In Saturday’s DTM race on the Sachsenring, Manthey-Porsche driver Thomas Preining collided within the battle for the lead. In Sunday’s DTM race, he did it once more. After Saturday’s crash, the Austrian known as himself an “fool” however his evaluation of the collision with Jack Aitken on Sunday left him with a really totally different opinion of occasions.
“Jack made a small mistake within the final sector, then I used to be shut and tried it within the first nook,” Preining defined, providing his perspective of how the crash performed out. “I went to the within, with the late braking level, and he is aware of that when you brake late, you’ll be able to’t get out of the transfer anymore.”
The Emil Frey Ferrari driver tried to defend the Austrian’s assault, nevertheless, by transferring to the within. “He merely left me no room on the entry,” criticised Preining, who additionally knew that his rival was inside his rights in that state of affairs. “He does not must, it is his nook,” he added.
“In that case, it could have been smarter, as a result of his race was over anyway and I acquired a penalty that was merely pointless,” recalled an unconvinced Preining, who ultimately solely completed eleventh. “He paid a heavy worth himself.”
“He noticed me, I do know that as a result of he reacted to me,” the 2023 DTM champion added when chatting with ran.de. “Certain, I wasn’t in entrance or utterly alongside, however ultimately, as quickly as I get alongside on the brakes, I am in ABS and may’t get out of the transfer anymore. That has labored tons of of occasions.”
However this didn’t work out on Sunday as his rival hadn’t “left house after they noticed that I could not get out anymore,” the Porsche manufacturing facility driver added.
“I am shocked and disenchanted,” he concluded. “It ought to have been an awesome weekend. I am simply pissed off.”
Thomas Preining, Manthey EMA
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz
Preining finds penalty ‘clearly unfair’
Race director Sven Stoppe, nevertheless, made it clear that Preining was totally at fault for the incident because the Austrian was not alongside Aitken’s automobile and hit him on the rear – not like the day earlier than with Jordan Pepper, when he was on the aspect. Subsequently, as is customary for such offences, he was handed three penalty laps.
Race management selected the penalty early, however intentionally solely introduced it after the security automobile part – because it feared that groups may react and modify their methods throughout this part. However, was the penalty justified?
“There are individuals who receives a commission to find a way and allowed to guage that,” mentioned Preining. “I am not considered one of them. So, I am positively the mistaken individual, and I am additionally not goal sufficient, I feel. However in fact, logically, I discover it unfair.”
To try to resolve the penalty, Preining mentioned he had hoped to talk with Aitken about what transpired on monitor. Nevertheless, the Brit wasn’t and brushed him off as soon as the chequered flag fell.
“I wished to debate it like adults and trade opinions,” the Porsche driver added. “He wasn’t open to it, however what can I do.”
Emil Frey weighs in on “pointless” crash
Emil Frey’s Aitken sees the state of affairs otherwise, nevertheless.
“It felt like Thomas was coming fairly late to vary to the within, which is the transfer that he likes to do, and I used to be making an attempt to defend already,” Aitken mentioned – denying that he had shut the door too late on the Porsche driver. “It felt like he simply hit me from behind.”
Jack Aitken, Emil Frey Racing
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz
“From that time there was not lots I might do, and we had been caught within the gravel,” complained the polesitter, who hoped to increase his championship lead in Sunday’s race.
“So, it is actually a disgrace, as a result of we had good tempo. It’s extremely disappointing. I haven’t got an enormous quantity extra to say about it for now.”
Emil Frey technical director Jurg Flach shared the same view, arguing that Preining was “too far again” to make the transfer efficiently.
“For me, in fact, he was overly optimistic,” mentioned Flach. “For my part pointless. He dangers his race, he dangers our race. He was too far again.”
The Swiss engineer additionally argued the case for his racer’s driving within the construct as much as the incident, and claims that Aitken didn’t want to go away room.
“He does not must, as a result of he was behind,” Flach informed Motorsport.com. “He solely has to go away him room if he is greater than midway alongside. He was nowhere close to that.”
“He wished to achieve a bonus, however they had been quick anyway. I feel it could have been higher to attend, after which make a correct transfer later within the race,” Flach continued. “I imagine he was stronger at this time. I am certain of that.”
Jack Aitken, Emil Frey Racing Ferrari Ferrari 296 GT3
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz
The penalty didn’t match the crime
What’s extra, Emil Frey argued that the penalty that Preining obtained for the contact additionally didn’t go far sufficient.
“Typically there are three penalty laps if somebody simply flippantly touches or nudges one other automobile. Then perhaps he goes a bit off the monitor,” Flach recalled. “And on this case, he utterly took him out of the race. And it is also three penalty laps, and ultimately, he nonetheless will get six factors.”
Because of the crash and the following penalty, Preining crossed the road in eleventh regardless of his motion, whereas Aitken was left with no factors. The consequence signifies that the Brit dropped to second place within the standings – two factors behind chief Lucas Auer.
“Yeah, it is nonetheless tight,” Aitken mentioned. “Crimson Bull Ring was often not our greatest monitor, so we have to try to do a superb effort there. And we see the way it goes in Hockenheim. That is all we will do.”
Aitken summarised after the race on Sunday. With 4 races to go and Aitken nonetheless firmly within the DTM title combat, solely time will inform how pricey the collision with Preining might show to be.
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