Red Bull Ring – Race 1: Bortolotti dominates and takes the lead in the general classification

Mirko Bortolotti has been on the podium five times but never on the top step. He has just corrected this affront with brilliance. The transalpine rider perfectly mastered this 14th round of the season, contested in the Spielberg massif, on the Austrian circuit of Red Bull Ring. He took full advantage of his starting position (4th on the grid) to get off to an excellent start. After the first few corners, he was in third position behind poleman Arjun Maini (Mercedes AMG- Team HRT) who was passed by Maro Engel (Mercedes AMG- Team Winward). In the back of the grid, Kelvin van der Linde (Audi R8 LMS- Abt SPortsline) managed to move up to 16th place. The South African wants to try to make up as much space as possible to avoid being dropped in the general classification. The most spectacular start is to be put to the credit of René Rast (BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport) who moved up from 16th to 9th position!

Bortolotti like a fish in water 

The Huracan GT3 Evo driver is very fast and threatening on Engel. With SSR performance, the Italian opted for a fairly offensive start to the race to try to take the lead and shake off his opponents as quickly as possible. He manages to get rid of Engel before the end of the first quarter of an hour of running, the wet track not seeming to bother him for a single moment. Then Bortolotti opens up a sufficient gap to shelter himself from Engel's attacks. In the pack, the battle rages for 12th place between: Thomas Preining (Porsche 911 GT3 R 992- Manthey EMA) Kelvin van der Linde, Sheldon van der Linde (BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport) and Marco Wittman (BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport). 

When the pit lane opened, Maro Engel was the first of the leaders to enter. His early stop did not allow him to pass the leader Bortolotti who imitated him a lap later. When he left the pits, the Italian's lead had nevertheless melted away. Engel and Bortolotti would finish the race neck and neck, but the German never found an opening on the "Lambo" driver. Bortolotti was the 10th winner of the season and took first place in the general classification. He won ahead of Engel and Maini, isolated in 3rd place. Kelvin van der Linde finished his race in 8th position, limiting the damage. He is now 10 points behind the Italian before tomorrow afternoon's race. 

First win this season for @M_Bortolotti 👏🥇@M_Bortolotti wins today's race in front of @MaroEngel (P2) and @ArjunMaini (P3).# DTM2024 #RedBullRing pic.twitter.com/O12cQDPZy5

— DTM (@DTM) September 28, 2024

There is still one race to go in Austria before the grand finale in Hockenheim, there is no doubt that everything will be decided in Baden Württemberg in a few weeks.   

DTM – Red Bull Ring
Race 1 – Ranking