Interview with: Manuel Reuter

???
"Manuel Reuter, you used the four week race break - amonst other things
- for intensive testing in Magny-Cours. Do you think that these tests
increased Opel's reliability, so that the good impressions of the last
races might bring some good results in the future?"

Manuel Reuter
"We did three days of testing before the Nrburgring event, and there
I was the fastest of Fridays practice sessions. But then the engine
problem appeared. In race two, when I was following the field driving
all alone, I was amongst the quickest - until I had reached one of the
Mercedes, which I couldn't overtake because of a lack of topspeed.
In Magny-Cours we did a lot of longruns and drove lots of kilometres
without any problems. Only in the traffic the old problems show up
again. We are overtaken during the start because we haven't got enough
speed. And here in Singen we weren't as successful as we had hoped to
be. Klaus is 6th in the grid and I'm only 9th. And here in Singen our
overtaking problem will be again a big one."

???
"But for you Singen is a nice place to drive. Last year you achieved a
3rd and a 6th place. Is the Alemannenring your favorite racetrack."

Manuel Reuter
"Singen is extremely tough - for car and driver. Nevertheless we had
expected more than we've achieved up to now. We had only two cars in
Top Qualifying. Again we were struck by bad luck, but I really don't
know why. This morning for example: At first there was Sandy Grau's oil
on the track, then Michele Alboreto had an accident. The only one, who
could qualify afterwards for the Top 15 was me. But in Top Qualifying it
was again the old topspeed problem, which prevented me from achieving
more than 9th position."

???
 "At the ITC event in Helsinki you'd been one of the frontrunners as
well after two practice days. Are you especially competitive on city
tracks with only limited grip?"

Manuel Reuter
"I like to race on city tracks. You've got to drive fast and precisely,
as they are very demanding regularly. I don't like compromises and I
always try to get everything possible out of the car and myself. That's
why I'm doing so much testing for Opel."

???
"The DTM season '95 is nearly finished. What are your plans for 1996?"

Manuel Reuter
"I have a three year contract with Opel which ends at the end of 1995.
I'd like to continue with Team Joest and Opel, after all, we already
worked together in Group C. But I'm open for everything. But this
doesn't mean, that I will be driving in the Super Touring Car series
next year. I just want to say that I'm not one of those, who dislike STW
generally. If I'm offered a competitive car, able to win races and the
offer ist financally interesting too, I wouldn't throw this offer into
the waste paper basket."

???
"What possibilities do you see for the last four DTM races here and at
the Hockenheimring?"

Manuel Reuter
"There are many people who say, that Opel has to win races in 1995. But
"the internal pressure is What possibilities do you see for the last
"four DTM races here and at the Hockenheimring?"

Manuel Reuter
growing more and more and it becomes more and more difficult race by
race, if we say: We've got to win. If we succeed in winning a race
it would be really great. But if we don't succeed, we shouldn't be
too fustrated. We should do our best and see what happens. There
is something very positive at Opel: Even if you haven't achieved
a countable result, the Opel fans acknowledge your efforts. This
compensates for a lot of frustration and gives you back the joy of
racing. I'd really like to compare this to the situation at Ferrari.
Remeber Monza: Two Ferraris were leading, and what was the result? It's
just tragic. But nevertheless the fans do love Ferrari."