We take (almost) the same ones and start again!

Before taking a tour of the forces present, let us salute the “kaiser” Bernd Schneider, emblematic figure of the discipline which he won five times, who retired at the end of last season.

This season we will once again witness an Audi-Mercedes in a pattern almost identical to that of last year, but the roles remain to be distributed. Four cars with the latest developments will be entered by the two manufacturers present.

If the Audi Sport crews remain unchanged with outgoing champion Timo Scheider accompanied by Mattias Ekström, Martin Tomczyk, and “Monsieur Le Mans », Tom Kristensen, there was promotion at AMG Mercedes-Benz. Indeed, after a lackluster learning season, the former pilot of Formula 1 Ralf Schumacher will benefit this season from a 2009 Class C. His mission will be to hold his place against his teammates Spengler, Paffett and the 2008 vice-champion di Resta.

On the female side, promotion also for Katherine Legge, who moved to Abt at the wheel of a 4 A2008. Engaged within the Phoenix team, our Frenchie Alexandre Prémat will also benefit from this version of the Audi. On the French side again, the Dijon Prenois circuit will host the discipline for the first time, after having had a taste during the winter tests. Let's hope that the mustard will not go to the noses of the two rookies of the season, Seidlitz and Bakkerud, both entered in 4 Audi A2007s within Colin Kolles' team.

While Audi seems to have a small advantage on paper, the season promises to be exciting, with Timo Scheider for the first time in the role of "hunted", Ralf Schumacher with an obligation to achieve results, and old hands ready to take their revenge. Note also that the 2009 cars have only undergone very small changes, due to budgetary restrictions. A boon for Alexandre Prémat? Start of response to Hockenheim?