The DTM championship contest is about to enter the decisive phase. The Red Bull Ring will be hosting the penultimate event of the 2024 race calendar on the weekend of 27th – 29th September. Last year, Thomas Preining became the first Austrian national to secure the title. This time around, it is the turn of Vienna-based Lamborghini works driver Mirko Bortolotti who is currently hot on the heels of leader Kelvin van der Linde. The two championship contenders are separated by a slender seven-point margin.
Things are about to hot up at Spielberg. What can the fans look forward to?
Mirko Bortolotti: Thrilling racing action, as you would expect from the DTM. This has a lot to do with the many different manufacturers competing against each other. The sheer variety of cars and the high standard of driving are what characterise the DTM. Motorsport fans couldn’t ask for better.
The Red Bull Ring has a reputation for being a technically challenging circuit. What does it take to be really fast here?
Mirko Bortolotti: The track has long straights, so engine power is what really matters. Good deceleration is also essential due to the downhill braking zones. These two factors – engine power and braking performance – are crucial. The setup has to be perfect, which is a real challenge. In the past, things have sometimes gone well for us, other times less so. I’m interested to see what happens this year and where we stand.
At least overtaking is possible at the Red Bull Ring…
Mirko Bortolotti: The key is having a strong car on the straights. It’s impossible to overtake just by braking if you’re not right on the tail of the car in front. This means that the more equal the cars are in terms of acceleration, the more exciting and intense the battles will be.
Has consistency been key to your title challenge this season?
Mirko Bortolotti: We’ll see if it’s enough for the title in the end. The championship is fiercely contested and is often decided by small things or factors that you can’t influence. At the end of the day, it’s all about getting the best out of every session.
Be there in person when Bortolotti reaches for the stars at Spielberg. You can look forward to a great motorsport weekend with thrilling wheel-to-wheel action on a track that tests drivers and cars to the limit.
