Thomas Preining enjoyed a dream start to the 2026 DTM season by winning the opening race at the Red Bull Ring. The Porsche driver came out on top after 38 intense laps, securing his ninth victory in the series and repeating his success at home, in front of an enthusiastic crowd that witnessed an Austrian one-two, with Lucas Auer finishing second.
"I could not be happier. As a racing driver, you dream of moments like this! To win in front of my family and many friends feels absolutely awesome. It was a very challenging race, with some very fast competition from Mercedes-AMG. Lucas Auer really put me under pressure at the end, so I was pretty relieved to cross the finish line", said Preining, who was also voted Driver of the Day by the fans.
Strategy proves decisive in battle for victory
The race started with intense action, as Maro Engel defended his pole position in the opening laps. However, Preining quickly became a central figure by overtaking Auer and moving into direct contention for the lead. Behind them, Jules Gounon climbed to fourth, while Ben Dörr’s race came to an early end after contact sent him into the barriers.
The key moment came during the pit stops. Preining and Gounon opted for an early tyre change, switching to new Pirelli slicks. Engel pitted later but lost valuable time due to issues during the stop, allowing Preining to take control of the race. Auer also benefited from strategy and gained positions, putting himself firmly in the fight for the podium.
Final laps under pressure and full control
The closing stages added even more drama. Gounon’s retirement due to technical issues and the deployment of the safety car brought Auer right onto Preining’s tail. Despite the pressure, the Porsche driver remained composed and controlled the gap, never allowing his compatriot a real chance to attack.
The race ended under safety car conditions following another retirement, this time for Kelvin van der Linde, sealing a controlled victory for Preining. Behind him, Auer secured second place, while Maro Engel completed the podium. Tom Kalender was another standout performer, climbing from tenth on the grid to finish fourth.
Further down the order, Marco Wittmann was the top BMW driver in fifth, followed by Timo Glock, who placed the McLaren in sixth. Arjun Maini impressed by gaining nine positions to finish seventh, while Matteo Cairoli brought the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo home in eighth. Ricardo Feller and Nicki Thiim rounded out the top ten.
"We prepared meticulously for the opener, and second place is the reward for that hard work. In the closing stages, I was hoping for a mistake from Thomas Preining, but second place at my home event is also a top result. Ahead of the race on Sunday, we must analyse what strategy is best with the new tyre", said Auer.
"Up until the pit stop, it was a perfect day for us. When you have led so well for so long, third place feels disappointing. The crew in the garage has always done a superb job in the past, so I have no criticism of the team at all. We have a strong package and will push hard again on Sunday", added Engel.
