Alesi takes Q-honours at Hockenheim.

Former F1 star, Jean Alesi won the Super-pole today [Saturday] at Hockenheim, for the opening round of the 2004 DTM.

It was a perfect start to the new season for the Frenchman, who enters his third year in the 'tin-top' series.

"The new car was perfectly geared towards my style of driving," commented Alesi.

"Already on Friday, my team and I had set up the car so well that it perfectly matched both the characteristics of the raceway and my own personal driving style. All we actually had to do was fuel the car and wash it."

One thing that Alesi, darling of the public was especially glad about was the enthusiasm of the fans. "Being encircled by fans actually is the greatest thing that can happen to a sportsman. It was really fantastic," he added.

Mercedes-Benz' sporting director Norbert Haug was also pleased, as not only did they take pole, but all four HWA Mercedes' made it into the top ten - Gary Paffet fourth, Bernd Schneider fifth and Christijan Albers eighth.

"Having all four new cars in the top ten is a dream result," noted Haug. "Congratulations to the HWA team and their drivers. But the race is not done yet. I am expecting a full house, and I believe that tomorrow we will see full action."

Martin Tomczyk meanwhile was second best in the Super-pole for Audi, just 0.210 seconds behind Alesi, while team-mate Tom Kristensen was third on his DTM debut. The Dane had never been to Hockenheim before, which just served to emphasise his achievement.

"This makes his performance even more impressive," noted Audi's sporting director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

He added: "I am glad were back in the DTM. Martin Tomczyk did a very good job and thus far things are going so well. There is an incredible closeness in performance in DTM. If, after all, you get three cars into the top ten [the other was Mattias Ekstr?m in sixth], this is brilliant."

Full of joy, Kristensen commented on his start position: "Everything is new, and I am most content."

The best-placed driver of the new Opel Vectra GTS V8 was Timo Scheider in seventh, while team-mates Manuel Reuter and Marcel Fassler were ninth and tenth respectively.

Scheider was happy: "Having three Opels in the top ten gives me a good feeling. Unfortunately, after a braking mistake at the joint timed practice, I was too careful during the one-by-one."

Opel sporting director Volker Strycek added: "We will now carefully analyze the things that didn't work out, and tomorrow we will drive into the race with a newly set up car. It was simply extremely tight, and having three completely new cars at the super pole is a success after all."

Of those that missed out on the Super pole, Heinz-Harald Frentzen was one of the most noticeable. He will start 16th tomorrow, after racing last year in F1 for Sauber-Petronas. Frentzen though was relaxed about his position.

"I had to realise that things have to match perfectly if you want to belong to the top of the field. That's what didn't work with me," he noted. Frentzen had to interrupt his first attempt. Impaired by a blocked gearbox, his Opel colleague Peter Dumbreck had damaged his Opel Vectra GTS V8, kicking the wall. Due to this accident timed practice had to been interrupted.

"On my last attack, I pushed too hard," added the German, "and then I spun". Popular Opel novice Frentzen analyzed: "My Vectra was still a bit nervous. For some reason, I have not yet managed to work out the perfect compromise in set-up for different parts of the track."

Heinz-Harald will be hoping for better tomorrow...

The race starts at 1400 hours [local time].