Preining Leads Porsche 1-2 in Oschersleben Testing

Photo: Porsche

Thomas Preining and Aycancan Guven led a 1-2 for Manthey EMA during official pre-season testing for DTM at Oschersleben.

Just a single day of official collective testing was available for DTM teams this year, featuring a total of eight hours of running across two sessions.

Preining and Guven both set their quickest times of the day during the opening session, with the former reeling off a 1:21.887 to lead by 0.324 seconds.

Jordan Pepper, who also went quickest in the morning session, was third with a 1:22.388 aboard the No. 63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Luca Engstler and Winward Racing’s Jules Gounon, fourth and fifth respectively, both set their times in the afternoon.

Lucas Auer was sixth at the wheel of the No. 22 Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, 0.028 seconds faster than defending champion Mirko Bortolotti.

The Italian, who switched teams over the winter to join ABT Sportsline, steered the No. 1 Lamborghini to a best lap of 1:22.686 to go seventh fastest.

That put him a mere 0.001 seconds clear of the No. 92 Manthey Junior Team Porsche in the hands of series newcomer Morris Schuring.

Maro Engel and Maximilian Paul completed the overall top ten, just ahead of the No. 11 Doerr Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo driven by Ben Doerr.

McLaren, BMW, Ferrari, Audi, Ford and Aston Martin all fell outside the top ten, with the latter of those two brands preparing to make their championship comebacks.

Arjun Maini was the best-placed Ford driver in 19th overall, with the Indian’s 1:23.386 lap 1.499 seconds off Preining.

BMW, meanwhile, placed 14th and 20th with Marco Wittmann and Rene Rast, while Emil Frey Racing duo Jack Aitken and Ben Green ended the day 16th and 17th, one spot ahead of the sole, Land Motorsport-entered Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in the hands of Ricardo Feller.

Comtoyou Racing brought up the rear of the pack with its pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evos, with Gilles Magnus’ 1:24.444 effort 1.117 seconds quicker than teammate Nicolas Baert.

The DTM season will kick off at Oschersleben on April 25-27.

RESULTS: Session 1+2 (Combined)

Source: Sports Car 365