Jordan Pepper’s spectacular type reveals no indicators of slowing down, with the 28-year-old South African taking his maiden DTM victory on the Norisring, one week on from his Spa 24 Hours success.
Pepper dominated the race from pole place together with his Grasser-entered Lamborghini, describing the competition as “the longest 55 minutes of my life”.
Pepper’s victory appeared in danger at just one second within the race, as he misplaced virtually 10 seconds within the pits because of a rear-right tyre drawback, however he had constructed sufficient of a lead throughout the first half to remain forward.
Manthey Porsche driver Thomas Preining was three seconds behind underneath the chequered flag, with Maro Engel making up the rostrum regardless of contact with final yr’s Norisring race winner Nicki Thiim on the opening lap – Thiim spun however Engel escaped sanction with stewards deeming it a racing incident. The Dane completed lifeless final in twentieth.
Nicki Thiim, Staff Abt Sportsline Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
Thierry Vermeulen was fourth forward of Jack Aitken, Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, Arjun Maini, Ricardo Feller and Rene Rast, who made a formidable restoration from seventeenth on the grid.
Issues went much less easily for McLaren racer Timo Glock, who once more reported a lack of energy after the same mishap in qualifying, whereas reigning DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti additionally discovered himself powerless in opposition to the competitors. “They’re destroying me on the market,” he complained to the Abt Lamborghini squad on the radio. Bortolotti had a heated battle with Marco Wittmann, that includes a number of touches, which led to a warning for the BMW driver. Each of them completed outdoors the highest 15.
In the meantime, Aston Martin had trigger to have a good time with Gilles Magnus scoring the model’s first factors of the season in twelfth – his first profession factors in DTM.
Staff-mate Nicolas Baert appeared like he would possibly accumulate an excellent larger haul, ranging from sixth and holding on to tenth till his pitstop, however he locked up on chilly tyres and obtained a penalty lap for rushing within the pitlane. Baert then collided with Luca Engstler at excessive pace, sending the Lamborghini within the boundaries, which he was handed three further penalty laps for. He ended up retiring from the race.
Lastly, HRT Ford driver Fabio Scherer failed to start out the race because of a heavy crash in qualifying, which meant his automobile couldn’t be repaired in time.
Auer has retained the lead of the championship, with Pepper now simply six factors away due to his maiden win. Engel is third within the standings.
The second race of the Norisring spherical will begin at 1:30pm native time on Sunday.
Pictures DTM Norisring
Race consequence
1
J. Pepper TGI Staff Lamborghini by GRT
63
Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2
65
1
25
2
91
Porsche 911 GT3 R
65
3.055
1
20
3
24
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
65
1.077
1
16
4
T. Vermeulen Emil Frey Racing
69
Ferrari 296 GT3
65
1.464
1
13
5
14
Ferrari 296 GT3
65
0.961
1
11
6
22
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
65
13.093
1
10
7
48
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo
65
0.642
1
9
8
36
Ford Mustang GT3
65
0.581
1
8
9
29
Audi R8 LMS Evo II
65
2.159
1
7
10
33
BMW M4 GT3 Evo
65
5.164
1
6
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