Timo Glock is celebrating his DTM comeback at Imola.
With his guest start, Glock is writing a piece of history, because with his team Ceccato Racing he is bringing a DTM legend back to the paddock: Roberto Ravaglia, DTM champion of 1989. The Italian achieved six victories between 1988 and 1992. “I have a special relationship with the DTM,” emphasizes Ceccato team manager Ravaglia, who played a key role in shaping the BMW M3 era. Matching the 50th anniversary of BMW M, Glock is starting with the number 50. The Italian manufacturer Ferrari is celebrating another anniversary this year – its 75th anniversary.
Ferrari celebrated four DTM victories in 2021 and was runner-up with Liam Lawson (NZL), Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse also team champion. In contrast, Lamborghini is still waiting for its first victory in the traditional series. Mirko Bortolotti – his brand colleague Alessio Deledda is the second Italian in the field – would like to achieve that with home advantage.
Bortolotti is second in the standings with 51 points and wants to take the lead from Sheldon van der Linde, who has scored 66 points so far with the Schubert BMW, at his home race. Third in the table is the Austrian Lucas Auer (48 points) in the WINWARD Mercedes-AMG ahead of the Swiss Nico Müller (38 points) in the Rosberg Audi. Because the Dresden Lamborghini team T3 Motorsport with Nicki Thiim (DEN) and Esmee Hawkey (GBR) canceled their participation in Italy at short notice, 28 world-class drivers are taking up the challenge in the heat of Emilia-Romagna.
T3Motorsport does not compete in Imola.
“We were informed at short notice that both DTM vehicles and both DTM Trophy vehicles will not start in Imola,” says DTM Manager Frederic Elsner. “. We cannot and will not comment on the background, as this is a matter for the team, manufacturer and drivers. In principle, however, there are existing contracts in which it is clearly regulated what the consequence of non-attendance is.”
Stefan Jugel, shareholder of T3Motorsport, explains: “The developments of the last few weeks have prompted us to reassess the relationships with our partners. We have come to the conclusion that participation in Imola is not serious and cannot be managed in accordance with our sporting standards. Therefore, with all the consequences, we have decided to cancel participation in Imola for all series.
