Sachsenring 2002 - 02/06/2002   31/05/2002 Preview - Opel   Sachsenring is for Timo Scheider the most demanding circuit on the DTM calendar... The Sachsenring west of Chemnitz, scene of the fourth DTM meeting at the first weekend in June, places extremely high demands on 'men and machines', prompting Timo Scheider (Opel Team Holzer), currently heading the Opel driver's score, to comment: "The Sachsenring is the most demanding circuit on the DTM calendar. It's an up and downhill track, with very fast but very slow stretches as well - like a miniature Nurburgring-North Loop." Another driver holding no doubts about this is Manuel Reuter (Opel Team Phoenix), who took pole position and third place in the qualifying race at Donington in his Astra V8 Coupé: "This is the most appealing circuit in the DTM series. It simply has it all." Alain Menu (Opel Euroteam) knows what counts: "Good aerodynamic balance, optimal traction and powerful brakes." Adding to the appeal which the Sachsenring holds for the Opel squad is its enthusiastic fan community: "They're the reason why we like going there, although our lucky stars have never shone for us at the Sachsenring," opines Michael Bartels (Opel Team Holzer), who started from the second row of the grid in last year's race but was pushed off the 3.704-km track in the first bend already. Following the disappointing UK weekend, the Opel squad are highly motivated for the Sachsenring meeting. "It was a painful experience seeing Alain Menu lose second place, so surely within his reach, after suffering tyre damage caused by debris on the track, and that we ultimately had to settle for an eighth-place finish," says Opel motor sport boss Volker Strycek. "But Manuel's pole position and four Astras starting from the first three rows on the grid are ample proof of our potential. We're doing everything to make the knot burst soon, preferably as soon as at the Sachsenring." Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport