Rast Wins at Imola, Bortolotti Charges from 16th to 3rd

Rene Rast won the Saturday DTM race at Imola in dominant fashion while Mirko Bortolotti charged from 16th on the grid to a podium finish after a post-qualifying penalty.

Rast started the race from pole position in his No. 33 Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II and fended off a challenge from second-placed Nico Mueller on the opening lap to retain the lead.

From there, the three-time series champion put in a commanding and controlling performance to take his 25th career victory. It is also his first win since returning to the series after a one-year absence last year.

Nico Mueller finished 3.8 seconds down in second place, with Mirko Bortolotti completing the podium from 16th on the grid.

The Italian was hit with a grid penalty after qualifying and started well outside the top ten, but was one of the last drivers to make their mandatory pitstop.

With fresh tires, the No. 63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo went on a remarkable charge, picking off Marco Wittmann on his out lap before overtaking teammate Clemens Schmid for fifth position, aided by a puncture-induced retirement for Ricardo Feller.

From there, Bortolotti passed Kelvin van der Linde to go into fourth place and overtook third-placed Thomas Preining at Piratella with less than two minutes remaining on the clock.

Preining went on to finish fourth, with Van der Linde fifth, Schmid sixth, Wittmann seventh and Sheldon van der Linde eighth.

Dennis Olsen came home in ninth, with Maro Engel completing the top ten.

Feller was one of a significant number of retirements, which also included Lucas Auer, Esteban Muth, Felipe Fraga, Dev Gore and Timo Glock.

Guest starter Glock was the first to retire, dropping out on the opening lap after contact with Mikael Grenier. 

RESULTS: Race 1