Arjun Maini Gets First DTM Pole, Ends Race On Podium

Arjun Maini has become the first Indian to get a DTM pole position ever at the Red Bull Ring. This happened when the Indian driver clocked a timing of 1:30.128 minutes on his final lap while racing for Mercedes-AMG. He finished in third position in the race. 

Story of The Pole

The first qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring took place under chilly conditions of 10 degrees, with parts of the track still damp. Many drivers started on wet-weather tyres but eventually switched to Pirelli slicks. The lead changed frequently, with the Mercedes-AMG drivers consistently in the mix. Near the end, Lamborghini's Paul briefly claimed the top spot. Still, Maini set the fastest lap at the very last moment, securing pole position.

The Race

Arjun had a fantastic start to the race, going wheel-to-wheel with Maro Engel, who eventually took the lead. After the pit stop, Maini showed impressive speed, extending a 12-second gap over P4. However, he settled for P3, marking his second podium of the season. Mirko Bortolotti displayed a strong pace and secured the victory, finishing in P1. Arjun celebrated the podium finish by waving the Indian Tri-colour. 

Arjun's Statement

On the podium, Maini said, "That was really crazy, because my radio was not working so I did not know the result at first. I tried to see the times on the screens around the track. However, they were too far away. Pole position feels incredible. I can enjoy the moment for a few hours, until the race starts," 

Talking about the race, Arjun said, "The Conditions were very tricky as it was a Drying track and we were on wet weather tyres. We pitted a lap later and was in a net P4 position by the time all the cars had pitted. Was able to Pass Luca and consolidate the P3 position with a much better pace on the slicks. Overall it was great to be back on the Podium. I want to thank Mercedes AMG team HRT for giving me a great car and I look forward to keeping the momentum."

What is DTM?

The DTM grid is a car racing category that features 20 drivers representing manufacturers like Mercedes AMG, BMW, Audi, McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini. Many of these drivers also compete in the GT3 World Endurance Championships globally, as well as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The series spans eight rounds across Europe, with each round consisting of two qualifying sessions and two races.

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