Aitken Secures First DTM Win in Lausitzring Saturday Race

Jack Aitken held off a challenge from Mirko Bortolotti to convert pole position into his maiden DTM victory during the Saturday race at the Lausitzring.

The No. 14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 crossed the line with a margin of 2.394 seconds over Bortolotti’s No. 92 SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

It marked Aitken’s first victory in the series, while he also became the ninth different winner from nine races so far this season.

After starting from pole position, Aitken held the lead during an opening lap that was quickly interrupted when contact between Thomas Preining, Franck Perera and Luca Engstler resulted in a safety car.

Perera and Engstler both retired from the race, while race control deemed Preining at fault for the incident.

As a result, the championship leader was ordered to take three trips through the penalty zone, dropping him to last.

Out front, Aitken retained his advantage over Bortolotti into the mandatory pitstop window, pitting one lap before the Lamborghini driver.

Bortolotti briefly emerged ahead on track on the overcut before the No. 14 Ferrari retook the lead, after which Aitken kept the Italian at bay for the remainder of the race.

Kelvin van der Linde completed the podium aboard the No. 3 ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, having overtaken Lucas Auer for third place during the Austrian’s out lap.

The South African briefly challenged Bortolotti for second place, with the two drivers making contact in the braking zone for Turn 10.

Auer finished fourth ahead of Sheldon van der Linde, Luca Stolz and Ricardo Feller.

Rene Rast took the No. 33 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 over the line in eighth position, leading home the second Emil Frey Racing Ferrari of Thierry Vermeulen in ninth.

Marco Wittmann completed the top ten for Team Project 1, with Clemens Schmid eleventh and Dennis Olsen twelfth.

The Team Landgraf pairing of Maro Engel and Jusuf Owega finished ahead of Preining, who took the final point aboard the No. 91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R after recovering from last place.

RESULTS: Race 1