DTM Zandvoort Race 1: Cairoli takes maiden win as Auer takes championship lead

Motorsport photo Emil Frey Ferrari driver Matteo Cairoli crowns his perfect weekend on the dune circuit in Zandvoort with a victory: The Italian, who had already set the fastest time in Friday practice and secured pole position on Saturday morning, celebrates his maiden DTM victory in the first race. "We struggled a bit at the Red Bull Ring, and now the car was absolutely fantastic to drive," cheered DTM rookie Matteo Cairoli on ProSieben. "I just enjoyed every single lap and I can tell you: This gives everyone a real boost.

Me, the team, especially my engineer. I can't thank them enough. And tomorrow I will try again.

" Behind the victorious Ferrari driver, Landgraf Mercedes driver Lucas Auer and local hero as well as Cairoli's teammate Thierry Vermeulen (Emil Frey Ferrari) complete the podium. Bastian Buus (Land Porsche) successfully defends his fourth place in the closing stages against the pushing Winward Mercedes driver Jules Gounon. Ben Dörr (Dörr McLaren) finishes in sixth place, followed by Maro Engel (Winward Mercedes) and Manthey Porsche driver Thomas Preining.

Luca Engstler (Abt Lamborghini) and Nicki Thiim (Comtoyou Aston Martin) complete the top 10 in the first DTM race in Zandvoort. Matteo Cairoli feiert in Zandvoort seinen Debütsieg in der DTM Matteo Cairoli feiert in Zandvoort seinen Debütsieg in der DTM "I think there really wasn't any more in it for us," says Abt Lamborghini driver Engstler on ProSieben. "We started from seventh place, but we didn't have the pace to keep up with the front pack.