Spielberg – Race 2: Thomas Preining wins in the rain

Thomas Preining put on the show at home! The Austrian won Race 2 at Spielberg, in front of his home crowd, in changing track conditions. KÜS Team driver Bernhard excelled in the rain before executing a perfect strategy when the Styrian track began to dry. Thomas Preining won for the second time this season, ahead of Luca Stolz and Maro Engel.

Big win! @thomaspreining reigns on home soil! 🇦🇹😍#DTM # DTM2022 #WeLoveDTM #FeelTheRoar pic.twitter.com/IVetXS0rut

— DTM (@DTM) September 25, 2022

Departure in the rain, arrival in the dry at Spielberg

As for the qualifications the same morning, the rain was the special guest of this 2nd race on the Red Bull Ring. A lighter rain but which forced the marshals to carry out 2 formation laps, before starting with a flying start in a line (and not two abreast as usual). All the drivers preferred not to take any risks, with a calm and cautious start. The only victim of these wet conditions, and not the least: Sheldon van der Linde. The championship leader went wide then spun in turn 3, before leaving dead last.

The race started to heat up during the first pit stops. Luca Stolz, then 11th, decided to stop first, as soon as the pit window opened. A risky bet even as the rain stopped falling on the Spielberg reliefs. In the peloton, Felipe Fraga had an ordeal. The Brazilian, fighting for 3rd place, went through the gravel trap in turn 5 while trying to overtake, then lost control of his car. Ferrari at the exit of turn 3 at the next turn, thus losing around ten places.

Preining assures, Stolz wins his bet

Nick Cassidy, the winner of Race 1, struggled throughout the event. Long in 2nd place, the New Zealander quickly stopped 35 minutes from the end... but came out behind Stolz. At the front, it was Thomas Preining who took the lead ahead of Maro Engel. THE Mercedes, faster on a lap, destroy their rubber more quickly than other mounts. With an incredible pace, the Austrian quickly took several seconds ahead in the lead. To the point of remaining in the lead after all the drivers had come to the pits.

As a drying trajectory began to appear, several drivers stuck within the peloton tried the gamble on slick tires, such as Fraga, Auer and Bortolotti. Initially in difficulty, these drivers then quickly made their tires work, to the point of gaining 3 to 4 seconds per lap on the leaders. Preining, who did not want to take any risks at the front by wearing rain tires, reached the finish line more than 4 seconds ahead of Stolz, who succeeded in his bet by moving up to 2nd place.

Total suspense at the championship!

Thanks to this second victory this season at Spielberg, Thomas Preining has placed himself among the leading men in the championship. The Austrian takes advantage of a zero point for Sheldon van der Linde to return to just 2 points behind the leader, in 14th place in the drivers' standings. René Rast, long in the top 4, failed to reach points and remains 10 points behind Van der Linde. The Audi driver lost his place as runner-up since it was Lucas Auer, 13th and author of the fastest lap, who is now 6nd in the championship, only 2 points behind the South African.

Before the last meeting of the season at Hockenheim, the first 6 drivers are within 30 points! The show promises to be intense from October 7 to 9!

The rankings for Race 2 at Spielberg: 

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