Scoring fourth place, Thomas Preining narrowly missed out on the podium in Sunday’s DTM race at the Eurospeedway Lausitz. After ten of the 16 rounds, the Austrian works driver now ranks second in the drivers’ standings. His Manthey EMA teammate Dennis Olsen from Norway finished fifth behind Preining. With this result, Porsche and Manthey EMA were able to hold onto their lead in the manufacturers’ and teams’ standings. Thanks to twelfth place on Sunday, Marvin Dienst earned his first championship points at his maiden DTM weekend competing for Toksport WRT. Tim Heinemann in the second Toksport WRT 911 GT3 R missed out on the points with P16. Laurin Heinrich (Germany) and Ayhancan Güven (Turkey) also went home empty-handed after the two Team75 Motorsport drivers had to retire early due to damage.
“It was a tough weekend for Porsche and its customer teams,” says Sebastian Golz, Project Manager 911 GT3 R. “The layout of the Lausitzring made it difficult for us. We weren’t able to tap the full potential of our Porsche 911 GT3 R under braking and in the corners because the long straight simply sapped too much power. I feel particularly sorry for Team75 Motorsport and its talented youngsters: They were plagued by bad luck and didn’t earn any points. Manthey EMA did everything possible on Sunday and planted both cars in the top five. Congratulations to Toksport WRT and its newly contracted driver Marvin Dienst. He put in a strong drive and scored vital points.”
Both Manthey EMA drivers netted points on Saturday
All six 911 GT3 R drivers started Saturday’s race from grid positions outside the top 15. In hot summer temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius, the first of the two DTM races was marred by numerous retirements, with ten of the 28-strong field failed to make it to the finish line. Technical problems saw Tim Heinemann and Laurin Heinrich throw in the towel early. Heading into the race from P18 at the wheel of his 911 GT3 R, Dennis Olsen finished twelfth and earned four championship points. Preining started from P16 and was sent through the so-called penalty lane three times after a collision in the early stages. Despite losing a good 15 seconds, he still secured one point for 15th place. Ayhancan Güven and newcomer Marvin Dienst finished 16th and 18th respectively after 44 laps.
Comments on the Lausitzring race weekend
Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA, Porsche 911 GT3 R #91): “We can look back on a challenging and character-building weekend. We’d hoped for more and, in terms of the championship standings, we had to accept a setback on Saturday. In Sunday’s qualifying, we benefitted from a red flag phase and clinched a spot on the third grid row. Fourth place in the race was the most we could achieve. We can be proud of that.”
Ayhancan Güven (Team75 Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R #24): “That was an unlucky weekend for the team. Unfortunately, we didn’t score any points. I got caught up in the chaos at the start of Sunday’s race and made contact with another car. As a result, I couldn’t quite match the pace of the competition. I stayed out on the track for a long time during the mandatory pit stop window and was hoping for a full course yellow which could have put me in the points. When that didn’t happen, there was no point in risking major damage to the car, so I parked my 911 GT3 R.”
Marvin Dienst (Toksport WRT, Porsche 911 GT3 R #99): “All in all, a good first weekend for me with Toksport WRT in the DTM. I was aware that it wouldn’t be easy joining the championship in the middle of the season but I immediately felt very comfortable in the 911 GT3 R and got along well with the team. I still have to learn a bit more to make better use of the Porsche’s strengths. My twelfth place on Sunday shows that we’re on the right track. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming races at the Sachsenring. The track suits the 911 and I like it a lot, so we’re keen to push hard there.”
Results
Results race 9:
1. Jack Aitken (UK), Ferrari 296 GT3 #14, 44 laps
2. Mirko Bortolotti (I), Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2 #92, +2.394 seconds
3. Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #22, +5.272 seconds
12. Dennis Olsen (N), Porsche 911 GT3 R #90, +20.279 seconds
15. Thomas Preining (A), Porsche 911 GT3 R #91, +36.529 seconds
16. Ayhancan Güven (TR), Porsche 911 GT3 R #24, +44.549 seconds
18. Marvin Dienst (D), Porsche 911 GT3 R #99, +48.924 seconds
DNF Tim Heinemann (D), Porsche 911 GT3 R #9, +30 laps
DSQ Laurin Heinrich (D), Porsche 911 GT3 R #75
Results race 10:
1. Mirko Bortolotti (I), Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2 #92, 45 laps
2. Ricardo Feller (CH), Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #7, +0.353 seconds
3. Luca Stolz (D), Mercedes-AMG GT3 #4, +1.542 seconds
4. Thomas Preining (A), Porsche 911 GT3 R #91, +4.012 seconds
5. Dennis Olsen (N), Porsche 911 GT3 R #90, +9.660 seconds
12. Marvin Dienst (D), Porsche 911 GT3 R #99, +27.595 seconds
16. Tim Heinemann (D), Porsche 911 GT3 R #9, +35.171 seconds
DNF Ayhancan Güven (TR), Porsche 911 GT3 R #24, +17 laps
DNF Laurin Heinrich (D), Porsche 911 GT3 R #75, +43 laps
Drivers’ classification after 10 of 16 races:
1. Mirko Bortolotti (I/SSR Performance/Lamborghini), 138 points
2. Thomas Preining (A/Manthey EMA/Porsche), 131 points
3. Ricardo Feller (CH/Team Abt Sportsline/Audi), 119 points
7. Dennis Olsen (N/Manthey EMA/Porsche), 78 points
14. Laurin Heinrich (D/Team75 Motorsport/Porsche), 51 points
15. Tim Heinemann (D/Toksport WRT/Porsche), 48 points
16. Christian Engelhart (D/Toksport WRT/Porsche), 36 points
17. Ayhancan Güven (TR/ Team75 Motorsport/Porsche), 32 points
29. Marvin Dienst (D/Toksport WRT/Porsche), 4 points
Team classification after 10 of 16 races:
1. Manthey EMA (Porsche), 198 points
2. SSR Performance (Lamborghini), 192 points
3. ABT Sportsline (Audi), 177 points
7. Toksport WRT (Porsche), 86 points
9. Team75 Motorsport (Porsche), 82 points
Manufacturers’ classification after 6 of 16 races:
1. Porsche, 271 points
2. Lamborghini, 258 points
3. Mercedes-AMG, 237 points
4. BMW, 219 points
5. Audi, 209 points
6. Ferrari, 129 points
Full results: www.dtm.com/en/results