Ricardo Feller praised his Manthey team after securing third place in a chaotic DTM Race 2 at the Sachsenring, completing a double podium alongside teammate Thomas Preining. Feller started the race from second on the grid after a wet qualifying session but faced a very different challenge by the time the field prepared for the start. Although the rain had stopped, damp areas remained around the circuit and left teams with a difficult choice between wet and slick tyres.
Most of the field, including Feller, committed to slicks. Drivers on wet tyres initially surged forward as those on slicks struggled for grip, but the balance quickly changed as the circuit continued to dry. Ben Dörr eventually established himself at the front, while Feller remained in contention for a podium throughout the race. Two late Safety Car periods then compressed the field and created a dramatic conclusion. Feller capitalised on the battle ahead to pass Matteo Cairoli and secure third, following Dörr and Preining across the line.
Speaking during the post-race press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Feller reflected on an eventful afternoon which provided a welcome result after a challenging season.
Feller pleased to reward Manthey after a “tough season”
Starting from the front row placed Feller in the middle of the action from the opening laps of DTM Race 2 at the Sachsenring. The drivers who had selected wet tyres initially held a significant advantage, while those on slicks had to manage the difficult surface until conditions moved in their favour. For Feller, the unpredictable race produced exactly the type of spectacle he believes fans come to see. More importantly, the third-place finish allowed him to reward his crew for their work during a season which has not always delivered the results they wanted.
“Yeah, it was a great race, especially for the fans. I think that’s what they pay for when they buy the tickets to get a show. And I think today they had a really great show. Yeah, very happy on my side as well. We had a tough season so far and it feels good to give a podium to my crew that was working very hard all the time and obviously to score a double podium in a championship like the DTM is not happening so often. So, yeah, very proud of the whole team. And for me, every race could be like the one we had today.”
The result also proved valuable for Manthey, with Preining finishing directly ahead of Feller in second. Preining strengthened his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship in the process, leaving the Sachsenring with a 23-point advantage ahead of the season finale at Hockenheim.
Tricky conditions left little time for team orders
With Preining fighting for the championship and Feller running close to his teammate during parts of the race, communication between the two sides of the Manthey garage could have played an important role. However, Feller explained that the demanding conditions meant the team focused most of its radio discussions on preparations before the start rather than managing the positions of its two drivers during the race.
“We had very tricky conditions. I think the most radio communication was happening before the race to choose the tyre and the tyre pressure, which in the end the team nailed and we had the right tyre on the car. After, the conditions were very tricky so we were busy with driving and there was not so much time to speak.”
The decision to start on slicks ultimately paid off. While those on wet-weather tyres made rapid progress at the beginning, their advantage disappeared as the racing line dried and they were forced to switch to slicks during the first mandatory pit-stop window.
Start delay made the slick tyre decision clear
Feller admitted that the tyre choice had been much less straightforward before Race Control delayed the start of DTM Race 2 at the Sachsenring. The field faced a circuit that remained wet in several places after the earlier rain, creating the possibility that wet tyres could offer a decisive advantage at the beginning of the race. Race Control eventually delayed proceedings by ten minutes, giving the track additional time to dry. For Feller and Manthey, that delay removed much of the uncertainty surrounding their tyre decision.
“When the start was delayed, it was not difficult anymore. I think before it was like just on the edge, but after the start was delayed, it was clear that it was slicks for us.”
