Bortolotti Leads Opening Oschersleben Practice

Mirko Bortolotti set the fastest time in the first Free Practice session for DTM’s season opener at Oschersleben, with the top ten cars covered by just over three-tenths of a second.

Bortolotti steered the No. 92 SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 to a best time of 1:22.376, setting the lap roughly halfway through the 45-minute session on Friday afternoon.

He dropped the No. 27 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of David Schumacher to second place in the process by just 0.036 seconds.

The Mercedes-AMG Team Winward driver ended the session in second position, with Lucas Auer third in the sister car.

Maro Engel ensured the presence of four Mercedes-AMG entries when the Team Landgraf driver took fourth position with a late flyer while Kelvin van der Linde completed the top five aboard the No. 3 ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo.

Tim Heinemann and Ricardo Feller took sixth and seventh for Toksport WRT and ABT Sportsline, respectively.

Reigning champion Sheldon van der Linde was the quickest BMW driver in eighth place, with series newcomer Jack Aitken ninth aboard the No. 14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3

Mattia Drudi rounded out the top ten aboard the No. 40 Tresor Orange 1 Audi, just 0.331 seconds down on compatriot Bortolotti in first place.

The second Free Practice session at Oschersleben takes place at 4:35 p.m. CEST (10:35 a.m. ET).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1