DTM
A FIERY WEEKEND IN THE NETHERLANDS: DTM ZANDVOORT RACE REVIEW.
DTM made it’s first flyaway stop of the season at Circuit Zandvoort for Round 3 of the championship.
It is a beautiful morning in The Netherlands. Little birds chirping around, the sun glistening in the sky, flowers blooming in every corner. It’s one of those days where you feel grateful for being born. As you soak in these blessings god bestowed upon you, you hear a roaring sound. The next thing you know, you are sitting at Circuit Zandvoort with German Touring Cars whizzing past you because it’s the DTM weekend in the Netherlands.
The daunting 4 km track has put the greatest names in motorsports in a twist. Even Formula One drivers call this track a challenging weekend. But regardless of it’s challenging nature, the drivers are more than ready to face it.
Kelvin van der Linde is fully motivated and wants to turn his last win in Race 1 at Lausitzring into a double streak of wins. Thomas Preining had a poor start to the season at Oschersleben, finishing a low P10 & P13 in Race 1 & Race 2 respectively . He redeemed himself at the Lausitzring with a win in Race 2 but he has high hopes to perform better this weekend. Last year’s Race 1 winner Maro Engel aims to be back on the podium and continue his podium campaign as he has finished in the top 3 twice this season. Mercedes AMG Team HRT driver and Indian Arjun Maini has been on a phenomenal run this year, scoring a P8 and P4 at Oschersleben and a P7 & P12 at Lausitzring. The has waved the tricolor high, scoring points in every race this championship campaign.
The weekend lasted from the 7th of June till the 9th of June. With a lot of action and storylines continuing from Lausitzring, let’s get into how to weekend went by.
FREE PRACTICE
The fastest man in FP1 in the morning was Nicki Thiim from SSR Performance.
“It is a few years since my last race weekend in Zandvoort.”
Nicki thiim on his stints at the dutch race track.
FP2 saw three different drivers, Lucas Auer; Clemens Schmid & Kelvin van der Linde top the time sheets. All three drivers separated by just 0.7 seconds. Auer set one flyer of a lap which was then topped by the others. The main reason for such quick lap times is Track Evolution. More rubber on the track means more grip leading to better and quicker lap times.
“We made good progress from the first to the second free practice session. However, people keep their cards to their chest right to the end in the DTM. As such, I am intrigued to see how we get on in qualifying. Grid position is very important in Zandvoort, as it is difficult to overtake here,”
Auer gives his insights on zandvoort
QUALIFYING
Qualifying 1 saw an electrifying performance from Jack Aitken as he set his Ferrari on pole for Race 1. The Brit set a blistering lap of 1:31.762, which let his team at Emil Frey Racing celebrate. Clemens Schmid placed second with his McLaren, setting a 1:32.136. Arjun Maini took a brilliant P3 with 1:32.209.
Maini was very pleased to be placed P3 for Race 1. The Indian has finished in the top five in all but one of the qualifying sessions so far this season. Aitken secured his third pole position of his DTM career with his Ferrari 296.
“I have the best starting position and am looking forward to the race. The goal is obviously to win, in order to move back towards the top of the championship,”
Jack aitken on his pole position for Race 1
Qualifying 2 had Maximillian Paul take his maiden Pole for Paul Motorsports, placing his #71 Lamborghini on the front row of the grid with a 1:32.780 . Fellow Lamborghini driver Mirko Bortolotti placed his car alongside Paul to lock out the front row. Both Emil Frey driver Thierry Vermuelen and Jack Aitken locked out the second row for their team. Arjun Maini performed spectacularly once again and placed fifth, setting a 1:33.053.
“As a new team, to start from pole in our third weekend in the DTM is really impressive and the reward for our hard work. However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels now, as the field is very strong and includes many works drivers. The key to the race is to stay cool and put our foot down,”
Max Paul on his maiden Pole Position at Zandvoort.
RACE
Race 1 had Jack Aitken storm off of Pole Position and into the lead with Schmid close behind in his McLaren. The order followed as Maini, Feller & Auer. Rene Rast made swift moves up the pack in his BMW to move up to 4th from 7th. Quick pitstops helped Aitken maintain his lead and Rast shaved seconds off of Schmid who was running in 2nd. Rast kept up the blinding speed to pass Maini and Schmid to take 2nd place. Schmid meanwhile kept losing pace and was eventually overthrown by Maini and had to settle for fourth place. The chequered flag fell and Aitken took home the victory with Rast in second and Maini finished up the podium. Ben Dorr bagged the Fastest lap for Dorr Motorsports in his McLaren 750S GT3 EVO.
