the car
09:51I got a lot
09:54of oversteer
09:54and that's why
09:55Matthias Ekstrom
09:56was really close
09:56to me.
09:58So,
09:59two rounds down.
10:00The Dutchman
10:01jumps in the air.
10:04First round
10:05to a Briton,
10:06second round
10:06to a Dutchman
10:07but two victories
10:08to Mercedes-Benz.
10:11Ekstrom
10:11right in there
10:12as we move on
10:14to round three.
10:15The Adria
10:16International Raceway
10:18south of Venice.
10:23Yes, Venice.
10:25A city
10:25with living history.
10:27Everywhere architecture
10:28from the various
10:29centuries.
10:31The bustling
10:32Grand Canal
10:36is one of the
10:37favourite
10:38tourist spots
10:39of Europe.
10:43south of here
10:44the new
10:44Adria racetrack
10:46is unique
10:47in the fact
10:47that it has
10:48a fully enclosed
10:49paddock.
10:54There it is,
10:55the big paddock
10:56building
10:58and it's
10:58completely
10:59air conditioned
11:00too.
11:02Ekstrom
11:03are lazy
11:03Albers
11:04Paffet.
11:05It's the
11:05similar names
11:06on the front row.
11:08Ekstrom
11:09fastens
11:09way at the
11:10start
11:10Albers
11:11beats
11:11are lazy.
11:15Very narrow
11:16into that
11:16first corner.
11:17Will they
11:17all make it?
11:24Very
11:25modern race
11:25facility.
11:29There are
11:29Italian drivers
11:30in this championship
11:31of course.
11:32Although
11:33John
11:33Alessi
11:34has
11:34Sicilian
11:35parentage.
11:37and there
11:38is
11:39John
11:40Alessi
11:40in the
11:41AMG
11:41silver car.
11:43Right in
11:44the mix.
11:45Mikstrom
11:46though it is
11:46who leads.
11:48Martin
11:48Tomczyk
11:48having another
11:49good race.
11:56Smoke
11:56coming from
11:57Bernschneider's
11:58right front
11:58wheel.
11:59It's obviously
12:00sustained some
12:01damage in an
12:02early skirmish.
12:05Frank
12:06Beeler
12:06accelerating
12:06from the
12:07pits and
12:07the rear
12:08wheel comes
12:08adrift.
12:10Obviously
12:11some problems.
12:12Mechanics
12:12just working
12:13a bit too
12:13feverishly.
12:15So
12:15Ekstrom
12:16leading from
12:17Albers,
12:17Alessi,
12:18Paffet
12:18and Bert
12:19Maylander
12:20having a
12:20very good
12:20run at
12:21the year-old
12:22two-door
12:22Mercedes.
12:31Finally
12:31Tom
12:32Christensen
12:33gets underway.
12:36And look
12:37at this.
12:37Bang!
12:38That's how
12:38to destroy
12:39the front
12:40of your car
12:40courtesy of
12:41Heinz
12:42Harold
12:42Frensen.
12:43It's
12:43bodywork
12:44damaged
12:44but it'll
12:44definitely
12:45slow him.
12:49Schneider
12:50power's
12:51passed.
12:52Former
12:53Grand Prix
12:53driver
12:54Heinz
12:54Harold
12:54Frensen.
13:00And
13:01Frensen
13:02decides to
13:02stay out.
13:04There's
13:05Volker
13:06Steiczek
13:06the boss
13:07of Opel
13:08Motorsport.
13:08There's
13:08Norbert
13:09Howell
13:09the boss
13:10of
13:10Mercedes-Benz.
13:13That is
13:14Ekström
13:14having a
13:16great race
13:16though here
13:17in Italy.
13:19And the
13:20Swede
13:20takes the
13:20second flag.
13:22Christian
13:23Albers
13:23finishes
13:24second.
13:25Jean
13:25Alessi
13:26completes
13:26the podium.
13:27Great
13:28result for
13:29the veteran
13:29Frenchman.
13:32And look
13:33at Ekström
13:33celebrating,
13:35certainly
13:35laying the
13:36tyre smoke
13:36down.
13:37Let's hear
13:38from him
13:38about his
13:39success.
13:40Starting
13:41from pole
13:41position,
13:42leading after
13:42the first
13:43corner,
13:43having two
13:44good pit
13:44stops and
13:45a perfect
13:45strategy and
13:46winning the
13:47race.
13:47For sure
13:47I was
13:48extremely
13:49happy crossing
13:49the finish
13:50line because
13:50I think
13:51me and
13:51the team
13:52and
13:52everybody
13:53that
13:53work
13:53for this
13:55deserve
13:56it very
13:56much because
13:56we were
13:57very close
13:57in Estoril
13:58and now
13:59we managed
13:59to happen.
14:01So for
14:01sure I'm
14:02very happy
14:02that we
14:03managed to
14:04win this
14:04race because
14:05it's very
14:05important for
14:06me and
14:06Audi and
14:07Upt and
14:07all the
14:07sponsors and
14:08mechanics in
14:08the whole
14:09team.
14:09Yes,
14:10the first
14:11victory for
14:12the Audi
14:12A4 prepared
14:15by the
14:16AAP team.
14:18So Audi
14:19was celebrating
14:20in Italy as
14:21we move back
14:22to Germany in
14:23June for
14:23round four at
14:24the Lauschitz
14:25ring.
