Thomas Preining insists his focus remains firmly on securing the 2026 DTM title rather than chasing records after extending his remarkable podium streak in Race 2 at the Sachsenring.
The Manthey driver recovered from sixth on the grid to finish second in Sunday’s Race 2, completing a double podium for the team alongside Ricardo Feller. Ben Dörr took victory after mastering the changing conditions, while Preining strengthened his championship position on a difficult afternoon.
The result marked Preining’s sixth consecutive podium, continuing a run that has stretched across the last three DTM rounds. It also proved particularly valuable in the championship battle. Maro Engel initially finished fifth but later received a 15-second penalty for his collision with Kelvin van der Linde, dropping him to 17th. Preining therefore left the Sachsenring with 197 points and a 23-point advantage over Engel ahead of the Hockenheim finale, with 56 points still available.
Speaking during the post-race press conference attended by Pit Debrief, Preining reflected on the demanding race, his approach to the championship decider and why matching records set by René Rast does not sit among his priorities.
Preining praises Manthey after challenging Sachsenring fightback
Preining faced a demanding DTM Race 2 at the Sachsenring from the outset. With parts of the Sachsenring still damp following earlier rain, teams had to decide between slick and wet-weather tyres before the start. Manthey opted for slicks on Preining’s Porsche, a decision that initially forced him to negotiate drivers who had more grip on wet tyres. As the circuit dried, however, the balance shifted towards the slick runners.
Preining also gained ground through the first mandatory pit-stop sequence. He stopped on Lap 11, earlier than several of the other leading slick runners, and emerged from the cycle in second behind Dörr. The Austrian then had to manage two late Safety Car restarts after incidents erased the gaps between the leading drivers. Rather than enjoying a relatively comfortable run to the finish, Preining found himself defending second during the closing stages.
“Very difficult. I also have to agree with Ben. It was extremely frustrating with the safety cars in the end, because I was in a comfortable position, and that way I had to defend two restarts, which is obviously more stress than I had hoped for. But this was probably still the easiest part of the race. The first in, for sure, was very challenging. First to choose the right tyre, which I have to say was my team’s call.”
“They did it very well and also then to manage the situation at the start with wet tyre runners and slick runners and people overshooting, and sometimes you have to open the door to not get taken out. And then in other situations you have to simply not overdrive to not crash on your own. And obviously then we picked the right lap for the pit stop. We had two fantastically quick pit stops. And, yeah, all in all, a very, very, very good day. It wasn’t that positive after qualy, but we really fought back in a way that makes me proud of my whole team. So, big thanks to them, and we move forward.”
Hockenheim approach remains unchanged despite championship lead
When Preining spoke in the press conference, the Stewards were still investigating Engel’s late collision with Van der Linde. They subsequently penalised the Mercedes-AMG driver, significantly increasing Preining’s championship advantage before the final round. Despite placing himself in a strong position, Preining does not intend to fundamentally change his approach at Hockenheim.
Before the race weekend begins, the field will have a test day at the circuit. Preining believes maximising that running will play an important role in preparing both himself and the car before the championship reaches its conclusion.
“First, we have a test day where we need to maximise our learnings. We need to prepare both us drivers and also the setup of the car in the best possible way to have good cards on race weekend. On race weekend, we have to approach it like any other one. We have to try to do the best possible qualifying. And then, obviously, in the race, you always have to manage the risk, but in the end, it’s a weekend like any other. For sure, we brought ourselves in a good spot. It’s what you work for all season to end up in a situation like this. So, in the end, I’m very excited for it and I think we’re ready.”
The Hockenheim season finale will take place from 9–11 October, with the final two qualifying sessions and races deciding the 2026 DTM champion.
“It’s not trying to make the record. It’s trying to win the championship”
Preining’s second place at the DTM Race 2 at the Sachsenring also continued an impressive run of consistency. He has now stood on the podium in six consecutive races, a streak confirmed by DTM following the Sachsenring weekend. That run prompted comparisons with three-time DTM champion René Rast, a driver for whom Preining has previously expressed considerable admiration.
However, the Manthey driver made clear that extending his podium sequence or pursuing one of Rast’s records holds little significance compared with his primary objective.
“Yeah, I think I’ve said before how much admiration I have for René [Rast]. However, I think we have to focus on the battle at hand. It’s not trying to make the record. It’s trying to win the championship. For this, I’m just as happy with P4. It means we’re on the right path to achieve our goal.”
“Nevertheless, for sure, it’s always good when you’re up there, when you’re on the podium. Also, I think it’s not totally fair to compare Class 1 and DTM. I think he also had six wins in a row at one point, which nowadays I think we can all agree is pretty much impossible. It’s hard enough to win one race. I have a lot of respect for René, but I’m not chasing his record in that sense.”
With one event remaining, Preining’s attention now shifts away from maintaining his podium sequence and towards converting his championship advantage into a second DTM title.
