The third round of the 2022 DTM season is preparing a special kind of home fixture for GRT this coming weekend. For the Austrian Lamborghini team, the home races of Lamborghini in the prestigious GT3 series are on the agenda from 17 to 19 June. On the iconic Grand Prix circuit of Imola, GRT wants to build on its successful start to the season with their four Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs. Mirko Bortolotti and his compatriot Alessio Deledda will compete as local heroes in Italy alongside their teammates Rolf Ineichen and Clemens Schmid.
For GRT, the debut season in the DTM found a successful continuation three weeks ago at the Lausitzring. After Mirko Bortolotti left his mark at the season opener in Portimão with a pole position and two podiums, he followed this up with two strong sixth places in the races on German soil. The consistent performance gave GRT and the 32-year-old Italian from Riva del Garda second place in the team and driver standings respectively. After the second of eight stops on the calendar, the gap to the leader is 28 and 15 points.
The rookies alongside the Lamborghini factory driver meanwhile continued their learning curve in the Lausitz. Rolf Ineichen saw the chequered flag for the first time in the DTM and cut an excellent figure in the midfield. The 44-year-old Swiss made up a total of 19 positions in both races and finished a respectable 14th in the field of 29 competitors on Saturday. GT3 rookie Alessio Deledda showed a positive form curve. Throughout the weekend, the 27-year-old from Rome steadily improved his lap times. Clemens Schmid also showed his potential at the Lausitzring with strong pace at times. The 31-year-old Austrian continues to chase the first points of his DTM career in Imola.
Season highlight for GRT at Lamborghini’s home race in Imola
The DTM has chosen one of the country’s most historic venues for this year’s Italian round. Opened in 1952, the circuit was home to Formula 1 for decades and will be part of the DTM calendar for the first time in the 2022 season. For GRT, it is a home game despite the 700 km journey from St. Margarethen in Austria to the Emilia-Romagna region. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is just under an hour’s drive from the Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. For the Italian sports car manufacturer, Imola is the highlight of the DTM calendar.
After Mugello, Monza, Misano and the Adria Raceway, Imola is the fifth Italian venue to host the DTM in the over 30-year history of the series. The 4.909 km circuit is considered an absolute classic in international motor racing and, on top of that, particularly demanding. The drivers have to master a total of 21 corners behind the wheel of their Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVOs. With its old-school character, the layout ensures tough track limits and is unforgiving towards any mistakes with the walls standing close the racing line. With temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, the weather forecast predicts a hot weekend that will demand maximum concentration.
Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal of GRT: “Next to the Red Bull Ring, Imola as Lamborghini’s home race is the place that makes our hearts beat even faster. We are delighted to be competing in the DTM at this legendary circuit. We will welcome many friends and partners of Lamborghini there. We also have two special guests at the pit wall. Allowing the fans to experience racing so closely is a really cool idea that we are very happy to be a part of. Of course, our goal is to fight at the front in the races. To win in Italy would be a dream. We’ll have to wait and see how our chances turn out. We didn’t have the opportunity to test in Imola beforehand. We can draw on past experience, but for a successful weekend we have to make the most of the practice sessions to find the right baseline. It will be very exciting and we are looking forward to the Italian week in the DTM.”
Source GRT Grasser Racing/Photo. Gruppe C
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