With a first corner accident unfolding in their mirrors, Ekstrom and Albers resumed their ongoing battle for supremacy, the Swede getting the upper hand on lap one, and Paffett also coming through to push his Mercedes team-mate down to third. The first corner incident, however, proved costly for Opel, with Peter Dumbreck losing places and Heinz-Harald Frentzen hitting the barrier before heading for the pits. Mercedes' veteran Bernd Maylander was also involved and limped back to the pits to retire
The start was a disastrous one for Opel but, ironically, it was precipitated by a collision between two Mercedes, as Paffett and Jean Alesi made contact. Dumbreck was knocked wide on to the grass, while Timo Scheider was forced to spin in avoidance and rejoin at the tail of the field.
The leading trio - the stars of the show so far this season - all headed for their mandatory pit-stop on lap five and, when the cycle unfolded, Ekstrom continued to head the field from Paffett. Albers, however, had lost ground with an off-track excursion just two laps after resuming, and was not close enough to take advantage of Paffett's first attempts to find his way past the leading Audi.
Ekstrom made his second pit call on lap twelve, allowing his British rival to lead for a lap before making his own second stop. Once again, Paffett rejoined the fray right on the Swede's tail, but had to tail him for another seven laps before finally forcing his way through at the first turn. The scrap had also allowed Albers to close back in, the Dutchman having had to pass Mercedes' reigning champion Bernd Schneider in the process of recovering his position.
With Paffett gradually breaking away from his pursuers, Ekstrom and Albers resumed the physical combat that had begun at round two in Portugal, making contact on more than one occasion but without altering the order.
