The Lamborghini‑powered Grasser team has officially lodged an appeal following Mirko Bortolotti’s disqualification in the Oschersleben round, de facto reopening the DTM title battle.
DMSB Confirms Appeal Deadline Compliance
The German motor‑sport authority, DMSB, confirmed that the appeal was filed within the 96‑hour window, cutting off on Monday 5 p.m. The team now has seven days to submit written grounds before a formal hearing can be arranged in Frankfurt.
Championship Standings on the Line
Until the hearing, results stand provisional. If the appeal succeeds, Maro Engel—currently leading the championship by a single point on Thomas Preining—would lose five points. Preining would drop four points, equalising the standings at the top and allowing a driver with two race wins to become the de‑facto champion.
Should Engel’s Oschersleben victory be stripped, the 20‑kg success ballast he carried to the Nürburgring would change to 10 kg; however, the regulation states that ballast adjustments are made from provisional results only if the appeal finalises before the next race.
Mercedes‑AMG’s Potential Protest Questioned
Mercedes‑AMG’s Winward team has been warned that a protest against Engel’s removal would be futile. Sporting director Thomas Jäger pointed out that the rules prevent rivals from contesting a missing ballast after a provisional result.
Regulation Reference and Ballast Rules
Article 26.2 of the Sporting Regulations specifies that if a race result is provisional two hours before the subsequent race, ballast follows that provisional ranking. Further, appeals must adhere to the original ballast allocation, and protests regarding ballast changes post‑provisional results are disallowed.
Implications for the Final Races
The DMSB expects a verdict within four weeks, with a decision needed before the season finale. The outcome will dictate whether a contentious title ceremony at Hockenheim stays on schedule or is postponed for clarity.
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