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Grasser Racing Shines at the DTM Finale at Hockenheimring – Luca Engstler Secures a Strong Victory in the Final Race

Oct 22, 2024 | News, Partnerships

Hockenheimring: 4.574-kilometer track with 17 turns and the iconic Parabolika.
96,000 excited fans attended the thrilling DTM season finale.
Luca Engstler delivers a brilliant final race win after a remarkable undercut.

This past weekend, the DTM finale took place at the legendary Hockenheimring, one of Europe’s most renowned motorsport circuits. The 4.574-kilometer track, with its 17 corners—including the fast Parabolika and the challenging hairpin—demands the utmost from both drivers and machines. Known for its overtaking opportunities and intense battles, the Hockenheimring delivered yet again at this year’s DTM finale, drawing in 96,000 fans throughout the weekend.

Friday: A Strong Start to the Final Race Weekend

Our driver, Luca Engstler, kicked off the weekend on a promising note. He delivered solid performances in both free practice sessions on Friday, showing he was well in tune with the Hockenheimring. With the team and Engstler feeling optimistic, hopes were high for a strong showing in Saturday’s qualifying.

Saturday: Strong Qualifying, but an Unfortunate Race

Saturday’s first qualifying session was very promising. Luca Engstler showed his potential by securing a solid fourth place on the grid with some impressive push laps in our Mountain Wolf Lamborghini. Hopes for a strong result in Race 1 were high.

However, the race itself didn’t go as planned. Engstler lost several positions early on and dropped far down the order. Despite his best efforts to fight back, he finished the race in 15th place, outside the points. It was a disappointing result that didn’t reflect the team’s initial expectations.

Sunday: A Spectacular Finale with a Brilliant Win

Sunday, the grand finale day, saw all eyes focused on the championship battle between Mirko Bortolotti (SSR Performance) and Kelvin van der Linde (Abt Sportsline). Both drivers entered the final race separated by just two points, setting up a tense showdown.

For Grasser Racing, the day started promisingly once again. Luca Engstler delivered another strong performance in the second qualifying session, securing sixth place on the grid—a solid position for the final race of the season.

The race got off to a thrilling start, and Engstler wasted no time showing his intent. By the first corner, he had moved up from P6 to P4 and held his position firmly. With a strong pace and full focus, he put pressure on the competition. At the 26-minute mark, the decisive moment came: Luca Engstler entered the pits for the mandatory tire change. The Grasser Racing pitstop was flawless, and as Mirko Bortolotti completed his own stop and rejoined the track, Engstler was right behind him. Then came the highlight of the race—an incredible undercut. With 26 minutes and 40 seconds remaining, Engstler surged past Bortolotti and took the lead.

From that point on, Engstler never looked back. He defended his position with authority and crossed the line to claim a well-deserved victory in the final DTM race of the season. It was a fantastic ending for the Grasser Racing Team, marking an emotional high point after a year filled with hard work and challenges.

Looking Ahead: Positive Outlook for the Next Season

With this success behind them, Grasser Racing looks forward to the next season with optimism. The team has proven that they can compete at the highest level, and Luca Engstler’s stunning performance at Hockenheim provides a promising glimpse of the future. The 2024 DTM season ends on a high note for Grasser Racing, and we’re excited to see what will happen in 2025.

Luca Engstler (GER)
#19 Lamborghini Team LIQUI MOLY by GRT
Qualifying 1: P4 – Race 1: P15
Qualifying 2: P6 – Race 2: P1

“This victory was an incredible way to cap off what has been a fantastic season for me. I felt comfortable with GRT from the very first moment, and we worked extremely well together throughout the year, which we demonstrated once again with this first-place finish. There were tough days too, but the mutual support and trust were always there, and that’s what made these successes possible. Of course, we’ll closely analyze our weaker days over the winter to learn from them and perform even more consistently next season. A huge thank you to the entire GRT family for this amazing year.“

Luca Engstler

“After the first race, we found a few things that worked in our favor on Sunday. Winning the finale with Luca was a dream conclusion to the season for us. It was unfortunate for Franck, as his incident in the opening lap meant he couldn’t show his full potential, even though his pace could have put him up front. When we look back on our DTM season, Luca was definitely the standout. He delivered strong performances from the very beginning and developed remarkably well. Of course, a DTM season comes with highs and lows, but he managed the challenging moments with resilience, proving that he has a bright future in the series.

With the sister car, it was difficult to be fully prepared due to the many driver changes following Christian Engelhart’s injury. Franck had very few test days, and in a series with such a high level of competition, that naturally has an impact. Nonetheless, it was a good season overall for us. I want to commend our drivers and the entire crew for the excellent work over the past few months. Finally, I’d like to congratulate Mirko on his well-deserved DTM title. We share a long journey and a close friendship, and it fills us with pride to see him crowned champion. Congratulations to Mirko and our Lamborghini family on this fantastic achievement.”

Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal of GRT

Photos: © Axel Weichert

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