Luca Engstler left the Nürburgring frustrated despite securing another points finish for Lamborghini in a chaotic second DTM race of the weekend.
Marco Wittmann eventually claimed victory after a race shaped by incidents, penalties and contrasting tyre strategies. Engstler remained in the mix as the order changed throughout the 39-lap contest, but the Red Bull Team ABT driver ultimately crossed the line in sixth, one position behind fellow Lamborghini driver Mirko Bortolotti.
The closing stages proved particularly significant as Tom Kalender used fresher tyres to charge through the field on his way to second, while several drivers on different strategies lost ground. Engstler believed another podium result had been within reach but felt the pit stop and the way the tyre regulations shaped Sunday’s race prevented him from converting that opportunity.
At the Nürburgring, teams received three sets of new tyres across qualifying and the races, while Sunday’s race featured two mandatory pit stops compared with one on Saturday. The format places a premium on how teams distribute their available tyres across the weekend and became a particular source of frustration for Engstler after Race 2.
Engstler explains radio frustration after difficult race
Engstler had openly expressed his frustration over the radio following problems during his pit stop during DTM Race 2 at the Nürburgring. Speaking exclusively to Pit Debrief after the race, however, the German stressed his appreciation for the work carried out by his team and admitted that emotion had taken over in the heat of the moment.
“Yes, it was simply a tough race, but I’m still incredibly grateful to the team. We put in a huge amount of work, and of course, when you’re fighting like that, you get very emotional. That’s why I’m sorry I lost my temper like that – because mistakes can happen. I was just a bit annoyed because, looking back now, it cost me my first win at Oschersleben.”
“Now another podium finish – which we would have lost in the end because of the tyre strategy – and that just pisses me off even more. The fact that everyone just coasts on Saturday and then becomes a hero on Sunday. I don’t think that’s the point of the regulations. Then one thing leads to another and I just snap.”
Engstler had already delivered a strong result at Oschersleben, finishing second in the opening race of the weekend behind Thomas Preining. His comments at the Nürburgring highlighted how fine the margins have become as Lamborghini continues the first DTM campaign for its new Temerario GT3.
Engstler backs Lamborghini despite difficult qualifying form
While the Nürburgring result left Engstler wanting more, his performances have also provided encouragement during the Temerario’s first DTM season. Asked about the importance of delivering consistent results with the new Lamborghini, Engstler instead turned his attention towards the car’s potential and the work of both ABT and Grasser Racing Team.
“Yes, of course I’m absolutely delighted, but I’m still here too. We’re sometimes battling for podium places with blunt weapons, and I just hope people can see that ABT and Grasser can build a brilliant car, that we’ve got a former champion like Mirko [Bortolotti] behind the wheel, and three others who can handle the wheel reasonably well too. And that, I reckon, we can get back into the top five with the Temerario and not be so held back that you end up 13th twice in qualifying as the best Lambo.”
Despite their qualifying struggles, Lamborghini placed two cars inside the top six in Sunday’s race, with Bortolotti recovering from an early penalty to fifth and Engstler following him home in sixth. For Engstler, those results underline that the manufacturer and its teams can fight towards the front when given the opportunity.
“We should stop picking on the car”
The Temerario remains early in its competitive life, but Engstler rejected the suggestion that the car itself should carry the blame for Lamborghini’s more difficult DTM weekends. He pointed towards its performances elsewhere in GT racing as evidence that the platform already possesses the potential to compete at a high level.
“I think the Temerario has now shown that it’s a brilliant car. It’s winning IMSA races and finishing on the podium in the GT World Challenge against the best teams, with different teams and different drivers. So I think we should stop picking on the car and make sure we rate it properly.”
Engstler’s Nürburgring weekend ultimately ended with another valuable points haul rather than the podium he felt had been possible. However, his post-race assessment made his position clear: he believes the Temerario has already demonstrated its potential, while the bigger frustration lies in extracting that performance consistently within the current DTM framework.