14:27This is the
14:27new circuit
14:28built on an
14:29open cast
14:30coal mine
14:31between Berlin
14:32and Dresden.
14:33Very much a
14:34state-of-the-art
14:35racetrack.
14:38570 hectare
14:40site and
14:42an oval
14:43track as
14:44well as
14:44the road
14:45course.
14:48There you
14:49see the
14:49road course
14:50laid out,
14:50uses part
14:51of the
14:52oval.
14:53There's a
14:53huge grand
14:54stand here
14:56and a large
14:57crowd to
14:58see a front
14:59row of
14:59Albers and
15:00Ekstrom,
15:01a lazy
15:01and Peter
15:02Dunbrecht,
15:03the Scot
15:04starts from
15:05fourth position
15:05in his Opel.
15:07But it's
15:08Mercedes and
15:09Audi absolutely
15:09side by side.
15:11Look at this
15:11and Ekstrom
15:12it is who
15:12gets away
15:13first.
15:13Look at
15:13Dunbrecht
15:14all over the
15:15grass in
15:16the Valvoline
15:17back car.
15:20You can see
15:21that start
15:22again.
15:23Ekstrom leads
15:24Albers,
15:24Paffet's in
15:25there,
15:25Schneider and
15:26Manuel Reuter,
15:28the veteran
15:28former champion
15:29also for
15:30Opel.
15:38There's Paffet
15:39just ahead of
15:40Schneider.
15:41They run
15:41close to the
15:42wall on the
15:43oval section.
15:44Ekstrom
15:44leading though,
15:45fresh from the
15:47success in
15:47Italy.
15:48Paffet is in
15:49third,
15:50Schneider fourth,
15:51Reuter fifth.
15:54And look at
15:55this,
15:56more desperate
15:56motoring,
15:57Christian Albers
15:58out on the
15:59grass.
16:05Slow-mo action
16:06here of
16:07Peter Dunbrecht.
16:09There he is
16:10in the
16:11Valvoline
16:11car and
16:12that's
16:14Marcus
16:14Winklehawk
16:15going round.
16:15the youngest
16:18member of the
16:18famous Winklehawk
16:19racing family
16:20in a year-old
16:21car.
16:23Paffet overtakes
16:24Ekstrom,
16:25seems to have
16:25the speed here.
16:26Ekstrom tries
16:27to answer back.
16:33Great
16:33on-board action,
16:34we've seen it
16:35all through the
16:36DTM.
16:38Very quick
16:38pit stop
16:39for
16:40Christian Albers
16:43back on track.
16:45and overtakes
16:47Berge Schneider
16:48in the process,
16:48claims third
16:49place.
16:53Paffet
16:53currently
16:54leading.
17:01Paffet,
17:02the winner
17:02at Hockenheim,
17:04takes the
17:04chequered flag
17:05again.
17:07but it
17:08isn't all
17:09over yet.
17:11There is a
17:12regulation,
17:13rule S20.1.
17:15It says the
17:16cars must
17:17drive to the
17:18Parc Fermi
17:19under their
17:20own steam.
17:21But Paffet
17:22had run out
17:23of fuel
17:23on the
17:24slowing down
17:25lap.
17:27He was
17:28disqualified.
17:30and so
17:31there was
17:32a new
17:32winner.
17:34And
17:34Norbert
17:34Haug
17:35wasn't
17:35happy.
17:37For us
17:37it is clear
17:38that Gary
17:38won the
17:39race on
17:40the track.
17:41And he
17:41gained no
17:41advantage.
17:42And that's
17:43important for
17:43us.
17:44In the
17:44spirit of
17:45sport,
17:45we can't
17:46understand
17:46this
17:46decision.
17:47And so
17:47we have
17:48appealed
17:48against
17:48it.
17:49We'll
17:49see what
17:50the result
17:50will be
17:51of that.
17:52Of course,
17:52we hope
17:52for the
17:53right decision
17:53in the
17:54spirit of
17:54sport,
17:55so the
17:55right driver
17:56wins
17:56the
17:57race.
17:59But he
18:00did not
18:00win that
18:01appeal and
18:02Ekstrom
18:02became the
18:03winner from
18:04Albers,
18:04Schneider and
18:05Aiello having
18:06a good run
18:07for Opel.
18:08And
18:09John
18:09Elazi was
18:10credited with
18:11fifth place.
18:13So we
18:14move on
18:15then to
18:16round five.
18:18Gary
18:18Paffet
18:19obviously
18:19hoping for
18:20better luck.
18:21We're here
18:22at the
18:22Norris
18:22Ring at
18:23the end
18:23of June.
18:24The
18:25famous
18:25circuit at
18:26the
18:26Nuremberg.
18:29The city
18:30itself is
18:31home to
18:32over half
18:33a million
18:33citizens.
18:34It has
18:35medieval
18:35roots,
18:37historic
18:37buildings,
18:38churches,
18:38a castle.
18:40And there's
18:41an old
18:41wall,
18:42five kilometers
18:43of which
18:43have been
18:44re-erected.
18:46The
18:46Germanic
18:47National
18:47Museum
18:48is based
18:48here.
18:49There are
18:49many cultural
18:50events,
18:51international
18:51trade fairs
18:52and congresses
18:53which bring
18:54millions of
18:55visitors around
18:56the world
18:56to this city
18:57in northern
18:58Bavaria.
