Auer Secures First DTM Victory at Hockenheimring as Championship Race Intensifies
Hockenheim, Germany – Lucas Auer of Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf clinched his first victory of the DTM season in Race 1 at Hockenheimring, reigniting the championship battle ahead of tomorrow’s finale. Auer’s win unfolded amid dramatic moments that impacted key title contenders.
Auer qualified second, narrowly behind Luca Engstler, who achieved his first DTM pole position in the Red Bull Team Abt Lamborghini Temerario GT3. On the second lap, Auer seized the lead from Engstler at Turn 6, but contact between the two at Turn 7 sent Engstler crashing into the wall, resulting in a red flag for car recovery.
Upon restart, Auer allowed teammate Maro Engel, who started seventh, to take the lead. Engel built a three-second gap but fell to third following a slow pit stop. In the final minutes, Engel managed to pass Marco Wittmann’s BMW but was ordered to relinquish the position, finishing fourth.
“I am unbelievably happy with this victory,” Auer remarked. “We’ve faced a lot of bad luck recently, so this win is significant for us. I hope to follow it up with another win tomorrow.”
Mirko Bortolotti secured second place, marking his best result this season, while Wittmann and Engel both improved their positions in the championship standings. Defender Thomas Preining, the 2023 champion, finished fifth after recovering from an early mishap and now holds a 20-point lead over Wittmann.
Key Race Results:
- Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf)
- Mirko Bortolotti (TGI Team by GRT)
- Marco Wittmann (Schubert Motorsport)
- Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol)
- Thomas Preining (Manthey Racing Porsche)
The final race of the DTM season is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at Hockenheimring, where Preining aims to secure the championship amidst tightening competition.
Key Championship Standings Post-Race:
- Thomas Preining: 20 points ahead of Marco Wittmann
- Maro Engel: 2 points behind Wittmann
Upcoming Race:
- Final Race of the 2026 DTM Season – Hockenheimring, Germany
Image courtesy of Gruppe C Photography
