Mirko Bortolotti Takes DTM Race 2 Win at Imola, Kelvin van der Linde Extends Championship Lead

Bortolotti Claims Narrow Victory, Van der Linde Strengthens Points Advantage

Mirko Bortolotti of Team Lamborghini Grasser Racing claimed a narrow victory in Race 2 of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) at Imola on Sunday. The Italian driver held off a late charge from championship leader Kelvin van der Linde of Team Schubert Motorsport to take the win by just 0.228 seconds. Van der Linde, who started from pole position, led for much of the race but was unable to shake off Bortolotti, who stayed within striking distance throughout. The South African driver eventually pitted for fresh tires with 10 laps remaining, but Bortolotti stayed out and took the lead. Van der Linde closed the gap in the closing stages but was unable to catch Bortolotti, who crossed the line to take his first win of the season.

Other Key Performers and Championship Standings

* Rene Rast of Team ABT Sportsline finished third, ahead of championship contender Liam Lawson of Red Bull AF Corse. * Marco Wittmann of Walkenhorst Motorsport and Nico Müller of Team Rosberg rounded out the top six. * Van der Linde's second-place finish extends his lead in the championship standings to 49 points over Rast. Lawson is third, 55 points behind van der Linde.

Race Highlights and Key Moments

* Bortolotti made a strong start from second on the grid and immediately challenged van der Linde for the lead. * Van der Linde was able to hold on to the lead for the first half of the race, but Bortolotti stayed close behind. * Van der Linde pitted for fresh tires on lap 18, giving Bortolotti the lead. * Bortolotti stayed out and maintained his lead, despite van der Linde's late charge. * Bortolotti crossed the line to take the win, his first of the season.

Next Race and Championship Outlook

The next round of the DTM will take place at the Norisring in Germany on July 1-3. Van der Linde will be looking to extend his championship lead, while Bortolotti will be aiming to build on his victory at Imola. The championship is still wide open, with several drivers in contention for the title.