19:00They hold
19:01just the
19:01one race
19:01here a year
19:02and it
19:03always attracts
19:04a massive
19:04crowd.
19:10The
19:11paddock area
19:11is located
19:12close to this
19:13large lake.
19:21top ten
19:22shootout
19:23super
19:24pole
19:24qualifying
19:25session.
19:26A lazy
19:26starts
19:27alongside
19:27Mercedes
19:28team-mate
19:28Gary
19:29Paffet.
19:30Christian
19:30Albers is
19:31third but
19:32Timo
19:32Scheider
19:33fourth for
19:34Opel.
19:35The best
19:36of the
19:36out is
19:36Tom
19:37Christensen
19:37down in
19:38sixth spot.
19:43And go!
19:45And it's
19:46Christian
19:46Albers who
19:47takes the
19:47lead ahead
19:48of Gary
19:48Paffet.
19:49Lazy is
19:50swamped.
19:50He drops
19:51back to
19:51third place.
19:52Bert
19:52Scheider makes
19:53a good start.
19:54And it's
19:55Tom
19:55Christensen.
19:56There you
19:56see the
19:57street circuit
19:58nature of
19:58this track,
19:59this tight
19:59hairpin.
20:00We look
20:00down on
20:01it.
20:03Quite a
20:03traffic jam but
20:04they all
20:05accelerate away.
20:07Gary
20:07Paffet in
20:08second place.
20:09It's
20:09Albers who
20:10leads.
20:11Lazy
20:11third.
20:14So
20:14Mercedes
20:15spins.
20:16One,
20:17two,
20:17three,
20:17four.
20:18Look at
20:18the
20:18yellow
20:18car.
20:18Tom
20:19Christensen
20:19into the
20:20hairpin
20:21too hot.
20:21Drops a
20:22couple of
20:22slots.
20:24Gary
20:24Paffet
20:24kisses
20:25the wall
20:25in second
20:26place.
20:27But no
20:28damage done.
20:29Although the
20:30wing got a
20:30bit of a
20:31pounding.
20:32Look at
20:33this.
20:33Heinz
20:33Harold
20:33French
20:34and spins
20:34into
20:35Marcel
20:35Fassler.
20:36What
20:36happened?
20:38I just
20:38lost the
20:39car on
20:39the
20:40braking.
20:41And so
20:42I also
20:42collided
20:43with
20:44Marcel
20:45Fassler.
20:45So
20:46we have
20:46a
20:48problem
20:49which is
20:50clear on
20:51my side.
20:51I have to
20:52say it was
20:52my fault.
20:53And so
20:53it was
20:54put me
20:54out of
20:55the
20:55rain.
20:57Briefly
20:58rain sets
20:58in.
21:00The fans
21:01don't see
21:01the mind
21:01too much
21:02but it's
21:02not nice
21:03for the
21:03drivers
21:03out on
21:04the
21:04slick
21:04tyres.
21:08Everyone
21:08tiptoeing
21:09around.
21:13Jean
21:14Ennese
21:15locking up
21:15his brakes.
21:18And will
21:19he hit
21:19anything?
21:19Yes,
21:20into the
21:20tyre stack.
21:22Hopefully
21:23not too
21:23much damage
21:24done.
21:24But it's
21:25another win
21:25for Gary
21:26Paffet.
21:27But he
21:27lost the
21:28one in the
21:28race before
21:29but this
21:30one will
21:30stick.
21:31And Gary
21:32Paffet keeps
21:33himself in
21:33the
21:34championship
21:34hunt.
21:38I had a
21:38good start.
21:40And I
21:41gained already
21:42one place.
21:43After being
21:44fourth I
21:45thought to
21:45save tyres
21:46and brakes
21:46in the
21:47first end.
21:48But in the
21:49second end I
21:49was still
21:49slow.
21:50I'm not
21:51sure why.
21:52Third end the
21:53car was quite
21:53good still and I
21:54could push
21:54hard but I
21:56had some
21:56problems with
21:57flipping cars.
21:57and yeah
21:59it was the
22:01best I could
22:01be assured.
22:03This was the
22:04maximum I
22:04could get.
22:06Yes,
22:07another good
22:07result for
22:08Mercedes-Benz
22:11and the
22:11second
22:12official win
22:13for Gary
22:14Paffet.
22:15Also
22:16plenty of
22:17points for
22:18the Swede
22:18Matthias
22:19Ekstrom.
22:20He was in
22:20the championship
22:21hunt.
22:22Next up
22:23off to
22:24China for
22:25an
22:25invitational
22:26race.
22:26No
22:27points at
22:27stake but
22:28a very
22:29exciting
22:30venture for
22:31the DTM.
22:33Shanghai
22:34actually on
22:35a street
22:36circuit not
22:37the new
22:37custom built
22:38track which
22:38was the
22:39home of
22:40the Chinese
22:40Grand Prix
22:41and what a
22:42backdrop.
22:44This huge
22:45city with
22:45its 17
22:46million
22:47inhabitants
22:49also has
22:51the fastest
22:52growth of
22:53the motor
22:53industry
22:54anywhere in
22:55the world.
23:12Shanghai famous
23:14as an
23:14international
23:15port, a
23:15trade centre
23:16and now an
23:17important centre
23:18for the media,
23:19culture and
23:20science.
