Imola – Race 1: Rast wins, fantastic comeback from Bortolotti

For its second race outside German territory this season, the DTM decided to export to Italy, on the Imola route. With ten kilos less thanks to the Balance of Performance, the Audis locked the first row of this race 1 with René Rast ahead of Nico Mueller. The two pilots were neck and neck at the start and the German had to climb the first curb to maintain the advantage ahead of the Swiss and the Austrian Thomas Preining (Porsche). For his return to the championship, Timo Glock was caught in a collision on the first lap and this weekend's guest BMW driver had to retire.

Leaders follow one another

René Rast stopped after only a quarter of an hour of racing, leaving the controls to Mueller, who covered the strategy on the following lap. It was Kelvin van der Linde's turn to take charge, while Mueller came out behind Rast and especially under pressure from Preining. The Austrian had also stopped on the previous lap, but the Audi driver resisted. Riccardo Feller was the next to inherit the lead of the race through pit stops, followed by Mirko Bortolotti. The Lamborghini driver, far away on the starting grid, took the opportunity to lead his home race.

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The Transalpine remained on the track until the last quarter of an hour. Mirko Bortolotti performed well with this offbeat strategy as he found himself in eighth position, although he started 16th on the grid after being penalized ten places for having used an incorrect set of tires during Free Practice 2. The driver from the Sant'Agata Bolognese firm took advantage of his fresh tires to recover and set the best lap in the race, taking advantage of Feller's retirement due to a mechanical problem. In total attack, Bortolotti even offered himself his third podium of the season by depriving Preining of his first career on the penultimate lap. Not worried, René Rast concluded a quiet race for his part to take victory ahead of Nico Mueller.

Find the rankings for Race 1 HERE