DTM Norisring: Pepper converts Race 1 pole into maiden DTM victory

Jordan Pepper backed up his 24 Hours of Spa triumph with a commanding drive to victory in the first DTM race of the weekend at the Norisring. The South African controlled proceedings from pole to flag aboard the #63 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3, clinching his first-ever DTM win in dominant fashion.

Clean start at the front, action behind

At the start, Pepper held firm into Turn 1 while the #69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 of Thierry Vermeulen and the #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R of Thomas Preining slotted into second and third. Drama struck behind as the #2 Abt Sportsline Lamborghini Huracán GT3 of Nicki Thiim was turned around by Maro Engel’s #24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in a bold move for fourth. The stewards declared it a racing incident, leaving Engel to continue in fourth while Thiim dropped to the rear.

Pepper leads as midfield heats up

The race settled into a rhythm with Pepper edging out a gap over Vermeulen and Preining. Engel, the #14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari of Jack Aitken, and championship leader Lucas Auer in the #22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3 completed the top six. Ben Green’s race ended early after the #10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari was hit from behind at the start sustaining damage, and ultimately retiring with a puncture after a second trip to the pits.

Midfield battles erupted during the pit window. The #1 Abt Sportsline Lamborghini of Mirko Bortolotti earned a warning after contact with the #11 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 of Marco Wittmann, while Arjun Maini in the #36 HRT Ford Performance Ford Mustang GT3 held off a charging René Rast (#33 Schubert BMW) in a bruising scrap. Incidents also befell Luca Engstler, whose #19 TGI Team Lamborghini was spun by Nicolas Baert in the #8 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, and Morris Schuring in the #92 Manthey EMA Porsche who found himself pointing the wrong way as well after a collision.

Pit window shuffle

Pepper pitted just before the end of the window, briefly delayed by a slow right-rear tyre change. Nonetheless, the Grasser crew sent him back out in the lead, ahead of Preining and Engel, who overtook Vermeulen during the stops as the Dutchman rejoined on cold tyres.

Untroubled run to the flag

With the top three settled, the closing laps saw Vermeulen push Engel for the final podium spot, but the experienced Mercedes driver held on. Pepper, meanwhile, remained untroubled up front to take a milestone win for both driver and team.

The result propels Pepper to second in the drivers’ standings behind Auer, collecting maximum points for pole and victory. Behind the podium trio of Pepper, Preining, and Engel, Vermeulen secured fourth ahead of Aitken, with the top ten rounded out by Auer, Jules Gounon (#48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter), Maini, Ricardo Feller (#29 Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3), and Rast.

Race 2 takes place on Sunday at 13:30 CEST.