– Will Mirko Bortolotti get his DTM win in Oschersleben from July 26th back or will the disqualification stand? This question will be clarified on September 25th – two weeks before the DTM season finale. Because on that Friday, after the Grasser team’s appeal, the decisive hearing will take place before the DMSB appeals court.
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The Austrian team has today, Friday, also provided a written justification for the appeal, after the deadline was extended due to the current holiday period. How does Bortolotti deal with the disqualification? “I am the driver – and my job is to race as best as possible. I won the race on the track, with a masterful performance,” he makes clear in an interview with Motorsport-Total.com.
“Of course, it’s a shame that it has developed this way now, which is very strange.” Nevertheless, he has “full confidence in my team,” says Bortolotti. “They know what they are doing.” Therefore, the last word on the matter has not yet been spoken – and the Italian expects to keep his win.
“We did nothing illegal”
“We did nothing illegal – as far as I can say. That’s why I strongly believe that justice will prevail at the end of the day,” he believes in an acquittal.
And that he will be retroactively awarded the 25 points for his first DTM win since Spielberg 2024, when he laid the foundation for his championship title.
Bortolotti himself only learned about the disqualification due to a wheel bearing that did not match the original part on Thursday before the DTM weekend at the Nürburgring – that is, two and a half weeks after the race itself. “At 5 p.m.,” he says.
How the hearing before the appeals court proceeds
The official confirmation came about an hour later – at 5:53 p.m. Team principal Gottfried Grasser argues that there is no rule violation. Because in a bulletin – that is, an addition to the regulations – it was stipulated that the wheel bearings were free. And therefore do not have to match the part listed in the homologation.
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“I am not a lawyer nor a judge,” comments Bortolotti on the uncertain situation. “I believe the team knows what they are doing. They know the regulations. Therefore, nothing illegal was installed on the car – as far as I understand.”
Whether that was the case or not will ultimately be decided by the DMSB (German Motor Sport Federation) appeals court in Frankfurt. Bortolotti’s racing team – presumably represented by team principal Grasser himself – will face chairman Rainer Wicke and two assessors and present arguments as to why the disqualification is, in their opinion, not justified.
Result crucial for the title fight
The result affects the championship, because until the appeal hearing, the result of the Sunday race in Oschersleben – and thus the win of DTM leader Maro Engel – is provisional.
If the appeal is successful, the Winward-Mercedes driver, who leads Thomas Preining by one point with four races to go, would lose five points. Preining would lose four points, making the two tied at the top of the DTM standings.
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The “Grello” driver would, however, be DTM leader due to his two season wins. Third-placed Auer and fourth-placed Thiim in the championship would only lose one point if the disqualification is overturned.
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