# 2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

The 2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the seventeenth season of premier German touring car championship and also fourth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. Unlike 2002, there were ten race weekends with only one race at each event.

## Changes for 2003

* The races were increased in length to a total of one hour per race, as compared to the 40 minutes each race had lasted in 2002.
* The race at Zolder, Belgium, was replaced by Adria in Italy.
* The DTM did not return to Sachsenring. Instead, Nürburgring hosted two events.
* The qualifying for Round 7 at Nürburgring was held at nighttime.

## Teams and drivers

The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Dunlop.
| Manufacturer | Car | Team | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
| Audi | Abt-Audi TT-R 2003 | Abt Sportsline | 1 | Laurent Aïello | All |
| Audi | Abt-Audi TT-R 2003 | Abt Sportsline | 2 | Christian Abt | All |
| Audi | Abt-Audi TT-R 2003 | Abt Sportsline | 5 | Mattias Ekström | All |
| Audi | Abt-Audi TT-R 2003 | Abt Sportsline | 6 | Karl Wendlinger | All |
| Audi | Abt-Audi TT-R 2002 | Abt Sportsline Junior Team | 14 | Martin Tomczyk | All |
| Audi | Abt-Audi TT-R 2002 | Abt Sportsline Junior Team | 15 | Peter Terting | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2003 | HWA Team | 3 | Bernd Schneider | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2003 | HWA Team | 4 | Christijan Albers | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2003 | HWA Team | 9 | Marcel Fässler | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2003 | HWA Team | 10 | Jean Alesi | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2002 | Persson Motorsport | 11 | Thomas Jäger | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2002 | Persson Motorsport | 12 | Bernd Mayländer | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2002 | Persson Motorsport | 20 | Katsutomo Kaneishi | All |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2002 | Team Rosberg | 24 | Patrick Huisman | 1–2 |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2002 | Team Rosberg | 24 | Gary Paffett | 3–10 |
| Mercedes-Benz | AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2002 | Team Rosberg | 42 | Stefan Mücke | All |
| Opel | Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2003 | OPC Team Holzer | 7 | Manuel Reuter | All |
| Opel | Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2003 | OPC Team Holzer | 8 | Alain Menu | All |
| Opel | Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2002 | OPC Euroteam | 16 | Joachim Winkelhock | All |
| Opel | Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2002 | OPC Euroteam | 17 | Jeroen Bleekemolen | All |
| Opel | Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2003 | OPC Team Phoenix | 18 | Timo Scheider | All |
| Opel | Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2003 | OPC Team Phoenix | 19 | Peter Dumbreck | All |
| Sources: ||||||

### Team changes

Abt Sportsline expanded from five to six cars with two cars run under the Abt Sportsline Junior Team banner, created to promote young drivers. Danish outfit First Choice Racing helped support the team during the 2003 season.
Persson Motorsport expanded to three cars.
Manthey Racing withdrew from the DTM after being part of the Mercedes squad since 2001.

### Driver changes

Uwe Alzen had planned to continue with HWA Team in 2003 but decided to withdraw just days before the opening round of the season. In response, Mercedes promoted Christijan Albers from Team Rosberg to HWA Team, while Patrick Huisman took Albers vacant seat at Team Rosberg after driving for Manthey Racing.
Bernd Mayländer switched from Manthey Racing to Persson Motorsport.
Three time Japan Grand Touring car Championship winner Katsutomo Kaneishi joined the DTM with Persson Motorsport.
Martin Tomczyk moved to the Abt Sportsline Junior Team alongside debutant Peter Terting who had won the Volkswagen Lupo Cup in 2002.
Opel would shuffle around their drivers for 2003 with Manuel Reuter and Alain Menu moving to Team Holzer while Joachim Winkelhock went to Euroteam and Timo Scheider moved to Team Phoenix. Peter Dumbreck moved from Mercedes to Opel Team Phoenix while Jeroen Bleekemolen made his DTM debut with Opel Euroteam after finishing second in the Dutch Touring Car Championship.
Michael Bartels left the DTM to join the V8Star Series.

### Mid season changes

Reigning German Formula Three Champion Gary Paffett replaced Patrick Huisman from the third round onwards.

## Race calendar and winners

| Round | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest Lap | Winning driver | Winning team | Winning manufacturer | TV |
| 1 | Hockenheimring | 27 April | Bernd Schneider | Bernd Schneider | Bernd Schneider | Vodafone AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ZDF |
| 2 | Adria | 11 May | Marcel Fässler | Bernd Schneider | Christijan Albers | Express-Service AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ARD |
| 3 | Nürburgring | 25 May | Marcel Fässler | Bernd Schneider | Christijan Albers | Express-Service AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ZDF |
| 4 | EuroSpeedway | 8 June | Bernd Schneider | Alain Menu | Bernd Schneider | Vodafone AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ZDF |
| 5 | Norisring | 22 June | Bernd Schneider | Bernd Schneider | Christijan Albers | Express-Service AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ARD |
| 6 | Donington Park | 27 July | Bernd Schneider | Bernd Schneider | Jean Alesi | AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ZDF |
| 7 | Nürburgring | 17 August | Mattias Ekström | Peter Dumbreck | Laurent Aïello | Hasseröder Abt-Audi | Audi | ARD |
| 8 | A1-Ring | 7 September | Marcel Fässler | Bernd Schneider | Marcel Fässler | AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ARD |
| 9 | Zandvoort | 21 September | Timo Scheider | Christijan Albers | Christijan Albers | Express-Service AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ZDF |
| 10 | Hockenheimring | 5 October | Mattias Ekström | Alain Menu | Jean Alesi | AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes | ARD |
| Source: |||||||||

