Abt Sportsline ended their Saturday at Zandvoort with mixed emotions after an eventful DTM Race 1 on the Dutch coast. While Matteo Cairoli dominated the race for Emil Frey Ferrari, the Lamborghini squad still found reasons for optimism after a competitive showing in the midfield battle.
Luca Engstler delivered the best result for Lamborghini with a points finish, while Marco Mapelli endured a difficult afternoon that included pit lane contact and extreme cockpit temperatures. Nevertheless, both drivers highlighted the progress ABT had made since the Red Bull Ring and pointed towards further improvement ahead of the second race of the weekend.
Engstler delivers strong fight to secure best Lamborghini result
Luca Engstler gave Abt Sportsline a strong start to the weekend after qualifying seventh and placing himself firmly in the fight for points. The German faced immediate pressure during the opening laps as Maro Engel and Nicki Thiim moved ahead in the early exchanges.
However, Engstler quickly fought back and reclaimed position from Thiim with a decisive move into Turn 3. He then settled into a consistent rhythm while focusing on maintaining a top-10 position. Although Manthey Porsche driver Thomas Preining gained ground during the pit stop phase, Engstler held on to finish inside the points and secure Lamborghini’s best result in Race 1.
“Yeah, happy with the day,” Engstler said to select media after Race 1. “I think we had a good Qualifying with P7. Very happy. And then with the race, obviously struggled a bit at the start. Got overtaken by Maro and Nikki, but] could overtake Nikki back into Turn 3. And then really been hanging in and trying to make sure we can maintain the position. Unfortunately, lost in one spot to Manthey in the pit window, which I think is okay.
“But all in all, super happy and proud of the team. Good effort. Quickest Lambo. And I think, yeah, [we] need to build on that and happy to look forward.”
Importantly, Engstler’s result reflected the progress Lamborghini and Abt achieved since the Red Bull Ring weekend, where the Lamborghini Temerario GT3 suffered a difficult DTM debut with all four of its drivers competing at the back. While the team still lacked the outright pace to challenge the leading Ferrari and Mercedes runners consistently, Engstler remained competitive throughout the race and avoided mistakes during a demanding afternoon.
Mapelli endures difficult afternoon after pit lane contact
On the other side of the garage, Marco Mapelli endured a far more difficult afternoon as several issues compromised his race. The Italian battled in the midfield before contact with GRT Grasser-Racing-Team driver Mirko Bortolotti occurred in the fast lane during the pit stop phase, with both Lamborghini Temerario GT3 cars involved in the incident.
Stewards later handed both drivers five-second substitute penalties for contributing to the unsafe situation, dropping Mapelli further down the classification after he originally finished 15th. In addition, Mapelli faced challenging physical conditions throughout the race after a ventilation problem caused extremely high cockpit temperatures during his stint.
“Let’s see the positive way the race,” Mapelli said to select media after Race 1. “First point, even though I think we got taken out by another car during the pit, when we were in front. I think this would change our race because for sure I would be able to overtake the BMW as well on the out lap, but anyhow, it was a difficult race because I had locked the ventilation in the car, so it was very, very hot.
Despite the setbacks, Mapelli still chose to focus on the positives from the weekend. The Italian repeatedly emphasised the step forward ABT had made compared to the opening round, particularly in overall competitiveness against rival manufacturers.
“But overall, I’d say it’s a positive step compared to Red Bull Ring in terms of performance and in terms of competition. Tomorrow we will try to get into the top 10, which will be tough, but this is for sure the target for tomorrow.”
Abt Sportsline looks ahead with renewed confidence after positive DTM performance in Race 1 at Zandvoort
Despite mixed results in Race 1, Abt Sportsline left Zandvoort encouraged by its improved pace and competitiveness compared to the Red Bull Ring. Engstler’s top-10 finish highlighted Lamborghini’s ability to fight consistently in the midfield, while the team also showed progress in qualifying and race execution.
With Zandvoort placing a premium on track position, pit strategy and tyre management, Abt Sportsline believes further gains remain possible. As a result, both Engstler and Marco Mapelli head into Race 2 confident that the team can build on its momentum and challenge for a stronger result.
