Following the excitement of his maiden DTM victory at Zandvoort, Matteo Cairoli and Emil Frey Racing confirmed their status as front-runners once again at the Lausitzring, further demonstrating the progress made with the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo and the rapid adaptation of the Como-born driver to his new 2026 racing programme. As in the Netherlands, scorching temperatures were the dominant theme of the weekend, placing both drivers and the new-generation Pirelli tyres under significant stress, with this year’s compound intentionally designed to be softer.
The Swiss team continued its development work on a car that has undergone substantial balance improvements compared to last season. However, in qualifying for Race 1, Cairoli could do no better than seventh fastest. The race itself was heavily influenced by a sudden rain shower that hit the circuit around fifteen minutes before the start, forcing teams to rethink their strategies at the last minute. The grid was split between cars running on slick tyres and others, including Cairoli’s #14 Ferrari, opting for wet tyres. Initially, the decision appeared to be the right one. Matteo was among the fastest drivers on track and quickly worked his way into podium contention. As the circuit gradually dried, however, the balance shifted in favour of those who had started on slicks. Cairoli eventually crossed the line in tenth place, later promoted to eighth after post-race penalties were handed to two drivers ahead of him.
The turning point came on Sunday, when the Italian secured a remarkable front-row start, missing pole position by little more than a tenth of a second. It was a result few would have predicted beforehand, especially considering that the #14 Ferrari was the only Maranello-built car to break into the top ten. Thanks to his strong qualifying performance and an excellent start, Emil Frey Racing was able to execute an aggressive strategy, bringing Cairoli in early during the pit window to gain track position and seize the lead. From that moment onward, the Italian managed the pressure from his rivals with great composure, maintaining control of the race all the way to the chequered flag without ever offering a genuine overtaking opportunity.
The victory, secured by just 0.413 seconds at the finish, makes Cairoli the first driver to win twice during the 2026 DTM season. The result also elevates the Italian to the top of the championship standings ahead of the next round, scheduled for 3–5 July at the Norisring, one of the most iconic and spectacular venues on the calendar. The historic street circuit in Nuremberg will mark the halfway point of the season, with Matteo Cairoli arriving as championship leader after establishing himself as one of the key protagonists in the world’s premier GT3-based touring car series.
Matteo Cairoli
“This is one of the best victories of my career. Nicki Thiim really made me work for it, and it was already hot enough out there. He put me under incredible pressure in the closing laps. My tyres were completely worn out and, with those temperatures, it was extremely difficult. I really wanted this win and I’m absolutely delighted. If someone had told me I would be in this position when I first learned I would be racing in DTM, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. I have to thank the whole team, who did an outstanding job as always. We have a truly competitive package.”