23:20Norbert Haug
23:22applauded its
23:23inclusion.
23:24We are really
23:25happy to be
23:26invited to this
23:27race.
23:27It's the first
23:28race downtown
23:28Shanghai, the
23:29first touring car
23:30race in Shanghai,
23:31a little bit of
23:32motorsport history
23:33for sure.
23:34It's a
23:34prestigious race
23:36that everybody
23:36wants to win.
23:38Gary Paffet
23:39definitely on a
23:41roll, starting
23:42from pole
23:42position, taking
23:43the lead.
23:44Look at this,
23:45Sean, a lazy
23:46challenge by Tom
23:47Christensen.
23:49And a crash
23:50between Martin
23:50Tomczyk and Tom
23:52Christian, not a
23:53good day for
23:53Audi.
23:55Let's find out
23:55what happened
23:56from Martin.
23:59Yes, my start
24:01was very good.
24:01I was able to
24:02overtake
24:02Christensen
24:03and a lazy
24:03on the
24:04outside and
24:05then I went
24:06into the second
24:06turn in second
24:07place.
24:08At the middle
24:09of the turn I
24:09suddenly got hit
24:10from behind and
24:11that spun me
24:11around.
24:12As far as I
24:13found out it
24:14was a lazy
24:15who hit
24:16Christensen
24:16and then
24:17Christensen
24:18bounced into
24:19me.
24:19So there was
24:20a lot of
24:20things happening
24:21all at once
24:22but from my
24:23point of view
24:24it's a pity
24:25that two
24:25Audis went
24:26out of the
24:27race that
24:27early.
24:29Paffet then
24:29ahead of
24:30Schneider.
24:32Piro, the
24:32best of the
24:33Audis,
24:33Alessio and
24:34then Matthias
24:35Ekstra, Malasi
24:36obviously escaping
24:37from that
24:37incident.
24:45The fans were
24:46certainly enjoying
24:47the action which
24:47had been held up
24:48for some hours
24:49when a man
24:50hold cover came
24:51loose.
24:53But at the
24:54finish it was
24:55Gary Paffet
24:56still in the
24:57lead.
25:00Paffet ahead
25:01of Birch
25:02Schneider here
25:03in the closing
25:04stages in the
25:06twilight of
25:07Shanghai.
25:10The pair of
25:11them had pulled
25:11well away from
25:12the rest of the
25:13field.
25:16Schneider was
25:16pushing really
25:17hard but
25:18round the
25:19Shanghai streets
25:20there isn't much
25:21place for
25:22overtaking.
25:24Ekstrom in
25:24third place.
25:25Remember, no
25:26points being
25:27awarded for this
25:28race.
25:28purely an
25:29invitational
25:30was still a
25:31prestigious race
25:32to win on
25:32what a backdrop
25:33for a motor
25:34race.
25:44heading now
25:45towards the
25:46chequered flag
25:50and Gary
25:51Paffet
25:51one of course
25:53and then was
25:54disqualified at
25:55the Laosic
25:56one at the
25:58Norris ring
25:59heading towards
26:00another victory
26:01here in
26:02Shanghai.
26:03Shanghai.
26:04And the
26:04chequered flag
26:05falls for the
26:06young Briton
26:07Paffet takes
26:08the win in
26:09Shanghai.
26:12I mean, it was
26:13a fun race but
26:14for me it was one
26:14of the hardest
26:15races of the
26:15year, you know,
26:16the temperature
26:16was amazing in
26:17the car and
26:18I didn't have the
26:19drinks but in the
26:19car wasn't working
26:20so I had no drink
26:21for the whole race
26:21so it was very
26:22hard and
26:23Verndorf pushed me
26:24really hard for the
26:25whole race so it
26:25was tough but I'm
26:27so happy to win
26:27it was great to win
26:28the first race in
26:29China.
26:33So the trophy is
26:35held aloft and we
26:37move on then to the
26:40weekend of July 30th,
26:41August 1st, always one
26:44of the biggest races on
26:45the DTM calendar.
26:47We're at the famous
26:48Nürburgring.
26:52Now, of course, a
26:54modern facility but in
26:57the background always the
26:59majestic Nordschleife.
27:04We're in the Eiffel
27:05Mountains.
27:07Sometimes the weather
27:09can be pretty tricky.
27:13Formula One returned
27:14here in 1995 and in
27:19the past ten years we've
27:20seen some excellent
27:21racing here at this
27:23now so modern facility
27:25with its outstanding
27:26pits.
27:28Audi had some famous
27:30VIP visitors including
27:32some of Germany's top
27:33footballers.
27:42It's green for go again.
27:43Paffet off the pole.
27:45The man really is on a
27:46roll extra on the second.
27:50Christian Knapp loses
27:51some ground.
27:52He had made a very good
27:53performance in the
27:55Super Pole.
27:57But it's Paffet first.
27:58It's a very tight corner.
28:00A lot of people going
28:01wide.
28:03And what a star Paffet is
28:05turning out to be in
28:06this 2004 season.
28:08Peter Dumbrake with a
28:10very strong start.
28:11It's British drivers first
28:12and second.
28:15On board briefly with
28:16Birch Schneider.
28:20And a more action.
28:22More damage.
28:23More collisions.
28:29Problems for the
28:30Passenroda
28:31Audis.
28:33And look at that.
