13.07.2008: Sixt race in Zandvoort

Just two weeks after Norisring the whole DTM went to the Netherlands to join their race in the dunes of Zandvoort. As it was the first time for Katherine on the demanding track, the team tried several testing programs in the Friday testing sessions. 

Christijan, as it was his local race, was immediately fast and impressed with the 8th fastest lap time in both test 1 and test 2. 

The Saturday started with rain in the Free Practice, so nearly three quarters of the session were lost and the planned test program disturbed by the rain. The drivers could only get used to the changed track conditions; no real work on the setup was possible. 

In the late afternoon the track dried for the Qualifying, and even though Katherine wasn't able to try much in the morning session, she made herself the best birthday present and qualified 16th, her best qualifying result so far. Leaving drivers like Ralf Schumacher, Susie Stoddart and Maro Engel in newer cars behind her, she only missed the second qualifying session by a few hundredths. 

Christijan made it to the second Qualifying, but didn't go out for another flying lap. He waited for the other competitors to do their first qualifying laps; he then decided to keep his new set of tires for the race, as the chances of moving up on the grid were quite small. 

In the race neither Christijan nor Katherine did very good starts and didn't come through the dangerous first lap without bodywork contact. Christijan damaged his car while trying to overtake Susie Stoddart. Unfortunately this caused an imbalance in the car, resulting in him sliding of the circuit coming out of the fast 'mastersbocht'. 

Katherine had an early run off, which caused some bodywork damage. To the end of the race she did some promising lap times and also her two really good pit stops should be noted. Nevertheless, she unfortunately had to stop her race four laps before the end as the vibrations, caused by an excursion into the the gravel trap in the Audi-S, became too strong to ensure safe driving. 

The race was won by Mattias Ekstöm, ahead of Timo Scheider and Tom Kristensen.

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