DTM Zandvoort Race 1: Matteo Cairoli takes maiden win as Lucas Auer takes championship lead

Emil Frey Ferrari driver Matteo Cairoli crowns his excellent weekend on the dune circuit in Zandvoort with a victory: The Italian, who had already set the quickest time in Friday follow and secured pole place on Saturday morning, celebrates his maiden DTM victory within the first race.

“We struggled a bit on the Crimson Bull Ring, and now the automobile was completely improbable to drive,” cheered DTM rookie Matteo Cairoli on ProSieben. “I simply loved each single lap and I can let you know: This provides everybody an actual increase. Me, the workforce, particularly my engineer. I can not thank them sufficient. And tomorrow I’ll strive once more.”

Behind the victorious Ferrari driver, Landgraf Mercedes driver Lucas Auer and native hero in addition to Cairoli’s teammate Thierry Vermeulen (Emil Frey Ferrari) full the rostrum. Bastian Buus (Land Porsche) efficiently defends his fourth place within the closing levels in opposition to the pushing Winward Mercedes driver Jules Gounon.

Ben Dörr (Dörr McLaren) finishes in sixth place, adopted by Maro Engel (Winward Mercedes) and Manthey Porsche driver Thomas Preining. Luca Engstler (Abt Lamborghini) and Nicki Thiim (Comtoyou Aston Martin) full the highest 10 within the first DTM race in Zandvoort.

Matteo Cairoli celebrates his debut victory within the DTM at Zandvoort

Picture: ADAC Motorsport

“I believe there actually wasn’t any extra in it for us,” says Abt Lamborghini driver Engstler on ProSieben. “We began from seventh place, however we did not have the tempo to maintain up with the entrance pack. That is why it turned clear early on that we needed to orient ourselves backwards, cowl the opposite automobiles, and people had been hard-earned factors.”

Timo Glock suffers tire puncture after race begin

How did the beginning of the race unfold? Whereas Cairoli was capable of convert his pole place into the lead with none risk, Auer already pushed previous Vermeulen into second place behind him. At the back of the sphere, minor skirmishes and phone occurred, leading to Timo Glock (Dörr McLaren) struggling a tire puncture.

The ex-System 1 driver, who had solely began the race from twentieth on the grid following a technical defect in qualifying, clashed with Kelvin van der Linde (Schubert BMW) and consequently fell far behind within the early levels. The race management investigated the incident however didn’t concern any penalties.

On the entrance, Cairoli pulled away from Auer by greater than a second inside just some laps. They had been adopted by Thierry Vermeulen, Bastian Buus, and Jules Gounon. Ben Dörr was operating in sixth place forward of Maro Engel and Luca Engstler.

Other than a duel between Mirko Bortolotti and Kelvin van der Linde (Schubert BMW) with a number of gentle touches, together with a complaining Grasser Lamborghini driver on the workforce radio, the race remained largely quiet till the pit cease window opened.

Necessary pit stops deliver no place modifications

On lap 13, Buus and Dörr had been the primary drivers from the main group to return into the pits for his or her necessary tire change. Shortly after, an unsafe launch by the Abt crew triggered a stir: Marco Mapelli touched Bortolotti’s Lamborghini as he drove out.

Within the following laps, different drivers additionally accomplished their stops, with solely Engel and Kelvin van der Linde staying out longer than the competitors. The Mercedes-AMG driver pitted on lap 18, whereas Kelvin van der Linde even waited till lap 24, solely to park his Schubert BMW shortly afterwards.

Total, the pit cease section didn’t deliver any main shifts within the classification, because the positions throughout the prime 8 remained unchanged. Solely Preining managed to make up one place, shifting previous Luca Engstler into ninth place.

On the entrance, there have been no additional modifications: Cairoli managed the race forward of Auer and teammate Vermeulen, whereas Gounon was glued to the bumper of Buus. The Winward AMG driver launched a number of assaults within the closing levels however discovered no well past.

A couple of minutes earlier than the top of the race, Gounon pulled alongside Buus’ Land Porsche within the first nook, who calmly pushed the Frenchman off the observe. Race management investigated this incident as effectively however left it at a warning for the Dane.

Glock and Van der Linde retire early

Timo Glock parked his Dörr McLaren within the pits shortly after the midway mark of the race. “The throttle pedal dropped to the ground,” the 44-year-old defined on ProSieben. Nevertheless, this had nothing to do with the collision in the beginning. “Kelvin van der Linde moved over and his rear wheel hit my entrance wheel, which broken the rim.”

Moreover Glock and van der Linde, Tom Kalender (Landgraf Mercedes) additionally didn’t see the checkered flag on Saturday. His teammate Lucas Auer takes over the lead within the general standings from Maro Engel together with his second-place end. Matteo Cairoli strikes as much as third general due to his maiden DTM victory.

The second DTM race in Zandvoort begins on Sunday (Might 24) at 1:30 pm. The beginning grid might be decided beforehand in one other qualifying session, which begins at 9:40 am on the dune circuit on the Dutch North Coastline.

DTM Zandvoort – Race 1 outcomes

14

Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo
0

22

Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
0

T. Vermeulen Emil Frey Racing

69

Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo
0

B. Buus Land-Motorsport

29

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2)
0

48

Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
0

B. Dörr Dörr Motorsport

25

McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
0

80

Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
0

91

Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2)
0