DTM Lausitzring: Everyone hunting down Lamborghini driver Engstler

• Luca Engstler starts as championship leader at the Dekra Lausitzring
• Defending champion Preining must deliver after mediocre start to season
• Sunshine Live After Race Party and public football viewing on Saturday

Munich. Everyone has their sights set on Luca Engstler (Kempten): The pressure will be on Engstler, the surprise package of the season so far, when the DTM travels to the Dekra Lausitzring (24th to 26th May) for its second race weekend. The Lamborghini driver won the season-opener in Oschersleben at the wheel of a Huracán GT3 Evo2, and comes into the second race weekend as the championship leader. Ahead of the second of this season’s eight rounds, one thing is already apparent: any driver in this strong field is capable of challenging for victory. As such, unpredictable racing and surprise results are to be expected again at the Lausitzring. TV partner ProSieben will show the Saturday race later than expected, with live coverage starting at 16:30. On Sunday, the programme begins at the usual time of 13:00. The late race start on Saturday ensures fans will be royally entertained at the Lausitzring: after the race, the Fan Zone is the place to be for the Sunshine Live After Race Party, before the entertainment continues with a public viewing of the DFB Cup Final.

Key facts, Dekra Lausitzring, Schipkau, races 3 and 4 of 16

• Length: 3,478 metres
• Layout: twelve corners (five right, seven left), anti-clockwise
• 2023 winner, race 1: Jack Aitken (Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3)
• 2023 winner, race 2: Mirko Bortolotti (SSR Performance, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2)

Engstler confident, defending champion Preining must up his game
Engstler claimed his maiden DTM victory in Oschersleben, under the watchful eye of his father and former DTM driver Franz. In doing so, he already achieved his personal goal for the season. “I wanted to win a DTM race this year. Maybe I need to rethink my goals. However, the championship lead is only a snapshot. I am taking it one race at a time. I want to consistently improve my understanding of the Lamborghini and to score points at the Lausitzring and the other venues,” says the championship leader. Fellow Oschersleben winner Aitken lies second in the table and travels to the Lausitzring with grand ambitions. Last year, the former Formula 1 driver claimed his first DTM victory there, and a similar performance this time around would cement his position at the top end of the championship. Mirko Bortolotti (I) also has fond memories of the track in Lower Lusatia, where the Lamborghini driver won one of last year’s most exciting races, crossing the finish line just ahead of Audi ace Ricardo Feller (CH).

After a mediocre start to the season, defending champion Thomas Preining (A) finds himself under pressure. The Porsche works driver did manage to cut his losses with nine points in the first two races, but must improve considerably – particularly in qualifying – if he is to avoid losing touch with the front-runners early on in the season.

The circuit
With twelve corners and few straights, the Lausitzring is technically very demanding and driven anti-clockwise. Good traction is important at the winding circuit, in order for the 600-hp cars to be able to accelerate at full pace out of the narrow sections. The bumps are another characteristic of the 3.478-kilometre strip of asphalt in Lower Lusatia. Here too, the car set-up must be perfect, in order to avoid the excessive bouncing. Spectators get great views of all the action around the entire circuit and in the pit lane from the imposing main grandstand.

Local favourite
Maximilian Paul (Dresden) is the driver with the shortest journey to the second race weekend of the season. The 24-year-old and his team Paul Motorsport come from Dresden, roughly 60 kilometres from the Lausitzring, making the home outing particularly special for the Lamborghini driver. “I raced in the DTM at the Lausitzring last year, but to start as a regular driver with my own racing team this time is something else. There will be plenty going in the garage, as we are expecting a lot of sponsors and supporters. That gives you extra motivation, plus we know our home circuit well. The Lausitzring is quite a slow track with a lot of bumps, which makes the way the car handles crucial. As always, we will be going flat-out,” promises the local favourite.

Race action, Track Safari and After Race Party
Motorsport fans are in for a real treat at the DTM event at the Lausitzring: as well as the two DTM races, the support series – ADAC GT4 Germany and the Prototype Cup Germany – will also put on a great show. Nostalgic moments come courtesy of the ADAC Historic Cup Ost, with vintage touring cars and Formula race cars. The DTM Track Safari guarantees a special spectacle, giving fans a totally new perspective of the Lausitzring and the DTM. In a separate session on Friday afternoon, buses will carry the lucky fans around the circuit, while the powerful race cars roar past them. DTM fans should also keep Saturday evening free: from 18:00, the DTM Fan Zone will be transformed into a stage for the After Race Party from Sunshine Live. Visitors in the Fan Zone can then look forward to a public viewing of the DFB Cup Final. Tickets for the race weekend at the Lausitzring and the Track Safari are available online at dtm.com.