“Three race weekends in and I already have two wins to my name, that is awesome. The key was that I managed to open a bit of a gap immediately after the start. After that, I could control the race from the front. I could often see René Rast in my mirror in the closing stages, but I did not let that distract me,”
Aitken after his win in Race 1.
Rene Rast seemed very thrilled to be on the podium as he did not believe he’d be up there after his performance on Friday.
“After our performance on Friday, it really did not look as though we would be on the podium…. The race was really great fun.”
Rast on his performance in Race 1.
Arjun Maini felt that he could have pushed harder for a better result and he knew his Mercedes could have helped him score higher than he did.
“I am finally back on the DTM podium. That feels super……I was hoping there may possibly be more in it for me. However, Jack Aitken and René Rast were faster than me at the end.”
Maini on his p3 finish
Race 2
Race 2 saw Polesitter Maximillian Paul shoot off at the start but falling short at Turn 2 as Mirko Bortolotti overtook him to take the lead of the race. A couple laps later, Auer and Schmid partook in a skirmish leading to a crash, bringing out the Safety Car. Home hero Thierry Vermuelen and Kelvin van der Linde occupied P4 and P5 respectively.
As the race progressed, Bortolotti kept the lead. BMW’s Marco Wittmann led an electrifying charge through the field and got lucky with his pitstops. He found himself leading the pack. Bortolotti hit Wittmann but the BMW driver kept pushing and won in spectacular fashion. He took the chequered flag after 38 laps. From 14th to 1st. He was followed close behind by Bortolotti and Kelvin van der Linde. Arjun Maini and his Mercedes finished a strong P6 and bagged valuable points after his podium campaign in Race 1. The Fastest Lap was clocked in by Nicki Thiim with a 1:34.609s.
“I never thought I would come from so far back to win…..I am just overjoyed that I was able to bring home the win,”
Wittmann after his win in Race 2.
“When you take the lead in turn one and are out in front for so many laps, you obviously want to win. In the end, I have to settle for second place. The rear axle felt strange in the closing laps, and the drivers behind me put me under an awful lot of pressure.”
Mirko Bortelotti after hi p2 finish.
“I am particularly pleased with third place for our crew, who have been very busy recently, with two DTM events and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.”
Kelvin van der linde thanking his team after his p3 finish
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Zandvoort proved to be a ground for tough battles, redemptions, and surprises for the drivers. DTM next heads to the Norisring from the 5th of July to the 7th of July.
The 2025 season of DTM kicked off in Oschersleben, and it was Lucas Auer in his Mercedes AMG GT3 who took the first win of the new season on Saturday. Sunday saw a flawless strategic drive from Ayhancan Güven, giving him and Turkey their first DTM win.
READ MORE: DTM All Set for an Intense 2025 Season Opener at Oschersleben
SATURDAY: Lucas Auer Takes His 10th Career Win in DTM
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Oschersleben, and Lucas Auer made a perfect start to his season, starting from Pole, taking the fastest lap and winning the first race of the 2025 DTM season.
Auer made the perfect getaway in his Mercedes AMG GT3 in the race to keep his lead going into turn 1 and soon opened up a 4-second lead from Jordan Pepper in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo, who was running in second. Jules Guonon in the Mercedes AMG GT3 was third after overtaking the Porsche works driver Thomas Preining, and Maro Engel slotted in fifth.
On lap 18, Auer, Pepper and Preining all decided to enter the pits for their mandatory stops. While Auer was stationary for longer, it wasn’t long enough for Pepper to jump him in the pits. After the round of pit stops, Auer was again in front and had managed to open up a decent gap between him and Pepper.
The Mercedes driver kept his lead for the rest of the race and took the chequered flag to celebrate his 10th DTM victory. Pepper followed in second, meanwhile, Maro Engel had displayed tactical prowess to overtake Preining for third position, with the Porsche driver coming in on 4th. Jules Guonon finished fifth, making it 3 Mercedes cars in the top 5.
“A top start to the new season! The start of the race was superb. However, I later lost all the lead I had established when having to lap other cars. As such, I am delighted that the guys in the pit lane produced a really strong performance during the tyre change,” said Auer.
SUNDAY: Güven Executes Strategy to Perfection to Take Maiden DTM Win
Ayhancan Güven became the first driver from Turkey to win a race in DTM. The Team Manthey EMA driver in his Porsche 911 GT3 R displayed strong tactical and driving performance to take the win, having started 4th in Race 2 at Oschersleben.
