Aitken shoots into DTM points lead after Nurburgring win

Fierce wheel-to-wheel battles, many overtaking manoeuvres and a new championship leader – the opener to the second half of the DTM season produced some fantastic racing in front of crowded grandstands at the Nürburgring. After 39 laps, Jack Aitken (GB/Emil Frey Racing) took the chequered flag as the winner of Saturday's race – his second win of the season, and one that makes him the new championship leader.

"That was a mega race. Everything can change quickly in the DTM, but for the moment it feels great to lead the championship. Our late pit stop meant I had fresher tires in the closing stages and was able to overtake Ricardo Feller," said the British driver.

His compatriot and teammate Ben Green came home second to complete a one-two for Emil Frey Racing. Feller (CH/Land-Motorsport) produced a fantastic display to climb eight places and finish third in the only Audi in the field.

Race nine of the DTM season began on Saturday afternoon with a hectic start, and had to be suspended after multiple collisions. Polesitter Aitken held onto the lead at the restart, with Green slotting into second place. Luca Engstler (Kempten/TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT), Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) and Jordan Pepper (ZA/TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) followed in positions three to five.

Feller, who had battled his way into seventh place, was the first driver to come in for his mandatory pit stop – a tactic that allowed him to gain further places. Aitken came in last for his new Pirelli slicks, after which he was soon overtaken on cold tires by the Audi driver. Spectators were then treated to a fantastic scrap between the Swiss and the Brit, which lasted several laps. The attack that ultimately earned Aitken the victory came on lap 29. Green was also able to pass Feller, having come out on top in a door-to-door battle with Marco Wittmann (Fürth/Schubert Motorsport) shortly beforehand. The top three went on to cross the finish line in this order. Fourth place went to Pepper. Wittmann made up nine positions, thanks in part to another early pit stop, and ended the race in fifth place.

Auer, who came into the race as the championship leader, finished sixth after a slow tyre change. He now lies second in the table. Engstler was seventh in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, while Ben Dörr (Butzbach/Dörr Motorsport) delivered another strong performance to finish eighth in his McLaren 720S GT3 Evo. Thomas Preining (A) guided the Porsche 911 GT3 R of local team Manthey EMA to ninth place. Behind him, Timo Glock (Kreuzlingen/Dörr Motorsport) claimed his second top-ten result of the season.

"I have worked for this moment for a long time," Green said. "You could see in qualifying that our car was really good. We showed that again in the race. My manoeuvre against Marco Wittmann, when we came through the chicane side-by-side, was spectacular. Our cars touched, but I believe that goes with the territory in the DTM."

Feller was surprised at his result.

"I did not expect to finish on the podium from eleventh on the grid," he said. "We pitted early and took a bit of a risk with that strategy. I then made up a lot of time with a clear track ahead of me. Unfortunately, I was unable to hold onto the lead against Jack Aitken. I just didn't have the speed at the back end of the race. Despite that, third place is a great result for us."

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