Cairoli wins Race 2 at Lausitzring, takes DTM points lead

Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Racing) is the first driver to win two races in the current DTM season and, after six races, now leads the championship. The Italian kept a cool head in Sunday's race at a scorching Dekra Lausitzring, and took the checkered flag in his Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo after 42 laps of racing.

"This is one of the best wins of my career," he enthused. "Nicki Thiim really made me sweat it out, and it was already hot enough anyway! He put me under unbelievable pressure in the final few laps. My tires were pretty much dead and the heat was extremely challenging."

Thiim (Comtoyou Racing) came home second, just 0.413s behind the winner, to earn Aston Martin its first podium in the history of the DTM. After an absence of 37 years, the presentation ceremony finally featured a Ford driver again: Finn Wiebelhaus (HRT Ford Racing) finished third in only his sixth DTM race to claim the first podium in the series for the Ford Mustang GT3.

Cairoli started from second place on Sunday afternoon, and was a good second behind the Ford of pole-sitter Arjun Maini (HRT Ford Racing) by the time he came in for his first mandatory pit stop. The front two were followed in third place by Thiim, ahead of Wiebelhaus. 30-year-old Cairoli made a quick pit stop on lap 10. Three laps later, he overtook Maini, who was still on cold Pirelli slicks after a later tire change. Thiim, Wiebelhaus and Mirko Bortolotti (TGI Team by GRT) in a Lamborghini slotted into positions three to five.

Cairoli held onto the lead after his second pit stop, but was then forced to fend off Thiim, who had climbed into second place and was looking to attack at any opportune moment. The Italian held his nerve, avoided making any mistakes, and went on to claim his second DTM victory and top spot in the table.

Behind Thiim, Wiebelhaus pulled off an eye-catching overtaking maneuver to pass Maini and take third place. The Indian came home fourth, just ahead of the increasingly impressive Bortolotti, who achieved his best result of the season so far.

Luca Engstler (Red Bull Team Abt) ended the Sunday race in sixth place in another Lamborghini Temerario GT3. Seventh place went to Kelvin van der Linde (Schubert Motorsport) in a BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Despite a penalty lap, Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol) finished eighth and is now third in the championship. Marco Wittmann crossed the finish line ninth in the second Schubert Motorsport BMW. The best-placed Porsche driver was Thomas Preining (Manthey). The Austrian salvaged 10th place, roughly 0.1s ahead of his compatriot Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), who now lies second in the drivers' championship.

"What a rollercoaster of a weekend!" said Thiim. "First the pole position on Saturday morning, then I was unlucky to miss out on the win, and now second place in the heat. The race was great fun, particularly the battles with Matteo Cairoli and Arjun Maini."

Said Wiebelhaus: "The podium is a childhood dream come true. I only started out in motorsport in 2020, and have made it from karting to the DTM within six years. That is something I am incredibly proud of. My teammate Arjun Maini and I had an intense battle, with some light contact, but it was fair at all times."