Mercedes driver Jules Gounon was starting in pole for the second race at Oschersleben with Jordan Pepper accompanying him on the front row. Guonon got a good launch to stay ahead of Pepper into Turn 1, meanwhile Guven overtook Ferrari driver Thierry Vermeulen to take third position behind the front runners.
During the first round of pit stops, Guven chose to go long when everyone else was making their stops. This helped him jump both Guonon and Pepper to take the lead in the race after making his first stop. A new race format meant drivers had to make 2 stops in the race on Sunday. Guven kept his lead of the race through the second round of stops as well and took the chequered flag, making him the first driver from Turkey to win a race in DTM. Jules Guonon finished second as Thomas Preining made 4 positions to finish in 3rd, having started in 7th.
“This moment has been my ultimate goal since my first DTM race. Last year was rather disappointing for me, so it feels all the better to start the new season with a win. My father was right next to the podium and was my first to congratulate me. As my mentor, he played a major role in this success,” said a delighted Turk.
A weekend of learning for Arjun Maini and HRT
Arjun Maini entered his fifth season in DTM, this time in a Ford machinery. After spending 4 years with Mercedes, Arjun made a switch to Ford, becoming their Factory Driver earlier this year. It was a switch for the team as well, as HRT, who had been associated with Mercedes for many years, rebranded themselves to HRT Ford Performance from this year onwards.
As a result of the change, it was obvious that this weekend would be a weekend of learning. Both Arjun and the team are getting used to the Ford Mustang GT3 and are learning more and more with every passing weekend. Maini was comfortably the faster Ford throughout the weekend, with the Indian driver even scoring a points finish in Race 1, debuting for Ford. As Maini and HRT get more and more comfortable with the car with every passing weekend, we are sure that the Indian driver will soon be fighting for top spots in the championship
Championship Standings and Up Next
South African Jordan Pepper leaves Oschersleben as the championship leader, thanks to his strong and consistent performance during the weekend.
Meanwhile, in the Manufacturers’ Championship, it’s Mercedes on 68 points, 4 points ahead of Porsche in 64.
DTM heads to Lausitzring next from 23-25 May and you can watch all the action live only on Fancode in India.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
DTM
DTM All Set for an Intense 2025 Season Opener at Oschersleben
New Cars, new team and a new race format. DTM is all set for it’s season opener at Oschersleben.
The 2025 season of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (also known as DTM) is all set to kick off this weekend in Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. A total of 24 drivers will take to the track in 12 different teams comprising 9 different manufacturers, including newcomers Aston Martin and Ford.
Ford Returns to DTM With HRT and Arjun Maini
Ford is returning to the DTM after an absence of 30 years. The American manufacturer has partnered up with the Haupt Racing Team and will run under the banner of HRT Ford Performance. HRT Ford Performance will field two cars, the #36 Mustang in Ravenol livery driven by Arjun Maini and the #64 Mustang in Ford Heritage livery driven by Fabio Scherer.
Arjun joined DTM in 2021 with GetSpeed, behind the wheels of the Mercedes AMG GT3. Since then, he has been driving for the German Manufacturer in various championships, including DTM and GT World Challenge Europe. In 2025, he left the Stuttgart-based manufacturer and moved to the Ford stables, becoming a factory driver for the American team. The Indian driver has 4 podiums and 1 pole position in DTM till now, he will be looking to get his first win this year.
Aston Martin Back With Newcomers Comtoyou Racing
This year, DTM also welcomes a new team from Belgium, Comtoyou Racing. The Belgian team has chosen Aston Martin GT3 machinery for their debut season in the German Championship. The team from Gembloux to the south of Brussels has put its faith in two Belgian drivers, Nicolas Baert and Gilles Magnus, for its first season in DTM. Magnus arrives in the DTM with multiple titles to his name. Last season, the 25-year-old won the endurance races in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and also impressed in the GT World Challenge Europe. Meanwhile, Baert has been a Comtoyou Racing driver for the past 5 years.
Bortolotti Looking Forward to his Big Title Defence
Mirko Bortolotti will enter his fourth DTM season as the reigning champion. The Lamborghini works driver from Vienna has fond memories of Oschersleben from last year, claiming one of his eight pole positions in DTM here. Bortoloti is hungry for the first win at this circuit and can’t wait for the season to begin.