28:34Yet again,
28:35Heinz Harold Frensen is in
28:36the thick of things.
28:37Frank Beale had also been
28:39involved in an incident.
28:40the former Le Mans winner.
28:44Paffet here being held up
28:45by Pirro who had not been
28:46to the pits.
28:48This was one of the most
28:49controversial moves of the
28:51whole DTM series.
28:56Emanuele Pirro,
28:57another Le Mans winner.
28:58Makes his car very wide.
29:00Audi playing tactics.
29:06Tactics that Norbert Haug
29:07is not impressed with.
29:11Paffet still trying to find
29:12a way past Pirro.
29:14A sudden switch of strategy.
29:16He dives through the pits
29:17very early.
29:18This is his second stop.
29:23But it's a good switch of
29:25strategy too.
29:26Ekstrom re-enters the track
29:27behind Gary Paffet.
29:31Now here's a three-way battle
29:33between Albers,
29:35Passler and Schneider.
29:44That's Peter Dunbrecht going
29:45through.
29:47And there
29:49is Gary Paffet.
29:54Paffet in front of
29:55Ekstrom.
30:01It's a hot day here at the
30:03Nürburgring and some great
30:04action.
30:09Albers hits Passler.
30:11Two former teammates.
30:13They won't be happy with
30:14that.
30:17I could follow Christian Albers
30:19very easily
30:20but I could not attack
30:22and I started to attack
30:23when the problem
30:24from him began
30:25and then
30:27Schneider crashed
30:28into me
30:28and Albers
30:29tried to block me
30:30that Schneider can pass
30:32and I think
30:33that was not
30:34the correct way
30:34to drive.
30:36No,
30:37not the correct way
30:38to drive.
30:40That's his view.
30:45While the race continues,
30:47Gary Paffet wins again
30:49from Matthias Ekstrom
30:51and Birch Schneider.
30:53And it's Paffet and Ekstrom
30:55who are at the top
30:56of the table
30:56fighting for the championship.
31:00The rest of the field
31:01coming home.
31:02The air horns blaze.
31:06Grandstand
31:06absolutely packed
31:08for this battle
31:09and they loved it.
31:13The start was not very good
31:15and into the first corner
31:17I was taking a bit easier
31:18and Peter Dumbrake
31:19overtook me
31:20and honest,
31:22I did not fight very much
31:23but luckily
31:23three corners later
31:24he made a mistake
31:25and I could pass him back
31:27and from that point
31:28I pushed everything
31:29I could
31:30to catch Gary up
31:32but he was
31:33as fast as me
31:34and he did no mistakes
31:35so today
31:36him and Mercedes
31:37were faster
31:38so it's just to say
31:39congratulations to them.
31:41Yes,
31:42another race victory
31:43for Gary Paffet
31:47and the champagne sprays.
32:08Moving on into August
32:09and round six
32:10of the German
32:11touring car masters.
32:15This series
32:16shaping up
32:17as a great battle
32:18between Mercedes-Benz
32:19and Audi.
32:20Gary Paffet
32:21of course
32:21representing
32:22Mercedes-Benz
32:23their lead driver
32:24and Matthias Ekström
32:26the fastest
32:27of the Audi contenders
32:28leading the championship chase.
32:31So,
32:32the motor park
32:33Osher Schleben
32:33opened back in 1997
32:35they're off
32:36and all Audi front row
32:38and it's Martin Tomczyk
32:40who dives into the first corner
32:42just ahead of Tom Christensen.
32:45Gary Paffet
32:46in third place.
32:49Then it's Albert and Schneider
32:51the dust is kicked up.
32:55but looking very good
32:57here for
32:57the Audi team.
33:01Meanwhile,
33:02Opel's out in the dirt.
33:04Let's see that start again.
33:07Very good start
33:08from Albers
33:09in the silver Mercedes.
33:18But Martin Tomczyk
33:20looking for his first GTM
33:21really charging very hard
33:23lots of action behind
33:26and nudging
33:27look at Bernd Schneider
33:29really getting stuck in there.
33:32And that's Ekström
33:33passing Schneider
33:34Tomczyk it is
33:35who leads
33:36to Christensen's second
33:37Paffet
33:37Albers
33:38Schneider
33:39and Ekström
33:40but Ekström had of course
33:41just moved up a place.
33:50Pit stops as ever
33:51in the GTM
33:52absolutely vital.
33:53Here is Albers
33:54on the charge
33:55and a drive-through penalty
33:57for Albers.
34:05the battle continues
34:07and look at this
34:09Peter Dumbreck
34:10just
34:11touching Bernd Schneider
34:15I'm obviously disappointed
34:17Peter just touched me
34:18from behind
34:19and
34:19spun me around
34:21and
34:21well that was it
34:22my race was over.
34:23I had hitten
34:24then getroffen
34:25and I had to turn
34:26and the race was over.
34:28meanwhile
34:28Martin Tomczyk
34:29dropping back
34:30to second place
34:31after the second pit stop
34:33and it's now
34:33Tom Christensen
34:34leading the field
34:36the multi-lemore winner
34:38looking as if
34:39he's going to score
34:40his first
34:41DTM victory
34:42drama for Gary Paffet
34:43and Paffet
34:45making that mistake
34:46and that
34:46allowed Manuel Reuter
34:48to move up
34:49into third place
34:49and he biffed
34:50Gary Paffet
34:51off the track
34:52unceremoniously
34:55but Reuter
34:56about to score
34:57the best result
34:58for Opel
34:58but it's Tom Christensen
35:00who scores
35:01his first
35:02DTM win
35:03Tomczyk
35:04finishes second
35:05and Manuel Reuter
35:06gives Opel
35:07their first
35:08podium result
35:09of the season.
