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Glock makes DTM comeback, Lamborghini team gets out

Premiere in Imola, comeback from ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock and heat battle expected – the DTM is facing a hot race weekend in Emilia-Romagna, not only because of temperatures above 30 degrees. The legendary Grand Prix circuit is home to Ferrari and Lamborghini, as well as Alessio Deledda and Mirko Bortolotti.
Works driver Bortolotti is dying to claim his first DTM victory and the first triumph for Lamborghini on the 4.909-kilometre racetrack and to push Lausitzring double winner Sheldon van der Linde (BMW) off the top of the standings. And: BMW works driver Timo Glock is returning to the DTM in Italy, where the 40-year-old is contesting the GT championship this season. Glock drove in the series for nine years, achieved five victories and 15 podium places in 146 races. “The new BMW M4 suits me well,” says the Hessian confidently.

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.

The legendary sports car brand is based in Maranello, less than an hour’s drive from Imola, as is Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese in the so-called “Terra de Motori”, in the valley of the supercars. Since 2021, both manufacturers have been taking part in the prestigious brand duel with Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and, since this year, Porsche.

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.

The talent factory DTM Trophy is also at the start with the third and fourth races of the season, as well as the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, the Lotus Cup Europe and the MitJet International Touring Car Series. The premiere of the DTM Classic DRM Cup provides a special highlight. Racing classics from the period of the German Racing Championship (DRM) between 1974 and 1982 are at the start, from the BMW 3.0 CSL, BMW M1 Procar and BMW 2002 to the Porsche 911 and Ford Capri Turbo, Alfa Romeo Gulia and the Opel Monza 3.0 . In German-speaking countries, the races on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast live on ProSieben from 1:00 p.m. CEST (race start: 1:30 p.m.).

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