## Championship standings
### Scoring system

Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| Points | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |

### Drivers' championship

| Pos | Driver | HOC | ADR | NÜR | LAU | NOR | DON | NÜR | A1R | ZAN | HOC | Points |
| 1 | Bernd Schneider | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 68 |
| 2 | Christijan Albers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 64 |
| 3 | Marcel Fässler | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 57 |
| 4 | Mattias Ekström | 8 | 2 | 7 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 46 |
| 5 | Jean Alesi | 4 | 7 | Ret | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 1 | 42 |
| 6 | Laurent Aïello | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | Ret | 1 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 41 |
| 7 | Peter Dumbreck | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | Ret | 10 | 4 | 31 |
| 8 | Timo Scheider | 7 | 15 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 7 | 12 |
| 9 | Alain Menu | 18 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 | Ret | 9 | 7 | Ret | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | Manuel Reuter | 9 | Ret | 9 | 12 | 13 | Ret | 15† | 10 | 4 | 19† | 5 |
| 11 | Gary Paffett | | | Ret | 15 | Ret | 9 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 18† | 4 |
| 12 | Christian Abt | 20† | DSQ | 8 | 9 | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 9 | 3 |
| 13 | Thomas Jäger | 10 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 9 | 7 | Ret | 9 | 13 | 11 | 2 |
| 14 | Jeroen Bleekemolen | 14 | 11 | 11 | 18† | 14 | 13 | 17† | 12 | 7 | 15 | 2 |
| 15 | Joachim Winkelhock | 16 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Ret | 1 |
| 16 | Karl Wendlinger | 15 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 17 | 1 |
| 17 | Peter Terting | Ret | 13 | 14 | DNS | 12 | 14 | 18† | 13 | 14 | 8 | 1 |
| 18 | Martin Tomczyk | 12 | Ret | 18 | DNS | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 13 | 1 |
| 19 | Bernd Mayländer | 11 | 10 | 17 | 16 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 20† | 0 |
| 20 | Stefan Mücke | 17 | Ret | 15 | DNS | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 0 |
| 21 | Patrick Huisman | 13 | Ret | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 22 | Katsutomo Kaneishi | 19 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 17† | Ret | 16† | 17 | 18 | 16 | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | HOC | ADR | NÜR | LAU | NOR | DON | NÜR | A1R | ZAN | HOC | Points |
| Sources: |||||||||||||
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |
* † — Driver retired, but was classified as they completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

### Teams' championship

| Pos. | Team | No. | HOC | ADR | NÜR | LAU | NOR | DON | NÜR | A1R | ZAN | HOC | Points |
| 1 | Vodafone / Express-Service AMG-Mercedes | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 132 |
| 1 | Vodafone / Express-Service AMG-Mercedes | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 132 |
| 2 | AMG-Mercedes | 9 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 99 |
| 2 | AMG-Mercedes | 10 | 4 | 7 | Ret | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 1 | 99 |
| 3 | PlayStation 2 Red Bull Abt-Audi | 5 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 47 |
| 3 | PlayStation 2 Red Bull Abt-Audi | 6 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 17 | 47 |
| 4 | Hasseröder Abt-Audi | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | Ret | 1 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 44 |
| 4 | Hasseröder Abt-Audi | 2 | 20† | DSQ | 8 | 9 | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 9 | 44 |
| 5 | OPC Team Phoenix | 18 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 7 | 43 |
| 5 | OPC Team Phoenix | 19 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | Ret | 10 | 4 | 43 |
| 6 | OPC Team Holzer | 7 | 9 | Ret | 9 | 12 | 13 | Ret | 15† | 10 | 4 | 19† | 14 |
| 6 | OPC Team Holzer | 8 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 | Ret | 9 | 7 | Ret | 10 | 14 |
| 7 | Service 24h AMG-Mercedes | 24 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 15 | Ret | 9 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 18† | 4 |
| 7 | Service 24h AMG-Mercedes | 42 | 17 | Ret | 15 | DNS | 15 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 4 |
| 8 | OPC Euroteam | 16 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Ret | 3 |
| 8 | OPC Euroteam | 17 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 18† | 14 | 13 | 17† | 12 | 7 | 15 | 3 |
| 9 | Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes | 11 | 10 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 9 | 7 | Ret | 9 | 13 | 11 | 2 |
| 9 | Original-Teile AMG-Mercedes | 12 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 16 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 20† | 2 |
| 10 | S Line Audi Junior Team | 14 | 12 | Ret | 18 | DNS | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 13 | 2 |
| 10 | S Line Audi Junior Team | 15 | Ret | 13 | 14 | DNS | 12 | 14 | 18† | 13 | 14 | 8 | 2 |
| 11 | ARTA AMG-Mercedes | 21 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 17† | Ret | 16† | 17 | 18 | 16 | 0 |
| Pos. | Team | No. | HOC | ADR | NÜR | LAU | NOR | DON | NÜR | A1R | ZAN | HOC | Points |
| Sources: ||||||||||||||

### Manufacturers' championship

| Pos. | Manufacturer | HOC | ADR | NÜR | LAU | NOR | DON | NÜR | A1R | ZAN | HOC | Points |
| 1 | Mercedes | 27 | 21 | 23 | 16 | 28 | 29 | 22 | 27 | 25 | 19 | 237 |
| 2 | Audi | 7 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 93 |
| 3 | Opel | 5 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 60 |
| Pos. | Manufacturer | HOC | ADR | NÜR | LAU | NOR | DON | NÜR | A1R | ZAN | HOC | Points |
| Source: |||||||||||||