Kelvin van der Linde wins race 2 in Italy

After the pole this morning, Kelvin van der Linde was able to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a first victory in DTM this Sunday in race 2 at Monza.

Behind the driverAudi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°3 – Team Abt, author of a good first round by well containing the pressure from Liam Lawson at the start, the New Zealander of the Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo n°30 – Red Bull AF Corse sees Nico Müller (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°51 – Team Rosberg) successfully attack the first chicane.

While trying to stay in contact with the Audi driver, Lawson in turn attempted a maneuver at the second chicane. A fight which ultimately benefits Sheldon van der Linde (BMW M6 GT3 n°31 – ROWE Racing) who takes the advantage over Lawson and Müller for second place.

Lawson's race for victory then took a completely different turn with a spin at the second chicane on the following lap while trying to resist the attack of Esteban Muth. In the incident, Vincent Abril (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo n°5 – HRT) cannot avoid the sinking Ferrari, and must go through the gravel trap, losing several positions.

The hierarchy remains stable until the obligatory passage through the pits, where Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo n°22 – Team Winward) moves up to third position behind Kelvin van der Linde and Nico Müller, thus taking the best of the BMW of Sheldon van der Linde.

The leading trio will no longer advance to the checkerboard, with victory for Kelvin van der Linde ahead of Nico Müller and Lucas Auer. Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann (BMW M6 GT3 n°11 – Walkenhorst Motorsport) complete the top 5.

Philip Ellis (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo n°57 – Team Winward) takes 6th place ahead of Alex Albon (Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo n°23 – Alpha Tauri AF Corse), when Mike Rockenfeller (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°9 – Team Abt) emerged victorious from his duel for 8th place with Esteban Muth (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo n°10 – T3 Motorsport).

Stopped in his momentum by his passage into the gravel trap, Vincent Abril finished in 11th position behind his teammate Maxi Götz. Liam Lawson finished in 14th place. Sophia Flörsch (No. 8 Audi R3 LMS GT99 Evo – Team Abt) finished 16th ahead of Esmee Hawkey (No. 3 Lamborghini Huracan GT23 Evo – T3 Motorsport).

Discover the report of the Monza DTM event, in issue 2317 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.