Thomas Preining secured pole position at Oschersleben with a 1:21.862, reversing the fortunes that left him on the brink of retirement after a harsh Norisring weekend.
Preining Reclaims the Front
Preining’s lap placed him at the top of the grid, a moment he described as a swift return to the front where the Porsche “belongs.” The time was 1:21.862, a clear statement that Porsche can remain competitive when conditions are fair.
Lamborghini’s Surprise Spotting
Luca Engstler’s qualifying time of 1:21.932 rose him to second, eclipsing the Mercedes-AMG pair of Maro Engel and Lucas Auer. Engstler’s placement marks the best start for the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3, even as the team tackles ongoing performance hurdles.
Engel Tightens Championship Gap
Mařo Engel, who slipped into third, noted that the reduced margin to season leader Nicki Thiim has shrunk by one point, leaving an eight‑point differential. Engel credited the current package for that narrowing gap.
Thiim’s Disquiet over BoP
Nicki Thiim finished eighteenth, trailing 0.803 seconds. He voiced frustration with the Balance of Performance, citing the Norisring race and commentary from Preining and Marco Wittmann as leading to a perception he should “quit” to gain a power advantage.
Mittelstand Struggles Continue
BMW’s Marco Wittmann and Kelvin van der Linde occupied thirteenth and fifteenth, respectively, failing to breach the front rows. The Emil Frey squad saw Matteo Cairoli finish eighth, a 0.355‑second gap, while Thierry Vermeulen remained in sixteenth.
Outlook on the Track
With Porsche back on the front line, the next DTM race at Oschersleben will test whether other teams can close the performance deficit or if the Balance of Performance adjustments will continue to shape the midfield battle.
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