TYRE MANAGEMENT COULD BE DECISIVE

The 2025 DTM season resumes at the Lausitzring with the second round of a championship that already, after the opening event at Oschersleben at the end of April, made it clear that it’s going to be a very close fight for the title.

Races 3 and 4 of the season will take place on a track known for being tough and fast, much loved by the drivers because of the technical challenges it throws up and the passing opportunities if offers at the turn 1 hairpin and the quick final sector. The 3.478 kilometre layout runs anticlockwise and features 12 corners, of which five are right handers. In 2024, Kelvin van der Linde (Abt Sportsline, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2) won race 1, and Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA, Porsche 911 GT3 R) was the winner of race 2. Fancied to lead the field this year is current championship leader and winner of this year’s opening two races, Jordan Pepper (TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT) as well as Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG GT3) and Porsche driver Ayhancan Güven. Also a contender is reigning champion Mirko Bortolotti (Abt Sportsline), who, in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, was quickest in testing at the Lausitzring.

“As usual in the DTM, everything is in place for a great show,” commented Matteo Braga, Circuit Activity Manager Pirelli. “For this second round, the drivers will be able to fine tune the possible strategies thrown up by the obligation to change tyres twice on Sunday. Lausitzring can be categorised as medium in terms of the demands it puts on the tyres, so careful tyre management over the weekend can prove decisive. As usual, one should keep an eye on the weather which can be changeable and throw up some surprises.”

Drivers will be availing themselves of the new slick P Zero DHG Pirelli and, in case of rain, the Cinturato WHB Pirelli. The main innovation of the new P Zero DHG for cars in all the GT championships where Pirelli is present, concern the materials used, which give greater consistency in terms of car balance over long distances.