Hot Lusatia, ice cold Matteo Cairoli: Italian tops the DTM table after win number two

• Nicki Thiim claims first DTM podium for Aston Martin
• Finn Wiebelhaus earns Ford its first podium for 37 years
• 58,000 visitors enjoy a festival of motorsport with the DTM in Lusatia

Klettwitz. Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing) is the first driver to win two races in the current DTM season and, after six races, now leads the championship. The Italian kept a cool head in Sunday's race at a scorching Dekra Lausitzring, and took the chequered flag in his Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo after 42 laps of racing. "This is one of the best wins of my career! Nicki Thiim really made me sweat it out - and it was already hot enough anyway. He put me under unbelievable pressure in the final few laps. My tyres were pretty much dead and the heat was extremely challenging. I really wanted that win, and am overjoyed," said Cairoli. Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing) came home second, just 0.413 seconds behind the winner, to earn Aston Martin its first podium in the history of the DTM. After an absence of 37 years, the presentation ceremony finally featured a Ford driver again: Finn Wiebelhaus (Obertshausen/HRT Ford Racing) finished third in only his sixth DTM race to claim the first podium in the series for the Ford Mustang GT3.

Key facts, Dekra Lausitzring, Klettwitz, race 6 of 16

• Circuit length: 3,478 metres
• Weather: 32 degrees, sunny
• Pole position: Arjun Maini (HRT Ford Racing, Ford Mustang GT3 #36), 1:19.750 minutes
• Winner: Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo #14)
• Fastest lap: Arjun Maini (HRT Ford Racing, Ford Mustang GT3 #36), 1:20.423 minutes

Cairoli started race six of the DTM season at the Lausitzring from second place on Sunday afternoon, and was a good second behind the Ford of pole-sitter Arjun Maini (IND/HRT Ford Racing) by the time he came in for his first mandatory pit stop. The front two were followed in third place by Thiim, ahead of Wiebelhaus. 30-year-old Cairoli made a quick pit stop on lap ten. Three laps later, he overtook Maini, who was still on cold Pirelli slicks after a later tyre change. Thiim, Wiebelhaus and Mirko Bortolotti (I/TGI Team by GRT) in a Lamborghini slotted into positions three to five.

Cairoli held onto the lead after his second pit stop, but was then forced to fend off Thiim, who had climbed into second place and was looking to attack at any opportune moment. The racing driver who grew up in Como, Italy, held his nerve, avoided making any mistakes, and went on to claim his second DTM victory and top spot in the table. Behind Thiim, Wiebelhaus pulled off an eye-catching overtaking manoeuvre to pass Maini and take third place. The Indian came home fourth, just ahead of the increasingly impressive Bortolotti, who achieved his best result of the season so far.

Luca Engstler (Kempten/Red Bull Team Abt) ended the Sunday race in sixth place in another Lamborghini Temerario GT3. Seventh place went to Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Schubert Motorsport) in a BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Despite a penalty lap, Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol) finished eighth and is now third in the championship. Marco Wittmann (Fürth) crossed the finish line ninth in the second Schubert Motorsport BMW. The best-placed Porsche driver was Thomas Preining (Manthey). The Austrian salvaged tenth place, roughly 0.1 seconds ahead of his compatriot Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), who now lies second in the Drivers' Championship.

Nicki Thiim: "What a rollercoaster of a weekend! First the pole position on Saturday morning, then I was unlucky to miss out on the win, and now second place in the heat. The race was great fun, particularly the battles with Matteo Cairoli and Arjun Maini."

Finn Wiebelhaus: "The podium is a childhood dream come true. I only started out in motorsport in 2020, and have made it from karting to the DTM within six years. That is something I am incredibly proud of. My team-mate Arjun Maini and I had an intense battle, with some light contact, but it was fair at all times."

Result of race 6 of the season at the Dekra Lausitzring
1. Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing)
2. Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing), +0.413 seconds
3. Finn Wiebelhaus (D/HRT Ford Racing), +5.392 seconds
4. Arjun Maini (IND/HRT Ford Racing), +8.118 seconds
5. Mirko Bortolotti (I/TGI Team by GRT), +8.607 seconds

The full result is available at dtm.com/en/results.