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Heartbreak for Luca Engstler at Sachsenring: Promising run ends in devastating collision before 48,000 fans

Sep 10, 2024 | News, Partnerships

Mountain Wolf Lamborghini on race track with demolished rear wing

Strong pace and dedicated teamwork went unrewarded for GRT at last weekend’s DTM race at the Sachsenring. At the sixth of a total of eight events in the 2024 DTM season, Luca Engstler delivered an impressive performance in the MOUNTAIN WOLF-supported Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2.

Qualifying Success: Engstler Secures Top Five Start

In Sunday’s qualifying, Engstler secured fifth place on the grid for the Lamborghini Team Liqui Moly by GRT, putting him in a strong starting position for the 60-minute-plus-one-lap race. In the opening lap, Engstler gained two positions and moved into third place. Until the pit stop window after 20 minutes, he maintained his position in the chasing group behind the leading duo.

Mountain Wolf Lamborghini with Luca Engstler on race track DTM 2024

A Strong Start: Engstler Advances in Opening Laps

After his pit stop on lap 19, Engstler set the fastest lap time among all five Lamborghini drivers in the race. However, an unavoidable incident ended his race: on lap 31, he was hit by a rival attempting a failed overtaking maneuver in turn one. This resulted in severe damage to the right side of the car and the rear suspension, forcing Engstler to retire the car early. The responsible driver was handed a time penalty after the race.

Recurring Misfortune: Saturday’s Race Ends Early for Engstler

Saturday’s race also brought misfortune for Engstler. Early on, he was hit from behind by a competitor, and the resulting damage forced him to retire from the race on lap 19.

The DTM weekend at the iconic Sachsenring, a 3.645-kilometer circuit with 14 corners, attracted a total of 48,000 spectators, offering motorsport fans a thrilling experience at the highest level.

GRT’s DTM season continues in three weeks. From September 27 to 29, the team will compete at their home race at the Red Bull Ring in Styria. At the same time, Grasser Racing will also field two Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s in the ADAC GT Masters at Spielberg.

Luca Engstler (GER)
#19 Lamborghini Team Liqui Moly by GRT
Qualifying 1: P14 – Race 1: DNF
Qualifying 2: P5 – Race 2: DNF

“It was a weekend with more lows than highs, but it’s important for me to take away the positives. Our pace on Sunday was very strong, we had a great qualifying, and we were on course for a podium finish for much of the race. The crew did an amazing job during the pit stop, and then, unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side. It’s really frustrating to be taken out of the race on both days. On the other hand, I leave the Sachsenring with a good feeling, knowing we were right up there in terms of performance. That makes me proud and happy. A huge thank you to the entire GRT family for their tireless work and incredible team spirit. We will keep fighting and give it our all to finish the season with two fantastic weekends. I’m looking forward to the team’s home races in Spielberg.“

Luca Engstler

“We certainly had different expectations for the results, but I think we maximized our performance. The Lamborghini was very heavy on the Sachsenring due to the regulations, which particularly impacted our race pace over the distance. However, we can be more than satisfied with our pace on Sunday. Luca delivered a fantastic qualifying session, and Jordan was very strong on both days. He had no test preparation and was immediately competitive. It was an outstanding performance from our drivers and the crew. The pit stops were excellent, and we made no mistakes. Given this, the outcome of Sunday’s race is particularly disappointing. Both of our drivers were taken out, and from our perspective, the fault clearly lay with their opponents. In Luca’s case, this was confirmed by the race officials’ decision. The ruling on the collision between Jordan and René Rast is something we can’t understand. We have to accept it, but for us, that’s not what a racing incident looks like. Jordan had no chance to avoid it. In the end, we can only look forward, and now our home race is on the horizon. Competing in the DTM at the Red Bull Ring is always something special for us, and we’re really looking forward to the races in Austria.”

Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal of GRT

Photos: © Axel Weichert

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