Nicki Thiim clinched the front‑row launchpad for Aston Martin in the DTM qualifying at Lausitzring, posting a blistering 1:19.463 that outpaces last year’s benchmark.
Aston Martin’s record‑shattering performance
Thiim’s lap eclipsed Lucas Auer’s 2023 mark, shaving 0.364 seconds off the previous best.
The 28‑year‑old Dane also beat HRT’s Arjun Maini by 0.062 seconds, underscoring the car’s single‑lap swiftness.
Ford Mustang’s front‑row finish
Maini secured the second spot, a testament to the Mustang GT3’s launch capability.
The Indian driver shrugged off 28‑degree heat, noting his routine with similar conditions in earlier seasons.
Mercedes‑AMG trio caps qualifying
Lucas Auer recovered a third‑place start, while Jules Gounon and Maro Engel rounded out a front‑end AMG line‑up.
Auer reflected on a cramped start, yet praised his final run for the right tire peak.
Others falter in the shuffle
Finn Wiebelhaus and Matteo Cairoli touched sixth and seventh seats.
Luca Engstler lapped Eleventh in a Lamborghini, while Porsche’s Thomas Preining and BMW’s Marco Wittmann and Kelvin van der Linde finished near the tail.
Will the Mustang’s tires sustain the race?
Maini’s Mustang thrives on rapid warm‑up but risks overheating during the race.
Enhanced wheel‑arch ventilation may help, yet the rapid degradation still casts doubt on endurance.
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