Emil Frey Racing’s Matteo Cairoli has become the first multi-time winner of the 2026 DTM, and moved into the drivers’ championship lead, after triumphing in a scorching Race 2 at the Dekra Lausitzring aboard his #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.
Cairoli started race six of the season from second place, behind the #36 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3 Evo of Arjun Maini, aboard which the Indian driver had scored the Mustang’s first DTM pole position in qualifying.
The pair held station in the opening laps, before 30-year-old Cairoli made a quick first pit stop on lap ten. Three laps later, he overtook Maini, who was still on cold Pirelli slicks after a later tyre change. Comtoyou Racing’s Nicki Thiim, Maini’s teammate Finn Wiebelhaus and TGI Team by GRT’s Mirko Bortolotti slotted into positions three to five after the opening round of pit stops.
Cairoli held onto the lead after his second pit stop, but was then forced to fend off the #007 Aston Martin of Thiim, who had climbed into second place and was looking to attack at any opportune moment. The Italian, however, held his nerve, avoided making any mistakes, and went on to claim his second DTM victory and top spot in the table.
“This is one of the best wins of my career!” Cairoli exclaimed.
“Nicki Thiim really made me sweat it out – and it was already hot enough anyway. He put me under unbelievable pressure in the final few laps. My tyres were pretty much dead and the heat was extremely challenging. I really wanted that win, and am overjoyed.”
Thiim came home second, just 0.413 seconds behind the winner, to earn Aston Martin its first podium in the history of the DTM and to complete a strong weekend from the Dane, who was the highest-scorer of the round.
Behind Thiim, Wiebelhaus pulled off an eye-catching overtaking manoeuvre to pass Maini and take third place, with the rookie becoming the first Ford driver to feature in the podium ceremony after an absence of 37 years.
Maini came home fourth, just ahead of the increasingly impressive Bortolotti, who achieved his best result of the season so far aboard the Lamborghini Temerario GT3.
Red Bull Team Abt’s Luca Engstler ended the race in sixth place in another Lamborghini, ahead of the Schubert Motorsport BMW of Kelvin van der Linde. Despite a penalty lap, Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol’s Maro Engel finished eighth, whilst Marco Wittmann crossed the finish line ninth in the second Schubert Motorsport BMW.
The best-placed Porsche driver was Manthey’s Thomas Preining. The Austrian salvaged tenth place, roughly 0.1 seconds ahead of his compatriot, Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf’s Lucas Auer, who now lies second in the drivers’ championship.
After six races, both Auer and Engel sit one point behind Cairoli, with Wittmann six points further back in fourth. Schubert Motorsport heads Emil Frey Racing by four points in the teams’ championship, with Mercedes-AMG holding a comfortable 38-point advantage in the manufacturers’ standings, whilst Wiebelhaus and Comtoyou Racing’s Nicolas Baert are tied at the top of the rookie of the year table.
The 2026 DTM season continues at the Norisring on 2nd to 5th July 2026.
Image courtesy of Gruppe C Photography
