Former DTM champion Thomas Preining, who has already gained 3 times on the Norisring, misplaced his cool after ending ninth in Saturday’s DTM race in Nuremberg. It’s “comparatively apparent that this has nothing to do with sport,” the Porsche manufacturing facility driver fumed in regards to the Stability of Efficiency (BoP). “We’re catastrophically shit when it comes to tempo. It is zero enjoyable. The countdown to my trip is on.”
That’s now the main target, as a result of after Sunday’s race, his flight leaves at 7 p.m. “I am wanting ahead to that, as a result of there’s completely nothing constructive right here,” the 27-year-old stated, unable to cover his frustration. The present scenario is jeopardizing his future within the DTM. “I am actually near saying: This is not sensible anymore, I am quitting,” he stated, brazenly discussing a possible retirement.
Sunday’s race seemingly didn’t change these ideas: Though the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo was 30 kilograms lighter in comparison with Saturday’s qualifying, the place Preining completed fifteenth, the highest Porsche driver might handle no higher than eleventh on the grid. Within the race, he completed ninth once more. This doesn’t meet the requirements of the “Grello” driver, who desires to seize his second DTM title.
“You may put the cooks from catering within the different vehicles”
Significantly bitter: On Saturday, Preining had been vaulted from eleventh to fourth place because of his pit cease simply earlier than the horror crash that triggered a Full Course Yellow. Nonetheless, he was defenseless in opposition to his pursuers on the restart and was shuffled again to ninth. “That is simply full bullshit!” he complained over the radio about the truth that his rivals solely wanted 200 meters to finish an overtaking maneuver.
“I attempted to make the Porsche as broad as doable, however ultimately, you possibly can put the cooks from catering within the different vehicles – and they might drive proper previous you,” the Austrian stated sarcastically after the race.
Preining’s determined wrestle: Norisring winner left and not using a prayer in 2026
Foto: ADAC Motorsport
The primary downside is the shortage of straight-line pace. The Porsche landed on the backside of the highest pace rankings on the Norisring day by day: Preining was often lacking round 10 km/h in comparison with the main Ford Mustang vehicles.
“I am the very best overtaker in DTM and I’ve zero overtakes”
That is even though the Porsche was outfitted with the massive 43mm restrictor earlier than the weekend, which is 1.5 millimeters bigger than throughout Preining’s victory on the Norisring final yr. This was compensated for with 30 kilograms of ballast, which was eliminated once more by Sunday by way of two BoP modifications. There are doubts within the paddock as as to if the massive restrictor actually supplies that a lot energy, because the small Porsche boxer engine is already working at its restrict anyway.
Preining agrees. “That brings completely nothing,” he says. “We’re utterly chanceless; we have mainly been nowhere all yr. On the Purple Bull Ring, we had been fortunate that the others had been nonetheless in hibernation and that we understood the tire quicker – in any other case, we solely profit from errors,” Preining explains relating to the disappointing course of the season after his dwelling win on the season opener.
The Norisring straights had been pure poison for the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo this yr
Foto: ADAC Motorsport
He additionally feels he can not make the most of his well-known overtaking power in 2026. “I’ve carried out lots of overtaking in my profession. For my part, I am the very best overtaker within the DTM,” says Preining. “This yr, I’ve zero overtakes up to now. Zero overtaking makes an attempt even, as a result of it is merely hopeless. We’re so distant,” he says, visibly aggravated.
One doable clarification for the highest pace weak point is that the Evo model of the Porsche 911 GT3 R launched this yr generates extra drag than the bottom automobile used till the tip of 2025. The rear wing, for instance, was fitted with a four-millimeter Gurney flap, which supplies extra downforce and fewer prime pace – and was truly meant to widen the set-up window.
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