35:15It was really
35:16exciting
35:17and a really
35:18tough race
35:19at the start
35:20I lost one
35:21or two places
35:22and we chose
35:23a different strategy
35:24especially
35:24after the first
35:26the second
35:27one was
35:28a little bit
35:28longer
35:29and after
35:29the second
35:30pitch stop
35:31we made
35:31some adjustment
35:32on the
35:32tyres
35:32pressures
35:33and it worked
35:34because there he is
35:35on the podium
35:36but Christensen
35:37the winner
35:50across the border
35:51from Germany
35:52into Holland
35:53for round
35:54seven
35:54of the series
35:56to
35:57Zandvoort
35:58the historic track
35:59which was rebuilt
36:00in 1999
36:02this seaside circuit
36:04amongst the dunes
36:05at one time
36:07the proud venue
36:08of the Dutch Grand Prix
36:10well that is no more
36:12the biggest race here
36:13these days
36:14is the DTM
36:17and it's bound to attract
36:18a very good crowd
36:20and some special
36:21jewellery
36:22as you saw
36:25so the battle
36:26between Audi
36:27and Mercedes-Benz
36:28Gary Paffitt
36:30and Matthias Ekstrom
36:31continues
36:32they start
36:33alongside each other
36:34on the front row
36:35of the grid
36:35it's Ekstrom
36:36who gets by far
36:37the best start
36:38the way it accelerates
36:39the way you'd think
36:40that Audi had
36:41four-wheel drive
36:41it doesn't
36:42no DTM's are allowed
36:44that
36:44all have the same
36:45gearboxes
36:46into the famous
36:47Tarzan corner
36:48for the first time
36:49and Ekstrom
36:50powers away
36:51from Paffitt
36:52Schneider
36:52Tonchik
36:53Abt
36:54Christensen
36:54Albers
36:55Reuter
36:55Scheider
36:57and Faisler
36:59Christensen
37:00still in with a chance
37:01of the title
37:02but it's starting
37:03to fade a little bit
37:04but his win
37:05in the previous round
37:06helped
37:08now look at this
37:12Martin Tomchik
37:13overtakes
37:14Bernd Schneider
37:15clean move
37:16by young Tomchik
37:18drive-through penalty
37:19for Gary Paffitt
37:21well that
37:22will hurt his
37:22championship hopes
37:25apparently just
37:26nudged somebody
37:28was that the incident
37:30yes it was
37:30and it's Tom
37:32Christensen
37:32he sends
37:33a spinning there
37:36Paffitt then
37:37slowly through
37:38the pits
37:39he must be cursing
37:40it's like huge
37:41huge accident
37:42four
37:43yes the race is stopped
37:44Peter Dunbrecht
37:45in the Opel
37:46a massive accident
37:47as the new part
37:49of the circuit
37:49turns onto
37:51the main straight
37:52the original main straight
37:53look at this
37:53bang into the barriers
37:55just ran wide
37:56and the Valvoline car
37:57over and over
37:58the body panel
37:59is coming off
38:01but amazingly
38:02Peter Dunbrecht
38:03walked away
38:04unaided
38:05I'm fine at the moment
38:07anyway
38:07for sure
38:08my neck will stiffen up
38:09a bit
38:09but
38:10I've got no broken bones
38:12I was awake
38:13through the whole crash
38:14of course
38:15I felt a big impact
38:16the first
38:16when I hit
38:17into the tyres
38:20but you know
38:21I was fine
38:22and I was trying
38:22to get out of the car
38:23straight away
38:23and I think that
38:27you know
38:28I'll be fighting fit
38:29for the next race
38:30no problem
38:32the restart then
38:35Ekstrom and Tomchik
38:36down the front row
38:37together
38:37two red bull cars
38:39together
38:42and it's Ekstrom
38:43from Tomchik
38:44Albers up there
38:45Schneider
38:46Paffet
38:47well a lucky break
38:48for Gary Paffet
38:51and
38:52Emmanuel
38:52and
38:52Paffet
38:53dropping just behind
38:54the Mercedes trio
38:55go on board
38:56with the local driver
38:57Jerome Bleeker
38:58Molen
38:58one or two
38:59Dutch drivers
39:01in this series
39:02the others of course
39:03Christian Albers
39:07look at Paffet
39:08diving down
39:09the inside
39:09of Schneider
39:11that could have been
39:12a Mercedes-Benz
39:14tactical move
39:16and
39:17Schneider
39:18now
39:18clashing
39:18with
39:19Tom Christensen
39:20and
39:21there's been
39:21a bit of
39:22rough and tumble
39:22in this
39:23Sandvort round
39:24hasn't there
39:25but this is
39:26looking good
39:27for Ekstrom
39:28the Audi flags
39:29wave
39:30the check and flag
39:31waves
39:31one two
39:32for Audi
39:32Ekstrom
39:33ahead of Tomchik
39:34Albers finishes
39:35third
39:38they like it
39:39in the Audi pit
39:40and let's hear now
39:42from Martin Tomchik
39:43from second place
39:46well I wouldn't have
39:47been allowed to
39:48overtake
39:49Matthias Ekstrom
39:51we were doing
39:51exactly the same
39:53times
39:53so I wouldn't have
39:55thought of
39:55challenging him
39:56he is racing
39:57for the championship
39:58and
39:58everyone who knows
40:00knows that we
40:00stick together
40:01so I am second
