SPIELBERG, Austria — Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer (AUT) is ready for his home race.
The local hero from Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf set the fastest lap in Friday’s DTM free practice at the Red Bull Ring. Auer clocked a time of 1:28.204 minutes, the best in the second of three sessions.
This 20-minute additional session served as a qualifying simulation for the new Pirelli slick tire developed specifically for the DTM.
“That was a good start at my home race. We’ll see where we stand with the new tire in the first qualifying session on Saturday. It’s always something very special for me to drive on this fantastic track. The first three corners, in particular, will be crucial in the races, as that’s where the best overtaking opportunities lie,” explained Auer.
Behind the 31-year-old, his fellow Mercedes drivers Jules Gounon (FRA/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) and Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol) finished second and third – the trio were separated by just six thousandths of a second. The fourth fastest driver on the Formula 1 circuit was Ben Dörr (Butzbach/Dörr Motorsport), who set the fastest time of 1:28.567 minutes in the first session in the morning.
“We’ve been working hard and I’ve spent a lot of time in the car. That’s paid off; I’m further along than last year. The track layout suits me, and with good weather, I could break the 1:28.000-minute mark in qualifying on Saturday,” said the McLaren driver.
Tom Kalender (Hamm/Sieg/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) piloted another Mercedes-AMG to fifth position. Dörr’s teammate Timo Glock (Kreuzlingen) followed in sixth place.
All three practice sessions took place in brilliant sunshine on the 4.326-kilometer circuit in Styria, set against the impressive backdrop of the Alps.
While the fastest times were set in the midday qualifying simulation, the other two sessions were somewhat slower. The fastest lap in the third free practice session in the afternoon, at 1:28.841 minutes, was recorded according to the 18-year calendar.
