Mirko Bortolotti on the close title race: “There are no guarantees in the DTM”

• Lamborghini driver from SSR Performance trails Kelvin van der Linde by just seven points
• Bortolotti looking to return to the top of the DTM table: “We travel to the Sachsenring in excellently prepared”

Munich. Four podiums, the championship lead for a time, and now just seven points off the top of the table: Lamborghini works driver Mirko Bortolotti is right in the thick of the DTM title race. A situation, with which the Italian from SSR Performance is very familiar. “This is the third year in a row that I have consistently been challenging at the front,” says Bortolotti. He is hoping that this season will finally be the one that delivers the DTM crown. The next round of the title race takes place at the Sachsenring from 6th to 8th September. Bortolotti has fond memories of the iconic circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal – last season, the 34-year-old claimed one of his three victories there. This year, his sights are set on reclaiming the championship lead from Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Abt Sportsline).

Currently second in the table, Bortolotti can look back positively on the season so far. “It means a lot to me that I am competing at the front of the DTM again this year, and able to go toe to toe with the best at the highest level,” says Bortolotti. The fact that he has yet to win a DTM race this season is not something that bothers him greatly. “In the end, it is the points that count. How you score them is pretty irrelevant. Last year, I had more race wins than anyone else,” Bortolotti continues, referring to his impressive record in 2023, when he narrowly missed out on the DTM title after a close battle for the title with Porsche works driver Thomas Preining (A/Manthey EMA).

Bortolotti has shown that he has the speed to be out in front this year, particularly in qualifying. As well as his pole position in Oschersleben, he has landed his Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 on the front row of the grid on a further four occasions. That puts the Vienna resident right on course for the title, against the clock at least – his 13 points in qualifying is more than anyone else has scored. This quality prove to be particularly important at the Sachsenring. “It is very hard to overtake in the race,” says Bortolotti of the winding track with large changes in elevation and blind crests. “You need a virtually perfect lap for pole position. It is not going to be easy to get everything spot on in qualifying.”

Bortolotti knows from last season how to win at the Sachsenring. Back then, the Lamborghini figurehead led from start to finish to take victory. “Last year went well, but there are no guarantees in the DTM. You can be strong one day, and suddenly find yourself in no man’s land shortly after,” says Bortolotti. Despite that, he is confident ahead of the race weekend in Saxony: “We are performing at a high level, fully focussed, and travel to the Sachsenring excellently prepared. There are obviously always a few things to improve. However, if I reveal them, I would be telling the opposition my possible weaknesses.” Bortolotti prefers to do his talking on the track. Next up, the Sachsenring!

Tickets for the DTM weekend at the Sachsenring start at € 39 and are available online at dtm.com. Admission is free for under 16s when accompanied by an adult.