Portimão – Race 1: Auer wins ahead of Stolz, Sébastien Loeb 16th

Mirko Bortolotti (Lamborghini) started from pole position for the first race of the 2022 season of the DTM, contested in Portimão (Portugal) in the format of 55 minutes and one round. In the Algarve, the Italian was neck and neck with the surprising rookie Mikaël Grenier (Mercedes) in a muscular first round. Sebastian Loeb (Ferrari) retained his 21st place at the start. 

After competing for first place with Bortolotti, Grenier was surprised by another Mercedes driver, Lucas Auer, for second place. The Austrian, nephew of Gerhard Berger, then set off in pursuit of the race leader. In the peloton, it was a race to forget for the two Audis of Team Rosberg with a double retirement for Nico Mueller and Dev Gore, just over five minutes after the start, due to collisions. “It’s a shame to be hit at a bad angle by a car of the same brand (that of Ricardo Feller. Editor’s note) », lamented the Swiss pilot. Double champion Marco Wittmann (2014, 2016) was also forced to retire for BMW as the first wave of pit stops began, including Mikaël Grenier, the first of the leaders to change his tires. A strategy covered by Lucas Auer then Mirko Bortolotti. Felipe Fraga (Ferrari) inherited first position while his teammate Sébastien Loeb took the opportunity to provisionally enter the top 10, in ninth place. The two pilots Red Bull thus opted for an offbeat strategy.

Mercedes double in Portimão

The nine-time world rally champion pushed back his first stop as far as possible. The French driver finally rushed into the pit lane shortly after the half-hour mark of the race while he was in seventh position. He came out in 24th place. Fraga imitated him shortly after, leaving the lead of the race to Maro Engel (Mercedes). A fleeting reign on the hilly Portimão circuit as the German stopped immediately. Bortolotti took back control of the event under Safety Car, since his teammate Rolf Ineichen had to stop his Lamborghini Huracán at the side of the track. The race was restarted with 17 minutes on the clock. Bortolotti then had to contain three Mercedes: Auer, Grenier and Luca Stolz.

The Italian did not start correctly and fell to fifth place. Felipe Fraga paid the price and the Brazilian had to retire after a collision in a disorganized pack, like René Rast (Audi). This chaotic restart represented a boon for the Mercedes who found themselves in the first three places. Auer thus led the race ahead of Stolz and Engel. Grenier had lost big in this mess and found himself only in 11th position. Lucas Auer was no longer worried and won in front of another Mercedes, that of Luca Stolz. Mirko Bortolotti returned to the podium at the end of the race, overtaking Maro Engel. Sébastien Loeb finished his first in the championship in 16th place.

Next meeting this Sunday at 10:05 a.m. with the qualifying session for the second race of the weekend in Portimão, the start of which is scheduled for 13:30 p.m.

Find the rankings for Race 1 HERE

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