The 2008 grid tested at Mugello!

The 2008 line-up of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters – DTM – had been in testing for two days to prepare for the new season, with the new drivers and new cars of the German touring championship.

The tests of the new Audi A4 and the Mercedes Class-C, both presented this weekend at the Geneva Motor Show, highlighted a slight lead for the brand with the rings.

Yesterday, Monday, Maro Engel was the first on the first day on the Italian Mugello track of 5.245 km. The Mercedes driver was ahead of Alexandre Prémat, who delivered a good performance.

The only Frenchman present in the discipline makes a strong impression as Premat also posted a good time today for the second day of testing. He takes the provisional 1st place (at 5 PM) with his Audi. The Frenchman was more than a second ahead of his German teammate Rockenfeller.

The first Mercedes is in fourth position with Bruno Spengler, while Maro Engel, with a 2007 specification, completes the top 5.

Day 1

01 Maro Engel – Mercedes – 1:56.358

02 Alexandre Prémat – Audi – 1:56.699

03 Mathias Lauda – Mercedes – 1:57.974

04 Bruno Spengler – Mercedes – 1:58.550

05 Mike Rockenfeller – Audi – 1:58.962

06 ? – 1:59.039

07 Katherine Legge – Audi – 1:59.714

08 Timo Scheider – Audi – 2:00.286

09 Martin Tomczyk – Audi – 2:00.462

10 Bernd Schneider – Mercedes – 2:01.003

Day 2

01 Alexandre Premat – Audi – 1:56.887

02 Mike Rockenfeller – Audi – 1:58.268

03 Tom Kristensen – Audi – 1:58.451

04 Bruno Spengler – Mercedes – 1:58.513

05 Maro Engel – Mercedes – 1:58.600

06 Bernd Schneider – Mercedes – 1:58.617

07 Mathias Lauda – Mercedes – 1:58.991

08 Martin Tomczyk – Audi – 1:59.438

09 Christijan Albers – Audi – 2:00.111

10 Timo Scheider – Audi – 2:00.213