Audi’s weather information showed that conditions would be dry at first and wet later but the rain started on the first lap.  Unfortunately for Oliver Jarvis, who during free practice had shown he was still very competitive driving the Audi Cup DTM car, the team held them back in Qualifying on the belief that starting their drivers on slicks would be the answer. 

“We felt that we were on the safe side but then it started raining.  We waited a minute and a half too long,” said Ernst Moser (Team Director of Audi Sport Team Phoenix).  As a result Oliver and team-mate, Alexandre Premat both failed to get into the second qualifying section.  Oliver had to be content with starting the race in a very alien 18th position on the grid.

As race day dawned with an audience of some 75,000 fans cheering the DTM drivers on, Oliver looked to get a good start and made up some places.  However, this was deemed to be a jump-start so a penalty was issued early on in the race.

Eager to make up ground in a turbulent race packed with collisions, Oliver then came into contact with Christian Bakkerud’s car which broke his rear suspension in the process.  The race for Oliver Jarvis was unfortunately over.

“What a horrible weekend it was for me after such a good free practice,” said Oliver.  “Qualifying was a total disaster because we trusted a piece of weather information, waited then paid a high price.  That said, I’m still very pleased with the car and I’m in positive mood for the next race (at Norisring, 28 June).  This happens and you have to move on!”

While EuroSpeedway is ‘best forgotten’, Oliver Jarvis has made a fantastic start to the 2009 DTM season and after two rounds, is 7th in the overall standings.