DTM

Preining second in second Spielberg race

Thomas Preining finished on the podium in Spielberg.(Bild: GEPA)

Thomas Preining finished second in his home race in Spielberg on Sunday. Last year's champion was only beaten by three-time champion Rene Rast at the end of the penultimate race weekend in the German Touring Car Masters (DTM).

Mirko Bortolotti from Vienna, who races with an Italian license and had triumphed the day before, extended his championship lead ahead of the season finale in Hockenheim in three weeks' time with fourth place.

Bortolotti 15 points ahead
Lamborghini driver Bortolotti is now 15 points ahead of South African Kelvin van der Linde in the Audi and 20 ahead of German Maro Engel in the Mercedes. Preining is 61 points behind in fifth place and is therefore mathematically unable to repeat his title win from last year. Although the Upper Austrian clinched his third podium finish of the season, the Porsche man lacked power in the duel with BMW driver Rast.

German veteran Rast celebrated the 28th DTM victory of his career, while third place went to India's Arjun Maini in a Mercedes, as on Saturday. Brand colleague Lucas Auer retired shortly before the end after a puncture on the left rear, while his Tyrolean compatriot Clemens Schmid finished 15th in the McLaren, as on the previous day.