Real motorsport fans are tough cookies – that much was proven by the thousands of DTM fans who descended on the Red Bull Ring today despite the bad weather. They were rewarded with the first home victory at Spielberg from an Austrian driver by Thomas Preining. The changeable conditions added extra spice to a DTM showdown that had already sent pulses racing. The result was an incredibly exciting race with a fascinating battle of tyre strategies and a delighted Austrian as the winner.
“I already knew before the start that it would be a good race, but I wouldn’t have thought that it would go so well so quickly. At the start, I saw almost nothing due to the rain. When the visibility improved, I started overtaking. To win in the DTM is a great honour, and a home victory of course makes it even sweeter,” said Preininger. He competed this weekend with a helmet design in memory of Walter Lechner and said: “The helmet design seems to have brought me luck.” Second and third place went to Luca Stolz and Maro Engel.
Celebrities mixed with the fans
Despite the rain, fans had the opportunity to see the drivers and cars up close with the pitwalk. Mirko Bortolotti & Co took plenty of time to sign autographs and pose for selfies with the fans – as a small thank you for the fact they braved the wet and cold in the stands to keep the atmosphere buoyant. Red Bull motorsport head Dr. Helmut Marko and Jorge Lorenzo also mingled with the fans.
As on the previous day, the three-time MotoGP champion handed over the Bull trophies to the winners. The taxi rides with Marcel Hirscher and the rotorwings air show fell victim to the weather, unfortunately. The Austrian ski legend instead spent time in the DTM paddock. Anyone in the right place at the right time was able to chat with Hirscher and take photos.
Now it's your turn
Has racing fever infected you at the DTM? Then our driving and riding experiences are just what you need! Whether you are hurtling across the race track with a KTM X-Bow, conquering Area 24 with the trail bike or roaming the terrain with an off-road buggy – everything is possible with us when it comes to petrol, acceleration and adrenaline.
