Preining ahead of Grello home event: “a score to settle with the Nürburgring”

• Porsche driver keen to consolidate top form in the Eifel region
• “In the DTM, as a racing driver I can live out my passion”

Munich. The second half of the DTM season gets underway at the Nürburgring from 8th to 10th August – and all eyes are on one particular car. The ‘Grello’ of Porsche factory driver Thomas Preining is a real crowd pleaser in the Eifel region and enjoys cult status. Preining has his sights firmly set on the goal at the home event of his Manthey EMA team, which is located in Meuspath, right next door to the Nordschleife: Attack and take the lead in the DTM table. “I’m really looking forward to the weekend! The whole team is super motivated. It’s also fantastic driving the ‘Grello’ at the Nürburgring and feeling the incredible support from the fans,” said the Austrian.

Preining’s compatriot Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) heads to the fifth event of the season as championship leader. But it is Preining who has momentum on his side: The man born in Linz has bagged an impressive 61 points in the past three races, moved up from ninth in the table into second place, and – trailing Auer by just seven points – has the top spot within his reach. “The DTM is always incredibly close. I think that a group of frontrunners will establish itself at the top in the battle for the title,” predicts Preining, clarifying his role: “I’m confident that we will be part of this group down to the wire and will be driving for the championship at the finale.”

The 27-year-old recently wowed spectators with strong overtaking manoeuvres in his Porsche 911 GT3 R and celebrated his first win of the season at the Norisring. “In the DTM,” emphasised Preining, “as a racing driver I can live out my passion on the track. This is the kind of racing I enjoy the most. Of course, it always depends on what the race organiser allows. But I think that as drivers we have quite a lot of freedom within a regulated framework and a bit of door-to-door contact is OK. That’s what the DTM is all about.”

What stands out in Preining’s season tally is that he has claimed three of his four podiums in the Sunday races – in which there are two mandatory pit stops as of this season. “Naturally, the new race format suits us,” revealed Preining, and he went on to explain: “I think that the more influence the team performance, such as strategy and pit stops, has on the result, the better for us. Our good overall package is a huge strength.”

Preining has recorded seven DTM race wins in his career to date – the plan is to get another top result in the Eifel region. “It’s no secret that we have a score to settle with the Nürburgring,” said Preining, alluding to this year’s ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring. The ‘Grello’ crew was first to cross the finish line but was awarded a time penalty of 1:40 minutes, which saw them classified second in the legendary endurance race. Preining is highly motivated ahead of the DTM event: “I like the Eifel region and of course I want to end up on the top spot of the podium.”