DTM Hockenheimring: Preining Wins Race 1 in the Wet, Title Battle Down to Three Points

Thomas Preining #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R claimed a crucial victory in Race 1 at Hockenheim, keeping his dream of a second DTM title alive. The Austrian mastered the wet conditions after a delayed start, taking the lead before the pit window and never looking back. His win cuts the championship gap to Lucas Auer #22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf to just three points heading into the final race of the season.

Rain delays and early chaos

The first race of the DTM finale was marked by heavy rain and difficult track conditions. The start had to be delayed twice before the cars finally got underway behind the Safety Car at 13:54 CEST. Drivers needed at least two laps before racing could begin, and from that moment, the battle quickly turned intense.

Ben Green #10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 started from pole position, but he quickly made a mistake, allowing his teammate Jack Aitken #14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari to take the lead. The wet track made things very difficult, and championship contender Jordan Pepper #63 TGI Team Lamborghini saw his title hopes end early. The South African was hit by a McLaren, spun, and crashed into the wall, forcing him to retire.

Preining seizes control

Soon after, Preining took control of the race. The Austrian passed Aitken before the pit window and began pulling away. His pace in the wet was unmatched, and after the pit stops, he opened a huge gap of almost 17 seconds.

There was also trouble for several other drivers. Ben Dörr #25 Dörr Motorsport McLaren received a penalty for spinning his wheels during a pit stop. Nicolas Baert #8 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin had issues with his car, while Jules Gounon #48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER was forced to retire with a loose front-left tire on his Mercedes. It was a tough blow for Gounon, who was still in the title fight.

Rookie Schuring storms to first DTM podium

At the front, Preining was unstoppable. He crossed the finish line with a 16.889-second advantage over Ricardo Feller #29 Audi Sport Team Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. Feller managed to defend second place after a late fight with rookie Morris Schuring #92 Manthey EMA Porsche. Schuring, who started P5, delivered an excellent performance to finish third and claim his first-ever DTM podium. He nearly took P2 but had to settle for third after an intense battle in the final laps.

Jack Aitken’s early lead faded as Emil Frey Racing’s strategy backfired once the track began to dry. The #14 Ferrari dropped down the order, overtaken by Feller, Schuring, Maro Engel #24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward, and Ayhancan Güven #90 Manthey EMA Porsche. He eventually finished outside the podium places despite his strong start.

Title fight tightened with just three points in it

For the championship, the result made things even more exciting. Lucas Auer, who spun in qualifying, managed to keep his lead with 175 points. However, Preining’s victory moved him up to second place with 172 points, just three points behind. René Rast #33 Schubert Motorsport BMW and Maro Engel #24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward are also very close, six and seven points back, while Güven, Pepper, and Aitken remain in contention. The top seven drivers are now separated by only 13 points going into the final race.

The result tightened the DTM championship fight to a knife’s edge: Auer leads with 175 points, Preining is just three behind, and Rast, Engel, and Güven are also within striking distance. With the top seven covered by 13 points, Sunday promises a finale for the ages.