Hockenheimring – Thomas Preining starts the chase

Rain was the additional guest in the first part of the final of the DTM. For this penultimate race of the season, the soggy track forced the organizers to postpone the start time. The competitors set off behind the safety car. When the safety car finally moved aside, it was the two Emil Frey Racing drivers, Ben Green and Jack Aitken, who led the pack. When braking for the hairpin, the Ferrari Green's red light fails to slow down sufficiently and the Briton lets Aitken take the lead of the race. 

Thomas Preining in total control 

Jack Aitken is the second leader of the round, with Auer stuck in 15th position, the Englishman is the virtual new leader of the championship. Among the ranks of drivers fighting for the title, Jordan Pepper (GRT) is the first to take a knee. The South African is the victim of contact in the pack with Ben Dörr (Mclaren- Dörr Motorsport). His Huracan spun and couldn't avoid contact with the wall. Pepper was forced to retire. His title chances were still plausible, but with an 11-point deficit, he would need a small miracle to end his season in style. At the front, Thomas Preining was walking on water. He overtook Aitken and took the lead of the race, staying in control until the end of the round. Preining won his 2023 title in Baden-Württemberg. Very comfortable at Hockenheim, he crossed the finish line almost 17 seconds ahead of Ricardo Feller (Audi-Land Motorsport). The podium was completed by his young Manthey teammate and junior champion: Morris Schuring. 

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Aitken sinks, Auer survives

Jack Aitken suffers on a track where the humidity gives way to a slippery surface making the handling of his Ferrari 296 GT3 a little complicated to master. The Briton falls in the ranking to 6th position. He is overtaken by Maro Engel (Mercedes-Winward Racing) and Ayhancan Güven (Porsche-Manthey). Aitken, 6th, is ahead of René Rast, 7th; the two men are still mathematically in the title race. Lucas Auer is still able to keep his hopes of winning the title tomorrow afternoon. His lead is once again tiny, with 3 points over Thomas Preining and 6 over René Rast. Jules Gounon (Mercedes-Winward Racing), forced to retire due to a loose wheel during his pit stop, is once again a victim of bad luck. He will no longer be in the running for the title but hopes to finish the season with a convincing result. 

Join us tomorrow around 16 p.m. to find out the new DTM champion who will succeed Mirko Bortolotti.

DTM – Hockenheimring 
Race 1 ranking