Knisternde Spannung bei der DTM Hockenheimring powered bei AUDI: Luca Stolz aus dem Mercedes-AMG Team HRT markierte im Freien Training am Freitag mit 1;37,374 Minuten die Tagesbestzeit. Damit setzte der Sechste der Meisterschaftstabelle ein Ausrufezeichen, dass die fünf ausgemachten Favoriten den hartumkämpften Titel keineswegs unter sich ausmachen werden. Schnellster aus dem Favoriten-Quintett war Porsche-Werksfahrer Thomas Preining (KÜS Team Bernhard, 1:37,668), gefolgt vom Tabellenzweiten Lucas Auer im WINWARD-Mercedes-AMG, 1:37,694), gefolgt vom Italiener Mirko Bortolotti im GRT Lamborghini (1:37,704). Bei sonnigem Herbstwetter absolvierten die 27 Weltklasse-Piloten der DTM einen verheißungsvollen Auftakt ins alles entscheidende Rennwochenende auf dem 4,574 Kilometer langen Hockenheimring. Noch nie in der langen Geschichte dieser Traditionsserie hatten vor dem Finale noch zehn Fahrer Chancen auf den Titel. Neben der DTM spulten auch Rennserien DTM Trophy, DTM Classic, BMW M2 Cup und Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux am Freitag ihre Trainingssessions ab, im Falle des BMW M2 Cups sogar das erste Rennen.
Kelvin van der Linde (RSA, ABT Audi) got the weekend underway with the fastest time in first free practice, followed by the two title candiates Thomas Preining and Mirko Bortolotti. Competition was really close: the lap times of the 22 fastest drivers, from van der Linde to Nick Cassidy (NZL) with the AlphaTauri AF Corse Ferrari, were within just one second. In second free practice, Bortolotti was on top for a long time, but in the closing stages, the two Mercedes-AMG drivers Stolz and Auer moved up into first and second place. In the addition of the two practice sessions, Stolz ended up in first place from van der Linde, Preining, Auer and Bortolotti.
After the practice day, Luca Stolz commented: “A really good day for us! In first free practice, we already noticed that the car handled well and we were able to confirm it with a fresh set of tyres in second free practice. On Saturday, we are confident going into the race. I am looking forward to the weekend and I hope that we can make it onto the podium.”
The DTM Trophy talent pool, meanwhile, presents itself with a record field of 24 cars at Hockenheim. The guest drivers were strong right away: Austrian Nicolas Sascha Gruber posted the fastest time of the day with 1m 47.957s with the CV Performance Mercedes-AMG in first free practice already, followed by Vincent Andronco (GER, Allied Racing, Porsche) and teammate Philippe Denes (ITA). Next up were KÜS Team Bernhard Porsche drivers Daniel Gregor (GER) and Ricky Capo (AUS) as the best-placed DTM Trophy regulars. In second free practice, guest driver Josef Knopp (CZE) was fastest with a time of 1m 49.138s with the RTR Projects KTM X-BOW, followed by Edouard Cauhaupé (FRA) und Rodrigo Dias Almeida (MOZ), both with BWT Mücke Mercedes-AMGs.