SSR Performance’s Mirko Bortolotti now leads the 2023 DTM Championship standings after converting his pole position for Race 2 into a victory at the Lausitzring .
It was a convincing performance from the Italian Lamborghini factory driver, who held off the hard-charging Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO of Ricardo Feller throughout en route to his second win this season. Remarkably, he became the first driver to win twice this term, after nine different drivers won the previous nine races.
“That was one of the most intense races I have ever driven in my career,” Bortolotti said. “Ricardo Feller put the pressure on until the last lap. I knew that if I made the slightest mistake, he would find a gap.
“The win means we’re going home as leaders. We’re on the right track and we have to keep going.”
Feller finished second, just 0.353 seconds behind. Luca Stolz meanwhile, after a strong second half to the race, set the fastest lap (1:21.174) and secured third place in his Team HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3. It was his second podium of the season.
After the start of the encounter, it looked as though Bortolotti would go uncontested after he successfulled pulled away from the field in the opening laps, ahead Feller and Lamborghini drivers Clemens Schmid and Franck Perera who sat third and fourth. Thomas Preining from Team Manthey EMA held onto fifth.
On the 18th lap, the race produced its first dramatic moment. Perera missed his braking point and crashed into Schmid, forcing both into retirement.
Later in the race Feller began to close in on Bortolotti after the mandatory pit stops. Behind Stolz claimed third after a bold overtake on Preining, but was unable to catch up with the leading duo before the end.
Up front, Bortolotti and Feller were locked in a battle in the closing laps but Feller couldn’t find a way past Bortolotti’s Huracan GT3 EVO2.
“The duel with Mirko Bortolotti was unbelievable,” said Feller. “In the infield I was able to get close again and again, but unfortunately there was no chance on the straight. Of course I would have liked to win, but Mirko just didn’t make any mistakes.
“It’s extremely close in the overall standings, so I’m happy about the points for second place.”
With the win, the 33-year-old has opened up a seven-point lead over the previous overall leader Preining, who finished fourth behind Stolz. Preining’s teammate Dennis Olsen meanwhile, made it Porsche 911 GT3 Rs in the top five.
Lucas Auer in sixth place in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 again collected important championship points. Emil Frey Ferrari driver Jack Aitken, who won Race 1 yesterday, had to settle for seventh place. Kelvin van der Linde made up five places during the race and finished eighth in his Audi R8.
Next up on the DTM schedule is the trip to the Sachsenring on September 8th to 10th.
Image courtesy of ADAC/Gruppe C