40:02but he gets
40:03to spray
40:04the champagne
40:05and a faceful
40:26heading eastward now
40:27for the penultimate round
40:29of the German touring car championship
40:31the point situation is such
40:34that Matthias Ekstrom
40:35could actually tie up
40:37that title
40:38right here
40:39in Brno
40:39the second largest city
40:41in the Czech Republic
40:43and a city that's seen motor racing
40:45since before the second world war
40:49now they're on a modern facility
40:51the old road circuit
40:52is put into the history books
40:55and since 1986
40:56they've raced here
40:58on this excellent facility
40:59Ekstrom
41:00off the pole
41:01from Albers
41:02Tomchik
41:03Christensen
41:04Frenzen's well up
41:07but it's Ekstrom
41:08who makes an outstanding start
41:10look at Albers
41:11right behind him
41:12and look at Tomchik
41:13and Christensen
41:14both challenging
41:15the Mercedes-Benz
41:16around this long
41:17right-hander
41:18incident between
41:19Reuter
41:19and Bieler
41:21hopefully they'll sort
41:22themselves out
41:23from that
41:28so it's Audi in front
41:30it's looking very good
41:31for Matthias Ekstrom
41:32the Swede
41:35country loving boy
41:36and it's Ekstrom
41:38ahead
41:39on board
41:40with Albers here
41:42trying to overtake
41:43Tom Christensen
41:49now look at this
41:51slow-mo
41:51in that
41:52first corner
41:53Albers collides
41:54with Christensen
41:55spins him around
41:56and
41:58that was
41:59very muscular
42:00driving indeed
42:03now we go
42:04on board
42:05with Albers
42:06trying to get
42:07past Tomchik
42:19and look at this
42:20again
42:20at the same
42:21place
42:22Albers is involved
42:23and damage
42:24to the front
42:25of his car
42:25but Tomchik
42:26is spun off
42:27just the way
42:28that Christensen
42:29was
42:32and
42:33Christian Albers
42:34certainly
42:36in the wars
42:37certainly
42:37in the middle
42:38of the action
42:44and
42:45here he is
42:45coming out
42:46of the pits
42:46well
42:47that won't
42:47improve
42:48the aerodynamics
42:49but at least
42:50all the four wheels
42:51seem to be
42:51pointing in the
42:52right direction
42:54go on board
42:55then with
42:56Matthias Ekstrom
42:59saw the
43:00championship points
43:00there
43:03and look at this
43:04coming out
43:04of the pits
43:05Gary Paffet
43:06bang
43:07bang bang
43:07bang
43:08with
43:08Marcel Fasler
43:10and that
43:11was brutal
43:14well
43:14Gary Paffet
43:15and I
43:15came out
43:16of the pits
43:16at the same
43:17time
43:17and we had a
43:19slight contact
43:20but I was in the
43:21worst position
43:22since I was on
43:23the outside
43:23so I think
43:25Gary won that
43:26but as far as I'm
43:28concerned
43:28that's racing
43:29I'm not too
43:30worried about it
43:31meanwhile
43:32the wild ride
43:33of Albers
43:34comes to an end
43:35and he abandons
43:37the race
43:37and that more or less
43:39gives Ekstrom
43:40the DTM title
43:43Paffet still had a
43:45very slim chance
43:46as the race
43:47continued
43:50current championship
43:51points
43:5220
43:53between the
43:54pair of them
43:59so looks as if it was Ekstrom
44:02heading for another victory
44:04and here he is
44:05taking the checkered flag
44:09and that assures him
44:11of the championship
44:12with one race to go
44:15Matthias Ekstrom
44:16of Sweden
44:17is the champion
44:18congratulations to him
44:19and congratulations
44:20of course
44:21to the Apt team
44:22and to the Audi factory
44:24for producing
44:24a fantastic new race car
44:26in the Audi A4
44:28let's hear that now
44:30from the new champion
44:31only the second ever
44:32to come
44:33from Sweden
44:36today was very good
44:37day and
44:38the first half of the race
44:40or the first hint
44:41were a little bit exciting
44:42and after this
44:44I got a big gap
44:44and can drive
44:45an easy race
44:45to the finish
44:46which was very nice
44:52for sure I'm very happy
44:53and the moment
44:55when I cross
44:56the finish line
44:56it's amazing
44:58and the celebrations
45:00continue at Bruna
45:16it all started in Hockenheim
45:18and it all ends here
45:20but already
45:21Matthias Ekstrom
45:22the champion of course
45:24and a huge crowd
45:25to celebrate that success
45:27a record
45:28130,000 spectators
45:32packed in
45:48yes the fireworks
45:50and the flares
45:51were at the ready
45:53Tomczyk and Schneider
45:55at the start
45:57from the front row
45:58another great start
45:59from Tomczyk
46:00so often
46:02the nearly man
46:02we ride briefly
46:03with Marcel Fasler
46:07and mad scenes
46:09at the beginning there
46:11Marcel Fasler
46:13spinning off
46:14there he is
46:20but up front
46:21it's Martin Tomczyk
46:22still looking for
46:23that first win
46:24from Schneider
