DTM Zandvoort Race 2 report: Rast leads the BMW charge in Zandvoort

From the moment the lights went out in Zandvoort, René Rast in the #33 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Evo put the BMW’s power to perfect use. With a clean getaway, he led the field into the Dutch dunes, shadowed by his team-mate Marco Wittmann in the #11 Schubert Motorsport BMW, who wasted no time muscling his way into second. The pair quickly broke clear, setting the stage for a BMW showdown at the front.

Behind them, Jack Aitken pushed his #14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 into third, fending off Thomas Preining in the #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R as the opening laps settled into a rhythm. The tight Zandvoort circuit made overtaking tricky, so it was always going to be pit strategy that would shake things up.

Pit stops shuffle the pack

The stops brought drama. Preining and the Manthey EMA team played it smart, diving in a lap before Aitken to bolt on fresh tyres to the #91 Porsche. That small gamble paid off: by the time the Ferrari rejoined, Preining’s warm rubber gave him the grip to charge past and into a podium spot.

Up front, Rast and Wittmann left nothing to chance. Both Schubert BMWs executed slick, trouble-free pit stops, rejoining the fray just as they left it: Rast still leading, Wittmann close behind and hungry for more.

Final laps: pressure mounts, but Rast stays cool

As the clock wound down, Wittmann began to reduce the gap, shadowing Rast in the final laps. However, Rast remained calm and in control, carefully managing the pace in the #33 BMW and never allowing his team-mate a real chance to attack. While Wittmann closed in, Rast always had the race under control and guided the Schubert BMW to a commanding victory.

Preining, meanwhile, found himself in a race-long scrap to defend his place. Aitken, quickest man on track in the closing laps in the #14 Ferrari, pushed hard but couldn’t quite unlock a way past the Porsche. Maro Engel added late drama as he brought the #24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 into the top five after a strong drive up the order.

Gains in the midfield

Further back, there was no shortage of action. Luca Engstler took top Lamborghini honours with sixth in the #19 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2, while Lucas Auer kept his title campaign on track with a steady run to seventh in the #22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3 just ahead of brand mate Jules Gounon. Mirko Bortolotti was one of the day’s big movers, gaining six spots for Lamborghini in the #1 ABT Sportsline Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2, while Arjun Maini steered the #36 HRT Ford Performance Ford Mustang GT3 into the top ten after starting 16th.

BMW celebrates, Rast rises

When the dust settled, it was a day to remember for Schubert Motorsport: BMW’s one-two in the dunes, Rast’s 29th DTM win, and Wittmann playing the ultimate team role in his milestone 200th race. With his victory, Rast climbs to second in the championship standings, closing the gap to leader Lucas Auer and igniting a fierce title fight as the season reaches its midpoint. With just 21 points separating the top six, the battle for the DTM crown is only just getting started.