Sports · Motorsport · 1 day ago
Preining recovers to fifth after chaotic DTM opening lap
Thomas Preining finished fifth in Saturday’s DTM race at Hockenheim, Germany, after a chaotic opening lap.
The Austrian started third but fell to 14th following several incidents.
He said one rival had deliberately tried to take him out, but he did not name that driver.
Preining said a collision with Thierry Vermeulen was not deliberate and blamed low grip for that incident.
He recovered places with overtaking moves and a strong pit stop.
Before the final race, Preining led the standings by 20 points over Marco Wittmann and 22 over Mercedes driver Maro Engel.
The title will be decided in the final race.
Thomas Preining finished fifth in Saturday’s DTM race at Hockenheim after falling from third to 14th on the opening lap.
The Manthey Porsche driver said several rivals had tried to take him out, but did not name the person he accused of doing so deliberately.
Preining said Thierry Vermeulen hit him at Turn 2, but did not believe Vermeulen acted on purpose.
After the restart, Preining fought back from 11th with overtakes and a 6.6-second pit stop.
He leads Marco Wittmann by 20 points and the Winward Mercedes driver by 22 points ahead of the final race.
- Who
- Thomas Preining, a Manthey Porsche driver.
- What
- He recovered from an opening-lap drop to 14th to finish fifth in a DTM race.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Hockenheim.
- Why
- Preining lost places in opening-lap incidents, then recovered through overtaking and a pit stop.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The start phase was very chaotic; unfortunately a few people tried to take me out
He doesn't do it on purpose
We need a clean race without stupid moves
I tried to hold the Porsche back, but that car is in a different league
Preining dropped from third on the grid to 14th after several incidents.
Preining was initially 11th and began fighting his way back through the field.
Preining finished fifth after a recovery drive and a 6.6-second pit stop.
Preining led Wittmann by 20 points and the Winward Mercedes driver by 22 points.
- Race result
- Fifth place
- Opening-lap drop
- Third on the grid to 14th
- Pit stop
- 6.6 seconds
- Points lead over Wittmann
- 20 points
- Points lead over Winward Mercedes driver
- 22 points
Sources
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