46:25Paffet moving up
46:25quickly to third place
46:27a lazy fourth
46:29Paffet trying to
46:30assure himself
46:31of the runner-up spot
46:33in the championship
46:40the new
46:41hairpin at Hockenheim
46:42which has seen
46:43so much action
46:44over the years
46:44here's a replay
46:45of the start
46:46and we ride
46:48with Marcel Fasler
46:49and he takes
46:51a lot of curve
46:51and he spins
46:52maybe he was tapped
46:54maybe he did it
46:55all on his own
46:58and this is Fasler
46:59again
47:00dive-bombing
47:01Peter Dunbrek
47:05I tried to catch up
47:06and I tried to
47:07overtake Janis
47:08I was already
47:10on side by him
47:11a bit too fast
47:12locking wheels
47:13and I hit
47:14after Peter Dunbrek
47:15and I really
47:16apologise for him
47:18it was not
47:18it was completely
47:20my fault
47:20and I'm sorry for that
47:23well Bernd Schneider
47:25here challenging
47:26Martin Tomczyk
47:27remember
47:28the multi-champion
47:29Schneider has not
47:30won a race this season
47:31and there he takes
47:32the lead
47:32passes Tomczyk
47:35and Schneider
47:36on the big charge
47:38showing that
47:39he has lost
47:40none of his touch
47:41had to play
47:43second fiddle
47:43this season
47:44to Gary Paffitt
47:45and Ekstron
47:46passes Albus
47:47that's important
47:48for the
47:49Constructors' Championship
47:50Audi versus
47:51Mercedes-Benz
47:55so that battle
47:56continues
47:58but out front
48:01Bernd Schneider
48:04and look at Schneider
48:05huge lock-up
48:06from him
48:07Schneider going
48:08off the track
48:09but amazingly
48:11and pulled away
48:12enough
48:12to continue
48:13to lead the race
48:19now Ekstron
48:21challenging
48:21Sjana Lazy
48:23Sjana having
48:24a good race here
48:27gone through the season
48:28without a victory
48:29this year however
48:30Bernd Schneider
48:31takes his
48:3230th DTM win
48:34locks it up
48:36and look at this
48:37bang bang bang
48:38at the end
48:38picks a bodywork fly
48:41and in the process
48:43Tom Christensen
48:45moves up a place
48:46well
48:47it's been spectacular
48:49racing all
48:50through the DTM
48:52Audi scoring
48:54the victory
48:54this time
48:55but nevertheless
48:57Norbert Hauck
48:58and Mercedes-Benz
48:59was happy
49:00I think it was a perfect race day
49:02we had four points
49:03four cars in the points
49:04sorry
49:05Bernd Schneider won
49:06in quite a convincing
49:08manner
49:08the race
49:09he was struggling
49:10a little bit
49:11during the course
49:11of the season
49:12but I think he showed
49:13what he can do
49:14he was one of the fastest
49:16guys on the track
49:17and drove as fast
49:18as he should
49:19once he has been
49:20in the lead
49:20I think he
49:21had a great
49:22overtaking maneuver
49:23of Martin Tom Chipp
49:24who was a fair player
49:25all the time
49:26I mean that needs
49:27to be mentioned
49:28as well
49:28and a record crowd
49:30of 135,000 spectators
49:32over the course
49:33of the weekend
49:33so a fantastic
49:34fantastic race
49:35and that's the most
49:36important thing
49:37and once again
49:38Norbert Hauck
49:39really sums it up
49:40very well for us
49:41but what about
49:42the boss of Audi
49:43he had a lot
49:44to celebrate
49:47well
49:48now we have to try
49:50and defend
49:50what we have already
49:51won this year
49:52and we know
49:54it will be very difficult
49:55and that means
49:56that after some
49:57celebrations
49:57we will address
49:59the work we have
50:00to do for 2005
50:01and I know
50:02that there is
50:03a lot of work
50:03I think next year
50:05there's going to be
50:06another excellent
50:07season of DTM racing
50:09and the Opel view
50:12the final race
50:13was not that
50:14what we expected
50:14before
50:15but okay
50:17we had an accident
50:18between two Opel drivers
50:20Marcel Fessler
50:21crashed into
50:22Peter Darmrecht
50:23that means
50:23we lost
50:24these two scars
50:25Laurent Yellow
50:26had a gearbox problem
50:27we saw the problem
50:28with Manuel Reuter
50:29there was a hub broken
50:31one of the Mercedes drivers
50:34hit Jerome Blackamol
50:35so in the end
50:36we had only Timo Scheider
50:37and Heinz Harald Frenz
50:38in the race
50:38and it was really
50:40not a successful weekend
50:41and not that
50:42what we expected
50:43in front of Hockenheim
50:44yes so the final celebrations
50:47of 2004
50:50we had the champagne spray
50:52we also had
50:54the doughnuts
50:56out there
50:56and let's check out
50:58the final points
50:59Ekstrom the winner
51:0074
51:00Pappet 57
51:01Albers 50
51:02Tom Christensen 4
51:04on 43
51:05goodbye from Hockenheim
51:06I hope to see you
51:07in 2005
51:07in the DTM
51:08Amen
51:08Amen
51:09Amen.
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