Tomczyk on pole-position for Spanish premiere

The spectators can look forward to an exciting battle for the lead in the championship standings: points leader Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz) is line-up alongside Kristensen in fourth place on the grid. With Frank Stippler (Audi) in seventh place and Alexandros Margaritis (Mercedes-Benz) in eighth position, two drivers with year-old cars made it into the third and final qualifying heat. On the other hand, Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green failed to make it into the top eight. An extensive press release with quotes from the drivers and the motor sport directors will follow shortly.

The qualifying at a glance
Air temperature: 20,6 °C
Track temperature: 21,3 °C

13.37 hrs Qualifying starts, Pierre Kaffer is the first driver to go out on the track
13.40 hrs Alex Margaritis is fastest with 1.14.949, then Heinz-Harald Frentzen takes first place with 1.14.847
13.43 hrs Bernd Schneider sets the fastest time with 1.14.691
13.44 hrs Mika Häkkinen improves to second place with a lap tike of 1.14.841
13.46 hrs Bernd Schneider improves his own best time: 1.14.512
13.47 hrs Heinz-Harald Frentzen moves up into second place with 1.14.417, Jamie Green is now third with 1.14.791
13.50 hrs Ickx spins, continues
13.51 hrs End of the session. Nicolas Kiesa, Christian Abt, Daniel La Rosa, Stefan Mücke, Bruno Spengler and Susie Stoddart fail to make the cut.
13.52 hrs Bernd Schneider is fastest in the session, followed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Tom Kristensen, Timo Scheider, Martin Tomczyk, Jamie Green, Alex Margaritis, Mattias Ekström, Mika Häkkinen, Pierre Kaffer, Mathias Lauda, Frank Stippler, Vanina Ickx, Jean Ales
13.58 hrs Start of the next heat, Bernd Schneider is the first driver out.
14.01 hrs Martin Tomczyk is fastest with 1.14.469
14.02 hrs Heinz-Harald Frentzen is now on top with a lap time of 1.13.946
14.06 hrs Frank Stippler takes second place with 1.14.407
14.08 hrs End of the session. Frentzen is fastest from Kristensen, who moves up into second at the final minute. They are followed by Tomczyk, Häkkinen, Schneider, Stippler, Ekström and Margaritis.
14.15 hrs Start of the final session. Martin Tomczyk is the first driver to go out.
14.18 hrs Martin Tomczyk is fastest from Mattias Ekström and Bernd Schneider
14.20 hrs Five Audis in front, but then Bernd Schneider sets the third fastest time. Martin Tomczyk remains leading from Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
14.22 hrs End of the session. Martin Tomczyk claims the fourth pole-position of his DTM career from Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Tom Kristensen, who moves up into third in the final second. Bernd Schneider is fourth from Häkkinen, Ekström, Stippler and Margaritis.
14.23 hrs A spectacular qualifying session saw Martin Tomczyk claim his first DTM pole of this season and the fourth of his DTM career, followed by fellow-Audi-drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Tim Kristensen. Points leader Bernd Schneider is best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver on fourth place.