By RACER Staff - Sep 13, 2025, 12:48 PM ET

Rast takes over DTM title lead with third win of the year in Race 1 at Red Bull Ring

René Rast (Schubert Motorsport) moved to the top of the DTM table for the first time this season in Austria. The BMW driver dominated the 13th race of the season on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, taking the checkered flag as the winner after 38 laps.

"Coming into the weekend, I did not imagine I had the greatest chance of winning the title – and now I am leading the championship. That feels huge," he said. "One race can change everything in the DTM. The team played a big part in this win, thanks to the outstanding pit stop. We delivered under pressure – that is what it is all about."

Rast's third win of the season catapulted him from seventh place to the top of the table. Teammate Marco Wittmann (Fürth) came home second to complete a one-two for BMW. Thierry Vermeulen (Emil Frey Racing) finished third in the Ferrari 296 GT3 and stepped onto the podium for the second time this season. His teammate Jack Aitken was unlucky: the British driver was running a comfortable second for much of the race, but then made a mistake on the final lap and skidded off the track. As a result, he missed out on top spot in the table. This result makes the title race an even closer affair, with just 15 points separating the top eight drivers.

Rast started Saturday afternoon's race from second place and wasted little time launching his assault on the top of the table. He overtook three-time champion and pole-sitter Wittmann on lap two, before consistently extending his lead. Aitken, who came into the race in second place in standings and was also on course for the top of the table, followed in third place. The Briton was the first of the leading trio to come in for new Pirelli slicks on lap 15. That tactic paid dividends. Aitken was able to overtake Wittmann, who, on cold rubber after a later tire change, was powerless to resist the Ferrari driver.

Race leader Rast benefited from a fast pit stop to rejoin the race in the lead on lap 19. He was then able to control the pace from that point on. Behind Rast, Aitken and Wittmann, Vermeulen had recovered from a poor start to sit fourth, followed by his teammate Ben Green. While there were plenty of fierce battles and overtaking maneuvers further down the field, the top five positions seemed set in stone. However, Aitken lost control of his Ferrari on the final lap and skidded off the track. That mistake, after which he was unable to rejoin the race, cost him what looked like a certain lead in the championship. Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing) benefited from Aitken's retirement and finished fifth, behind Rast, Wittmann, Vermeulen and Green.

Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA) produced an impressive fightback. The local favorite finished sixth after making up 10 places in his Porsche 911 GT3 R. Jordan Pepper (TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) also battled back well, climbing eight positions to finish seventh. Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) overcame a technical issue to end the race in eighth place. Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Racing) dropped from third to ninth place in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Luca Engstler (TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) completed the top 10.