Franck Perera steered his SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 to victory from pole this afternoon in the opening race of the 2023 DTM season at Oschersleben. The result was a historic one, the former Formula 1 test driver scoring Lamborghini its first ever DTM win, and in fine style, controlling race from start to […]
The post Perera Scores Maiden Lamborghini DTM Win first appeared on dailysportscar.com.Franck Perera steered his SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 to victory from pole this afternoon in the opening race of the 2023 DTM season at Oschersleben.
The result was a historic one, the former Formula 1 test driver scoring Lamborghini its first ever DTM win, and in fine style, controlling race from start to finish.
“This win really means a lot to me. I have had some ups and downs in my career, but I knew that I still had plenty in the tank. The season still has a long way to go but I will enjoy this success and have a beer tonight,” explained the Lamborghini works driver.
Behind, 2022 DTM Trophy winner Tim Heinemann finished second in his Toksport WRT Porsche 911 GT3 R, ahead of British driver Jack Aitken who claimed the third spot on the podium in on his DTM debut with Emil Frey Racing.
At the start pole-setter Perera held the lead, while his team-mate Mirko Bortolotti moved up to second, while Swiss driver Ricardo Feller moved from fifth to third in his Abt Sportline Audi R8. Aitken and Heinemann, who made up two positions in his Porsche 911 GT3 R, completed the top five.
As the race continued, Perera extended his lead to seven seconds and remained in a commanding position even after making a late mandatory pit stop on lap 26. The second portion of the race saw him cruise to victory, crossing the finishing line around four seconds ahead of Heinemann, who benefited from an early tyre change on lap 23 and moved up the order.
Aitken had switched his Pirelli tyres even earlier in his Emil Frey Ferrari 296, a tactic that secured him third place.
Just before the end, Feller went past René Rast (Schubert Motorsport) into fourth position. Three-time DTM champion Rast claimed the final top-five spot in his BMW M4 GT3.
Kelvin van der Linde moved up from tenth on the grid to finish sixth in his Abt Audi, crossing the line ahead of Porsche driver Laurin Heinrich from Team75 Motorsport who claimed seventh.
Bortolotti meanwhile, fell down the order to eighth by the end, his decision to pit very late costing him precious time and track position. Christian Engelhart (Toksport WRT) and Dennis Olsen (N/Manthey EMA), finished in ninth and tenth positions.
The second race will take place on Sunday at 13:30, after Qualifying 2 at 09:35 local time.
Image courtesy of DTM
The post Perera Scores Maiden Lamborghini DTM Win first appeared on dailysportscar.com.