RACE REPORT: 2025 DTM Lausitzring Race 1

German Power Plays on Show

Lucas Auer takes a convincing win for Mercedes-AMG, but BMW and Porsche stay in the hunt as DTM’s German marques jostle for supremacy.

Lucas Auer made the Lausitzring his own once again, taking a polished victory in Saturday’s first DTM race of the weekend. The Austrian’s lights-to-flag drive led a commanding Mercedes-AMG one-two, but with strong podiums for BMW and steady points for Porsche, the battle among Germany’s top GT3 brands remains wide open.

Qualifying: Mercedes-AMG on Top

Auer set the benchmark early, claiming pole position for Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf with a 1:19.827—his record fifth at this circuit. Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing) and Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) also lined up near the front, making it a Mercedes-heavy top four.

Schubert Motorsport put both BMW M4 GT3 Evos into the top five, with René Rast and Marco Wittmann looking strong for race day.

Race Start: No Surprises, All Action

At the start, Auer held his nerve and the lead, edging clear through the tight opening corner. Engel slotted into second, and a brief safety car did little to disrupt their rhythm. Rast immediately climbed to third for BMW after a combative opening lap.

Behind, Gounon and Wittmann set the stage for their duel, a storyline that would run throughout the race.

Strategy and Pit Stops: The Decisive Phase

With tyre degradation low and the track cool, pit timing was critical.

• Auer blinked first among the frontrunners, pitting on lap 23 for fresh Pirellis.
• Engel extended his stint, stopping two laps later and briefly rejoining ahead.
• On warmer tyres, Auer quickly reclaimed the lead in a clean, decisive move.

That would be the last real threat to his victory.

BMW and Porsche: Stubborn Resistance

While Mercedes-AMG led comfortably, BMW and Porsche kept the pressure on:

• René Rast fought off a persistent early challenge from Audi’s Ricardo Feller before the latter retired.
• Wittmann battled Gounon for fourth, eventually settling for fifth after a hard-fought contest.
• Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA) led the Porsche runners in sixth, while Ayhancan Güven put the sister car eighth.

Both Manthey EMA entries demonstrated consistency and composure, even if outright pace for a podium was lacking.

Ferrari, McLaren and Others: The Best of the Rest

• Jack Aitken and Ben Green delivered double points for Emil Frey Racing and Ferrari, finishing seventh and tenth.
• Ben Dörr (Dörr Motorsport) placed the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in ninth—another sign of the series’ depth.
• Lamborghini, Ford, and Aston Martin were all present but left chasing the final points.

Top Ten Results

1. Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf)
2. Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing) +1.344
3. René Rast (Schubert Motorsport BMW) +5.083
4. Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) +6.778
5. Marco Wittmann (Schubert Motorsport BMW) +7.347
6. Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA Porsche)
7. Jack Aitken (Emil Frey Racing Ferrari)
8. Ayhancan Güven (Manthey EMA Porsche)
9. Ben Dörr (Dörr Motorsport McLaren)
10. Ben Green (Emil Frey Racing Ferrari)

Fastest lap: Jules Gounon, 1:20.968 (lap 22)

Full results: DTM official results

Driver Quotes

‘I was able to pull away a bit right at the start, which was important with the tight first corner. After the tyre change, I was honestly a bit unsure if I could get past Maro Engel. But I fought and it worked out. The Lausitzring and I just click. I got my first DTM win here in 2016, I really enjoy driving on this track.’
— Lucas Auer

‘I tried everything to defend the lead against Lucas Auer on cold tyres after the pit stop. These duels are exactly what make DTM so exciting. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for the win, Lucas did it cleverly on warmer tyres.’
— Maro Engel

‘I was able to make up two places right on the first lap. After that, I had to defend with a lot of effort against Ricardo Feller. I'm super happy with third place. I always like coming to the Lausitzring—I was on the DTM podium here for the first time in my career eight years ago.’
— René Rast

The Championship Picture

After three rounds, Lucas Auer heads the standings with 62 points, chased by teammate Jules Gounon and Maro Engel. Mercedes-AMG’s early form is undeniable, but BMW and Porsche are banking steady points and remain well within reach.

The RSR Perspective

The DTM’s German marques are as closely matched as ever. Mercedes-AMG might have the upper hand right now, but BMW’s double top five and Porsche’s reliability prove there’s plenty to play for. The GT3 format keeps the field close, while crossover with series like GT World Challenge and IMSA means every driver and team is operating at a global level.

Race two at Lausitzring is next up; expect more of the same tight, tactical racing.