Alzen quits HWA Mercedes.

Just days before the start of the new DTM season, German veteran Uwe Alzen and the AMG Mercedes squad have decided to go their separate ways.

Although the 2003 campaign starts this weekend at Hockenheim, the temperamental 35-year old and his HWA team have jointly agreed to finish their co-operation after discovering that they had differing opinions on how tasks within the team should be achieved. Alzen moved to Mercedes for the 2001 season after enjoying a stormy affair with Opel.

He had previously been a semi-works driver for the Three Pointed Star between 1993 to 1995, before taking the chance of a full factory contract with Opel from 1996 onwards. The problems only started at Opel when Alzen found himself up against Manuel Reuter - a totally different character than himself. Alzen immediately felt he was not only quicker than Reuter, but also never felt he got the support he deserved. A series of on-track skirmishes followed, effectively costing Reuter any chance of challenging for the title and, despite winning the final races of 2000, Alzen found himself shown the door, whereupon he promptly rejoined Mercedes and HWA.

"Uwe Alzen and the HWA DTM team have had two successful years, in which HWA won the teams' championship twice thanks to Uwe's performance," commented Norbert Haug, vice-president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, "Uwe also scored a total of three race wins with HWA, but we now have different opinions on the further development of his targets and our's. Therefore, we jointly agreed to go separate ways. Uwe is one of the really fast and talented drivers in touring car racing and we wish him all the best for his further career."

Alzen has yet to decide where his talents will take him next, but he will not now be involved in the DTM in the near future. Dutch youngster Christijan Albers will replace him in the HWA team, while Patrick Huismann will replace Albers in the Rosberg team for Hockenheim.

"I thank the AMG and the HWA teams for the last two years in the DTM, but I'd now like to aim for new targets in motorsport," Alzen said on his departure.