DTM Test at the Sachsenring: Fastest time for Thomas Preining (Porsche)

Three weeks before the seventh DTM race weekend at the Sachsenring, the ADAC organised an official test on the Berg-und-Talbahn circuit near Chemnitz. Eighteen DTM cars took part in the test; alongside Marco Mapelli, Timo Glock – due to his commitments to Sky’s Formula 1 coverage – and Finn Wiebelhaus – as he was competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Virginia International Raceway at the same time – did not take part in the test.

Thomas Preining set the fastest time of the test day in the Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. In the morning session, he completed a lap of the technically demanding circuit in 1:17.827 minutes, setting the fastest lap time of the test. This made the Austrian, who has always performed well at the Sachsenring in the past, the only driver to break the 1:18-minute barrier.

Ricardo Feller followed in second place in the second Manthey Porsche. The Swiss driver was 0.258 seconds behind Preining.

Ben Dörr rounded off the top three in the Dörr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3. Last year, Dörr finished in the top three for the first time in a DTM race at the Sachsenring circuit, before subsequently being disqualified.

Following his serious injuries after the horrific crash at the Norisring, Maximilian Paul made his comeback at the test in the Grasser Racing Team’s Lamborghini Temerario GT3. The Dresden-based driver finished the test in 17th place.

DTM Sachsenring test results:

1. Thomas Preining – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R

2. Ricardo Feller – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R

3. Ben Dörr – Dörr Motorsport – McLaren 720S GT3

4. Maro Engel – WINWARD Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

5. Nicki Thiim – Comtoyou Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT3

6. Jules Gounon – WINWARD Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

7. Marco Wittmann – Schubert Motorsport – BMW M4 GT3

8. Lucas Auer – Landgraf Motorsport – Mercedes-AMG GT3

9. Mirko Bortolotti – Grasser Racing Team – Lamborghini Temerario GT3

10. Bastian Buus – Land-Motorsport – Porsche 911 GT3 R

11. Kelvin van der Linde – Schubert Motorsport – BMW M4 GT3

12. Matteo Cairoli – Emil Frey Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3

13. Tom Kalender – Landgraf Motorsport – Mercedes-AMG GT3

14. Luca Engstler – ABT Sportsline – Lamborghini Temerario GT3

15. Thierry Vermeulen – Emil Frey Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3

16. Arjun Maini – Haupt Racing Team – Ford Mustang GT3

17. Maximilian Paul – Grasser Racing Team – Lamborghini Temerario GT3

18. Nicolas Baert – Comtoyou Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT3