DTM champion Thomas Preining (Manthey-Porsche) has bagged his first victory of the 2024 season. The Manthey driver won Sunday’s race at the Lausitzring from pole position. For Preining, it was his second podium finish after his third place the day before. Kelvin van der Linde (Abt-Audi), winner of Saturday’s race, collected more big points for the championship with second place. Abt teammate Ricardo Feller completed the podium in third place.
Due to two safety car phases after Clemens Schmid went off the gravel (lap 4) and a collision between Maximilian Paul and Luca Stolz (lap 29), the field of 20 GT3 cars was always close together. At the finish after 42 laps, pole-setter Preining had a lead of 1.4 seconds over van der Linde. Both drivers were able to fight back colossally after a difficult start to the season in Oschersleben.
Delicate moment between Preining and the abbots
Preining had initially lost the lead to the Swiss Feller on lap 4, until the preliminary decision was made during the mandatory pit stop phase: The Porsche driver was the first to come into the pits on lap 15 to change tires and regained the lead from Feller one lap later when the latter had made his pit stop.
The two opponents ran into Kelvin van der Linde with his still cold Pirelli tires and fought their way through. While Preining passed cleanly, there was slight contact between the two Abt teammates. The race management ordered a place swap, which put the South African in second place ahead of Feller. This constellation was to remain unchanged until the finish.
DTM overall ranking 2024 at a glance
Maro Engel makes a huge comeback
Mirko Bortolotti (SSR-Lamborghini) narrowly missed the podium in fourth place. The Italian, who lives in Vienna, started the race from third place, but had to admit defeat to van der Linde shortly after the start. Oschersleben winner Luca Engstler (GRT-Lamborghini) showed a strong performance, staying in the leading group throughout and finishing sixth.
The secret winner of the race was certainly Maro Engel (Winward-Mercedes). The AMG veteran started the race from last place, then benefited from a very late pit stop and suddenly found himself in eighth place. In the final phase, Engel caught up with Sheldon van der Linde (Schubert-BMW, P8) and achieved seventh place. In Saturday’s race, Engel managed a similar comeback from 13th to second place. Marco Wittmann (Schubert-BMW) and Lucas Auer (Winward-Mercedes) completed the top 10.
Lausitzring: Four drivers retired early
Nicki Thiim (SSR-Lamborghini) did not see the chequered flag, having made a false start from seventh place, was pushed back, received a penalty lap and parked the yellow Lambo shortly afterwards. For Clemens Schmid (Dörr-McLaren) the race was also over prematurely after he flew off into the gravel trap.
Local hero Maximilian Paul (Paul-Lamborghini) and Luca Stolz (HRT-Mercedes) retired after a collision halfway through the race. “Sheldon van der Linde hit my wheel after my pit stop, which is why I had a puncture,” explained the Dresden driver. “I feel sorry for Luca Stolz, I couldn’t hold the car anymore.”
DTM race calendar: From the 24h race Nürburgring to Zandvoort
In two weeks, the DTM will be visiting Zandvoort for its first foreign appearance of 2024 (June 7-9). Races number three and four of the season await on the Dutch Formula 1 circuit. In between, a large part of the DTM starting field will be taking a trip to the Eifel: next weekend, one of the most important races of the year awaits with the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (June 1-2).
DTM Calendar 2024 – Races, Start Times, Tracks
DTM Lausitzring: This is how the race went on Sunday
The starting line-up: DTM champion Thomas Preining did one better than on Saturday and took the first pole position of the season – and the fourth of his DTM career. Once again, a Manthey Porsche and an Abt Audi shared the first row of the grid: Ricardo Feller finished second behind Preining after teammate Kelvin van der Linde won Saturday’s race from pole. The South African started today from fourth place behind Mirko Bortolotti’s SSR Lamborghini. Ayhancan Güven in the second Manthey Porsche and the three Lamborghini Huracan GT3s of Luca Engstler, Nicki Thiim and local hero Maximilian Paul followed in starting positions five to eight.
The start: Thomas Preining defended pole position through the first few corners ahead of Ricardo Feller, while Mirko Bortolotti had to defend against Kelvin van der Linde – and lost the duel. Can Güven fell from fifth place on the grid behind the three Lamborghinis of Bortolotti, Engstler and Paul. Nicki Thiim made a false start from P7, was passed completely and also received a penalty lap. Rene Rast managed a rocket start from 13th place on the grid to eighth position, although the BMW driver was cautioned for changing lanes during the braking phase.
The first half of the race: Change of lead on lap 4! Feller overtook Preining on the outside in turn 1, including slight contact. On lap 5, Clemens Schmid slid into the gravel with his Dörr-McLaren and was unable to free himself. Race management sent the safety car onto the track. Shortly before, Rast had overtaken his driver in front of him, Güven, for P7. Thiim parked his SSR-Lambo in the pits during the SC phase.
At the clean restart at the beginning of lap 10, Feller picked up the pace early on and pulled away slightly from Preining and van der Linde. On lap 12, Rast punched his way past Paul’s Lamborghini in turn 1 and took sixth position – after starting from P13, mind you. Otherwise, not much happened on the track until the mandatory pit stop window opened after 20 minutes (lap 14).
Preining started from P2 on lap 15 and picked up a fresh set of slick tires. Luca Stolz, Marco Wittmann, Lucas Auer, Jack Aitken and Ben Dörr also completed their mandatory tire changes. Leader Feller reacted on lap 16 and headed for the pit lane. Rene Rast and Thierry Vermeulen followed the Abt driver closely. After the exit, Feller stayed just ahead of Preining with his cold Pirelli tires. Luca Engstler from P5 and Sheldon van der Linde changed their tires on lap 17. Kelvin van der Linde from P1 and the man behind Bortolotti and Güven followed on lap 18.
On lap 19, Preining regained the lead from Feller. During this phase, the Manthey driver caught up with Kelvin van der Linde on his Abt Audi, whose tires were still cold, while Feller was pushing behind him. Preining pushed through and Feller also slipped past his teammate on the inside, making contact. Preining received a warning for pushing van der Linde off the track.
The rest of the race: On lap 21, Luca Stolz’s Mercedes ended up in the gravel trap of Turn 7 after a collision with Maximilian Paul. The race was over for both of them. Maro Engel and Christian Engelhart were the last drivers to make their mandatory tire changes. Engel, who started from P20, moved up to eighth place thanks to the late stop.
On lap 28, the race control ordered a swap between Feller and Kelvin van der Linde (incorrect overtaking maneuver), which moved the South African up to second place. The safety car was deployed after the pit stop window closed (minute 40) to safely recover the stranded cars of Stolz and Paul. The top 6 at this point: Preining ahead of Feller, Kelvin van der Linde, Bortolotti, Rast and Engstler.
At the restart on lap 33 and with 13 minutes of driving time left, Feller let his Abt teammate van der Linde pass as instructed. Luca Engstler benefited a little later from a tough duel between Bortolotti and Rast and took over fifth position from the BMW driver. Engel overtook Sheldon van der Linde for P7 during this phase. After that, not much happened until the finish on lap 42.