Thomas Preining heads into the DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring with his sights set on securing a second championship title. The Austrian, who claimed his maiden DTM crown in 2023, remains firmly in contention despite a challenging start to the season.
Speaking at the pre-event press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Preining discussed his preparations for the decisive weekend, the potential challenges posed by colder conditions and the lessons he has taken from his previous championship success.
Preining approaches DTM finale without nerves
Despite the significance of the weekend, Preining insists he feels little pressure heading into the final two races of the season. The Porsche driver believes his experience in previous title battles will prove valuable as he prepares for another championship showdown.
“I’m getting ready just as I always do. I think we had a test where we learnt a lot. We drove all day in dry conditions, completed loads of laps and worked through a comprehensive test programme. So, in that respect, we’re well prepared. Of course, a lot of time has passed since then. We’ve had other races and other events.“
“It was good to keep up the rhythm and be in the car. I’m not really feeling nervous. I’m looking forward to the final race. This is now my fifth year in the DTM and the fifth time that, in theory, there’s something at stake at Hockenheim. In that respect, you become more experienced. It’s never just business as usual; it’s always something special. It’s a situation where you’re hoping for something. But basically, I’m full of anticipation and hoping for a good weekend.”
Keeping preparations as normal as possible
Rather than changing his routine for the DTM championship decider, Preining intends to maintain his usual preparations ahead of the finale at the Hockenheimring. However, the Austrian also revealed that he has another competition to focus on before the racing gets underway, though this one is only between him and his friends.
“I’m putting myself under some real pressure today. Not like in the final just now, though. The paddle World Championships against my mates. It’s do-or-die. I’m looking forward to it. Otherwise, everything’s as usual. I’m trying to approach the whole thing quite normally, just like any other weekend. I’m training, I’m preparing together with my team. We have our meetings and so on to make sure we’re all on the same page going into the weekend. So that everyone knows what’s expected of them. Everything’s the same.”
Colder conditions present another challenge at Hockenheim
While the recent Hockenheim test took place in warm and dry conditions, the season finale could bring significantly lower temperatures. With limited experience running the new DTM tyres in colder weather, teams may face an additional challenge in finding the optimal setup. Preining acknowledged the uncertainty but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adapt to the conditions during the DTM finale at the Hockenheimring.
“At the end of the day, we’re always preparing for wet conditions. So in that respect, my procedures are the same as always. As is often the case in autumn, the weather is likely to be a bit of a mixed bag. That was also the case last year at Hockenheim. And the year before last, too. So it’s nothing new for anyone.”
“We’ve rarely experienced really cold conditions with the new DTM tyres. In that respect, it’ll certainly be something we’ll have to adapt to quickly as a team. But I have complete faith in my team. After all, it wasn’t warm at the Red Bull Ring either. We were able to gather some information there. Basically, it’s still a car with four wheels. It worked well in testing and it will do so this weekend too.”
Preining reflects on his championship comeback
Preining’s title challenge appeared far less promising earlier in the campaign, with the Austrian struggling to consistently achieve the results needed to remain among the leading contenders. However, an improvement in form during the latter stages of the season brought him back into contention, leaving him with another opportunity to fight for the championship at Hockenheim.
“In principle, I always have faith in the team and in myself. Whether that’s enough to win the title is always another matter. At the halfway point of the season, there were certainly moments when we were a long way off. At that stage, it certainly didn’t look as though we’d be in with a chance this season. But things turned out that way in the end. Not entirely through our own efforts. Nevertheless, here we are in this position ahead of the final, which is obviously brilliant. So, in that respect, I’m feeling optimistic.”
Special Porsche livery for the finale
Preining will also compete with a special Porsche livery at Hockenheim, featuring a design previously seen at the Nürburgring. The Austrian welcomed the appearance of the car and hopes to deliver a performance worthy of its distinctive look.
“I think it’s cool. We’ve already raced at the Nürburgring with this design. Of course, the car had different sponsors, but it was essentially the same design. I think it looks absolutely brilliant. It’s a glimpse into the past and the future of design, and it’s actually a really cool livery. I hope we can do it justice this weekend.”
Straight-line speed could prove a weakness
Despite his optimism, Preining acknowledged that Porsche’s straight-line performance could leave him vulnerable at Hockenheim, particularly along the circuit’s Parabolika section. The Austrian explained that the car’s cornering strength comes with compromises on the straights, although he remains confident that the team can remain competitive.
“Ultimately, we’re always vulnerable on the straights. To a certain extent, we have to be. Because we’re very fast through the corners. As long as the gap on the straights isn’t too extreme. I’m not worried about everyone overtaking on the left and right, as happened at the Norisring, and I’m actually feeling quite optimistic. At the end of the day, the further up the grid you start, the easier life is in the race. Nevertheless, in the DTM, a good starting position won’t be decisive, but it will be helpful and make the afternoon easier.”
Lessons from 2023 shape Preining’s title approach
Having already experienced the pressure of securing a DTM championship, Preining believes the key to success lies in concentrating on his own performance rather than worrying about his rivals. The 2023 champion recalled how maximising every opportunity proved crucial during his previous title-winning campaign, an approach he intends to repeat this weekend.
“What we did very well back then – and have also done well over the last few weekends – was to focus entirely on ourselves. We always get the most out of it. Back then, it was two first-place finishes. That’s not easy, of course. This season, it’s often been sixth or tenth place, especially in the first half of the season. But basically, you always have to make the most of what you can. That’ll be important this weekend too. You’ve no idea where you really stand. It’s always the same. You only really find out in the first qualifying session. But if you squeeze as much as you can out of the car, then things should work out.”
With the DTM championship still undecided, Preining enters the finale at the Hockenheimring determined to make the most of every opportunity. Whether his approach will be enough to secure a second DTM title remains to be seen, but the Austrian is confident that his team has prepared for the challenge ahead.
