Matteo Cairoli: This is why I was desperate to race in the DTM

• Ferrari driver claimed his maiden DTM victory in Zandvoort
• Dekra Lausitzring holds fond memories for Cairoli

Munich. An Italian is stirring things up in the DTM: Matteo Cairoli has wasted little time in establishing himself among the front-runners in his first DTM season. The Ferrari driver from Emil Frey Racing claimed his maiden victory at round two in Zandvoort, and travels to the Dekra Lausitzring (19th to 21st June) as fifth in the championship. Cairoli is keen to back up his successful start to the season in Lusatia. "My desire to win is always great," says the 30-year-old. "I am confident that we can compete at the front of the field again at the Lausitzring. We have done a lot of testing, so we are feeling good."

The first win in Zandvoort represented a milestone in Cairoli's career. "The DTM has been a dream of mine for a long time. In 2013, I saw the DTM for the first time live and said to myself: one day, I want to drive in that," recalls the driver from Como in Northern Italy. After outings on the international stage, including in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, he made the step up to the top
German racing series this year. "For me, the DTM is one of the biggest racing series out there. I particularly like the format, because you don't have to share the car with a team-mate. That has always appealed to me," says Cairoli, who drives a Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.

Motorsport is held in particularly high regard in Italy - and the passion for fast cars has played a role in Cairoli's life since he was a child. "Although Italy has a big motorsport culture, nobody in my family comes from a racing background. I am the first," says Cairoli, recalling how he found his way into the sport. "I was relatively late getting into motorsport when I was a 16-year-old. My first experiences were on the PlayStation. Back then, there were no real racing simulators like we have now." Today, he represents Ferrari - one of the most iconic brands in motorsport - in the DTM. "For a young Italian, it is very special to be driving a Ferrari. That is something I am very proud of." He also likes the striking design in the colours of DTM partner BWT. "The paint job is a real eye-catcher and perfectly suited to the character of the car. However, the main thing is obviously that it is fast."

The next challenge awaits Cairoli at the Lausitzring, although he has fond memories of the circuit in Brandenberg: "I made it onto the podium for the first time in my career in the ATS Formula 3 Cup at the Lausitzring in 2013. That was on the DTM platform, which I also experienced live for the first time." This weekend sees Cairoli return to Lusatia, and the Monaco resident is hungry for more top results.