Preining Dominates DTM Race at Hockenheim, Poised for Title Battle
Hockenheim, Germany — Thomas Preining of Manthey EMA showcased exceptional skill in Saturday’s penultimate DTM race at Hockenheim, clinching victory by a commanding 17 seconds in his Porsche 911 GT3 R (992). This win elevates him from eighth to second in the championship standings, positioning him as a prime contender for his second consecutive title.
“A super day for us! That win means I am right back in the thick of the title race,” Preining remarked post-race. “However, the job is not yet done. We want to be champions and need another top result on Sunday.”
Ricardo Feller of Land-Motorsport finished second in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2, with rookie Morris Schuring securing third for Manthey Junior Team, marking his first podium in DTM.
Lucas Auer, who leads the drivers’ championship, managed to limit damage by finishing 12th after a challenging race. He retains the championship lead with 175 points, three ahead of Preining, while several drivers remain in contention ahead of the final race.
Heavy rain posed challenges at the race start. Pole-sitter Ben Green initially lost the lead to his Emil Frey Racing teammate Jack Aitken after a braking error. Preining capitalized on the wet conditions, executing a pass on lap eight to take command of the race.
Following a mandatory pit stop, Preining emerged with a ten-second advantage, maintaining his lead to cross the finish line first. The final standings revealed Feller and Schuring closely competing, with the latter nearly overtaking Feller on the last lap, finishing only 0.11 seconds behind.
The results behind Preining included Maro Engel from Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing, Ayhancan Güven of Manthey EMA, and Aitken in fifth. Notably, three-time DTM champion René Rast finished seventh, remaining in the title chase along with several others as the season culminates.
Feller expressed pride in his finish, stating, “We want to end the DTM season on a high, and what better way to do that than with a podium at the finale.” Schuring reflected on his achievement, highlighting the importance of patience in racing against title contenders.
With one race left, the championship remains wide open, promising an exciting conclusion to the season.
