At the end of the 2004 DTM season opening race three youngsters gathered on the winners' rostrum - on top was Gary Paffett. After 37 laps, the 23-year-old Brit won, having a lead of 2.258 seconds over his Mercedes ꦛteam colleague Christijan Albers and Audi pilot Mattias Ekstr?m.

During the three-day event at the Hockenheimring Baden-W?rttemb❀erg, a total 118,0ꦦ00 spectators came, which is a record for DTM in Hockenheim.

On Sunday, viewers witnessed a thrilling race, distinguished by several duels and changes in lead. After a rock-li𒈔ke introduction by Jeanette Biedermann and Martin Kesici who perf꧃ormed an ARD Chart Show concert right before start, with thousands of young fans 'rocking', DTM's stars played an engines' concert on the track.

One of the protagonists was Peter Dumbreck in an Opel Vectra GTS V8 - after gearbox problems in𝓰 Saturday's qualifying, the Scotsman had started from 21st position but he caught🌌 up to 6th place after a tough hunt.

For long, ꧙no one could have predicted that one of the youngsters w🎀ould win the title in DTM 2004's first race.

At first, two experienced DTM stars manoeuvred their Mercedes' into top po🍨sitions🃏. Jean Alesi, who had started from the pole, took the lead and headed the 21 drivers lap by lap. But damage on his car's under-tray as a result of a slipping accident during warm-up forced the former F1 pilot to give up on lap 27.

Bernd Schneider then positioned himself on top after overtaking Paffett, but the Brit✨ followed him lap by lap as if he was a shadow. Finally Schneider had to give up. "Twice I had contact with my rivals. Apparently something was damaged by that", he explained.

Paffett, who for the 2004 season ascended into Mercedes-Benz' HWA factory-side team𓂃, iಞs happy about his first DTM win: "It all went perfect. I had a good start and everything was under control."

Mercedes' sporting director Norbert Haug lauded: "Gary has rewarded us for the trust we 🌱put in him. We have a great team, but this season will be no joyride, considering the fact that all three brands' lap times were nearly identical."

As best Au💝di pilot, Matthias Ekstr?m managed to join Paffett on the winners' rostrum. When crossing the finishing line, Swede Ekstr?m lagged Paffett by 9.200 seconds. "1:0 for the youngsters", Ekstr?m rejoiced after the ꩵrace. "This was a very good debut for Audi's factory-side comeback to DTM. I was fast on track. Unfortunately, Mercedes was a little faster today. We will work hard until Estoril, in order to be on top by then," he said - a challenge for the next race in Portugal in two weeks.

Audi's spo🐓rting director Dr Wolfgang Ullrich was not only pleased by Ekstr?m's third place, but also about ranks four and five by DTM novice Tom Kristensen and Audi junior Martin Tomcz💦yk.

"Having three Audi drivers among the first five is good," he noted, "Still, today we weren't able to attack Mercedes and to win the 🍌race. Maybe our tyre choice was a little too conservative. We will definitely put on something. ꦏJust give us some time. We can promise you: things will be hot."

One of the maiꦓn protagonists of the race was Dumbreck. In a spectacular manner the Scotsman fought himself up from a 21st and last start position to rank six. "It was a great race having a perfectly set up Opel Vectra," Dumbreck commented. "I pushed as hard as possible and fought my way through the field. However, when I was on six, right behind Martin Tomczyk, I had exhausted my tyres so much that I couldn't attack any more. All in🍌 all, I am satisfied with the result."

All through the race, Dumbreck's times were as good as those of the leading, which makes Opel sporting director Volker Strycek very happy: "Lap times are good. Peter was extremely fast. Otherwise he couldn't have got from 21 to 6. This ▨was also proven by Timo Scheider."

One man was in focus of public attention: former Formula 1 pilot Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who had his DTM d🍃ebut. M?nchengladbach-born Frentzen came in eleventh.

"After a good start and a good first stop I attacked, unfortunately I expected too much from my tyres," Frentzen concluded. "DTM offers thrilling duels, a lot of fun and good sports for our fans. I am glad t🔯o be here with Opel."

Opel sporting director Strycek♋ assented: "Heinz-Harald drove without attracting attention, but he did so in a g🌼ood and clean manner. We will soon see a lot of him."