It took Jean only 3 races to win in the DTM. Proof if ever it were needed that the fire still burned!
When Jordan chose Takuma Sato over Jean, one thing was for sure, F1 may have been over for Jean but he loved racing too much to just retire to his vineyard. He took the opportunity to test Bernd Schneider's Championship winning DTM car and was fairly impressed....
Jean Found the CLK challenging but more fuin than "driver-aids" F1 Cars.
After a cool-off period Jean signed to be team-mate to Bernd in the all-conquering AMG Works Mercedes Team. It was a vot of Confidence in Jean from Mercedes and Jean was looking forward to his new challenge. He soon discovered some other benefits of being a works Mercedes Driver...
Jean had done a solid yet impressive Job testing for McLaren, worrying test driver Alex Wurz in the process!!
Jean scored a podium in his maiden race, then after struggling in the Wet at Zolder came back to win both races at Donnington - his 3rd race in the catagory. The result proved what Alesi fans already knew. Jean's Speed is intact - he just needed the car to show it!
Looks like Jean could have a good year in the DTM...Good Luck!
Jean is finding the series suprisingly competitive and is learning all the time. Hopefully his win has breathed new life into Jean and he can go on to a (even more) successful second career in the DTM!
W-Hooo!!! Jean is back in the winners circle. I don't think I'm the only one who'd prefer this to him racing Prosts in F1!!!
2003 has been a difficult season for Jean, espeically as he is up against young guns who still have a lot to prove. It has showed that Jean still needs to adapt to the rough and tumble stlye of DTM racing. Another win at Donington and a breakthrough win on DTM home soil at Hockenheim bodes well for the future...No doubt he will eventually prevail, and will continue to race as long as he enjoys himself!
Another
day, another opportunity to thrash a racing car to within an inch of its life!
What can we expect from Jean from the 2004 season? Well, as he continues to
gain experience, he will doubtlessly becime increasingly competititve. Jean
has always gone well at Donington, where other DTM pilots have no benfit from
previous experience over him. Interestingly, Jeans triumph at the end of 2003
at Hockenheim - Home for the DTM - shows he is increasingly close to the absolute
limit of the DTM. I wish him well, and hope he can continue his successful climb
on "mount DTM" in 2004!
Jean's win of the 2003 season finale will hopefully act as a springboard for 2004...
"I always do things to my maximum" - Jean Alesi