When the DTM starts at the Nürburgring from Aug. 8-10, the pursuers will be breathing down the neck of leader Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf).
The Austrian has led the Mercedes-AMG continuously since the third race of the season, but the opposition has recently made significant progress.
Before the two races on the action-packed sprint track of the Nürburgring, the top five in the championship are separated by just eight points.
Mercedes-AMG driver Auer shone particularly at the start of the season, scoring two wins in the first three races. After that, the 30-year-old diligently collected points, but top placings eluded him.
“The DTM is very evenly matched, and it’s close at the top. The most important thing in our sprint races is to secure a top position in qualifying,” reveals the championship leader. “The key is to get the maximum speed out of the car. At the Nürburgring, that also requires a perfect setup; as a driver, you also have to have the tires under control.”
The man of the hour, however, is his compatriot Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA): The 27-year-old has scored an impressive 61 points from the last three races in his Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Preining impressed with spectacular overtaking maneuvers on the track and is looking to continue his successful run at his home race at the “Grello” event.
Behind the two Austrians, three drivers are almost neck and neck in striking distance of the leaders. Lamborghini driver Jordan Pepper (TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) is tied on points with Preining in third and celebrated his first DTM victory at the Norisring.
The South African is particularly alert in qualifying: with ten points, he scored more points in qualifying than any other driver.
Following Pepper is former Formula 1 driver Jack Aitken (Emil Frey Racing). The Briton has combined speed with consistency in his Ferrari 296 GT3 this year and is fourth.
Lurking in fifth place with the same number of points is the experienced Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing) in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, who is using clever strategic tactics. The veteran driver has finished six of the eight races in the top five.
HRT Ford Performance is heading to its home race in Ford’s comeback season with the wind in its sails. The Nürburgring-based racing team fields two Ford Mustang GT3s, and Arjun Maini (IND) recently achieved a best DTM result in the new US race car, fifth place at the Norisring.
“The Norisring was a real highlight. We want to continue this upward trend in the second half of the season. The Nürburgring is a home race for the team and for me. We want to put on a great show for the fans,” says Maini, who lives in Troisdorf between Bonn and Cologne.
