Prost wins EUR500,000 charity race.

Nuremberg has a history of producing spine-tingling moments, and Saturday's charity 'race' at the Norisring proved to be no exception as 15 world championship titles and 184 grand prix wins were put on the line as six champions went head-to-head as a precursor to the DTM weekend.

Emerson Fittipaldi, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jody Scheckter, Johnny Cecotto und Mick Doohan were celebrated by the crowds packed into the street circuit's stands as they returned to the track to contest a qualifying-style shoot-out in contemporary DTM machinery.

The six idols were to complete three five-minute stints around the former Steintribune, one each in an Audi, Mercedes and Opel. Despite varied careers since retiring from the top flight - in Doohan's case, from the 500cc motorcycle world championship admittedly - the sextet demonstrated that they had lost little in the way of skill, particularly when it came to taking a race car to its limits.

At the end of the day, however, it was four-time Formula One world champion Prost who once again made it on to the highest step of the podium where, in addition to his trophy, the Professeur was handed a far more important prize - a EUR500,000 to help chosen children's charity institution R?ves, plus those being supported by his fellow competitors.

"I truly enjoyed the racing," the Frenchman commented, "The cars resemble formula cars a lot, and I was truly impressed by the performance my friends delivered out there. They have raced this kind of car for the very first time and delivered in fine style."

German actress Veronica Ferres watched the race as a guest of the DTM and, as a representative of the charity Power-Child eV, Ferres was handed a share of the EUR500,000 donation, which was also shared among UK Youth, Farm Africa, Meninos do Morumbi, Agapedia and Franz Beckenbauer-Stiftung.

Fittipaldi represented the six pilots when he said that he would jump at the chance to return should the event be staged again in future.

"I'm really delighted to be here and had a lot of fun," the Brazilian, who is being tipped to return to the cockpit in the Grand-Am series later this year, "Everybody has done a great job for their good causes. I'd like to congratulate DTM on this great idea and hope to once again be a part of this event next year."