Bortolotti Scores Lamborghini Temerario GT3’s First Victory

Mirko Bortolotti claimed the Lamborghini Temerario GT3’s maiden global victory in the second DTM race at Oschersleben last weekend while a pair of podiums have catapulted Maro Engel back into the points lead.

It had been a tricky start to the new Lamborghini’s debut campaign with the Temerario languishing towards the rear of the field in multiple categories.

But the car had continually been edging closer to the front and Grasser Racing Team driver Bortolotti was able to use an excellent strategy to take the landmark win at Oschersleben, his first success in the series for almost two years.

Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo pilot Thomas Preining started the race from pole and fended off an attack from Luca Engstler at the wheel of another ABT-run Temerario through the first corners.

Preining continued to lead up to and beyond the opening round of stops, when Bortolotti was the last to pit and was able to vault up the order into second place.

The top-five of Preining, Bortolotti, Engel (who had also made significant gains during the first stops), Engstler and Arjun Maini’s HRT Ford Mustang GT3 EVO all entered the pits together for their second pit visit.

But a slow stop for Preining enabled Bortolotti and Engel to jump the Porsche and the Lamborghini driver was able to maintain the lead to the flag.

Engel’s Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo was second, while Preining just held off Marco Wittmann’s Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO for the final podium spot.

Wittmann had been battling illness and retired from the opener with a puncture, but was able to jump Engstler and Maini on their out-laps to seal fourth.

Preining had also taken pole for the first race of the weekend but was able to convert that front-row start into a second victory of the season as he was largely untroubled throughout.

Engel passed Engstler on the inside of the first corner to move into second but their places were later reversed after a slow stop for the Mercedes-AMG driver.

Nevertheless, Engel ended the weekend with a 21-point advantage at the head of the standings, while Landgraf Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer, Bortolotti and Maini completed the top-six.

Further back, it was a tricky weekend for Comtoyou Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo racer Nicki Thiim, who claimed a double win last time out at the Norisring to move into the championship lead.

But he could only finish 12th and 13th at Oschersleben to fall to second in the table, and only one point ahead of Auer.

The next round of the DTM is due to be held at the Nürburgring on Aug. 15-16.