“I am pleased that we can finally go racing again, and am full of energy. Defending my title will be a big challenge, but we have all the ingredients to be successful together,” says Bortolotti.
Mirko Bortolotti will be keeping a close eye on the Schubert Motorsport duo, as the reigning Teams’ Champions aim to go one step further this year by securing both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. The Oschersleben-based outfit will kick off their campaign on home turf, fielding the brand-new BMW M4 GT3 Evo driven by René Rast and two-time champion C.
Meanwhile, Jack Aitken, last year’s winner at Oschersleben, returns in the Ferrari 296 GT3 for Emil Frey Racing. He’ll be joined in the title fight by Porsche works driver Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA) and Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing), both looking to make a strong early statement in what promises to be a highly competitive season opener at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
New Race Format for 2025
This weekend, there is one more thing you should look forward to, as DTM will bring a new race format for 2025. Starting this weekend, the teams will need to make 2 mandatory stops during the Sunday Race, while the Saturday race remains a one-stopper. All the races this year are 55 minutes plus one lap. Should there be a safety car intervention during the race, there is now a provision which allows the race to be extended by 2 racing laps to compensate for the loss of racing action during the safety car.
The DTM has also introduced a Rookie of the Year trophy for this season, which will be awarded to the highest placed rookie in the championship. The eligibility criteria for this are for a driver to be in their first or second season of DTM.
Where to Watch DTM in India
You can watch all the sessions of DTM Live on Fancode with an annual pass for just Rs 199/-. The complete schedule in IST is given below:
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
DTM made its second stop outside of Germany at the Red Bull Ring in Austria and it was the best weekend Indian driver Arjun Maini has had in the championship till now. The Mercedes driver scored his maiden Pole Position and went on to score 2 podiums that weekend.
Saturday: Maini takes his first pole as Bortolotti takes his first win
Saturday was a historic day for Indian Motorsports as Arjun Maini became the first Indian to score a pole position in DTM.
It was a day of firsts as Marko Bortolotti scored his first win of the season, propelling him to the top of the DTM standings. The Lamborghini driver from SSR Performance expertly handled tricky weather conditions, choosing rain tires at the start and commanding the race early on. He overtook Arjun Maini and Maro Engel to build an impressive lead, securing victory despite late pressure from Engel. This win, Bortolotti’s fourth DTM triumph, positions him as the title favourite with just three races remaining.
Engel followed closely in second, while Maini finished third after starting from pole. Luca Stolz secured fourth, completing a strong day for Mercedes-AMG, while Ayhancan Güven delivered a remarkable charge to fifth place. Former championship leader Kelvin van der Linde climbed from 17th to eighth, now trailing Bortolotti by just ten points. René Rast and Ricardo Feller rounded out the top ten in a race dominated by strategic tire choices amid evolving track conditions.
“That was probably the best victory of my life. We made the right decision and opted for rain tires at the beginning. I knew that if I was clever and kept the tires in a good window for a long time, I could open up a gap. I managed that,” said Bortolotti
Maro Engel and Arjun Maini in Red Bull Ring Race 1 (Photo: Gruppe C Photography)
Sunday: René Rast Triumphs Again at Red Bull Ring to take his 28th Career Victory
René Rast continued his dominance at the Red Bull Ring, winning the 14th DTM race of the season on Sunday for his 28th career victory. The BMW works driver from Schubert Motorsport executed a brilliant strategy, moving from fourth to first despite a poor start. His main rival, Thomas Preining in the Porsche 911 GT3 R, finished second after a relentless chase. Arjun Maini impressed again, securing third. Championship leader Mirko Bortolotti finished fourth, extending his lead by 15 points with just a few races left.
Pole-setter Bortolotti initially led but was overtaken by Rast after pit stops shuffled the order. Preining and Maini also overtook the Lamborghini driver, with Kelvin van der Linde finishing fifth. Sheldon van der Linde claimed sixth for BMW, while Ayhancan Güven and Maro Engel placed seventh and eighth. Franck Perera finished ninth, with Ferrari’s Jack Aitken rounding out the top ten.
“It was an action-packed, hard-fought race. The podium feels even better than the one on Saturday because I was able to work my way up from eighth place on the grid to third place. The decisive factor was that I got my tires up to the right temperature quickly after the pit stop.” – Arjun Maini after Race 2
With only a few races left, the battle for the DTM championship remains fierce, and all eyes will be on Bortolotti, Rast, and van der Linde as the season reaches its climax. DTM heads next to Hockenheimring for the final round of the weekend from 18-20th October.
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