Rene Rast’s Heart-Stopping Photo Finish at DTM Lausitzring

Rene Rast faced a tense end to the second DTM race at Lausitzring, coming just short in a wheel-to-wheel finish for the podium. The Schubert Motorsport driver started strong, securing track position over Jack Aitken of Emil Frey Racing after the first round of pit stops.

Rast, who used tires from the previous day’s race, reported losing grip as the race neared its conclusion. He admitted after the event that there was “a bit of carcass peeking out of the tyre,” leaving him without enough traction to fight for the lead in the final battle.

As Aitken closed in, Rast, driving a BMW M4 GT3, struggled to keep pace, especially exiting corners. Aitken managed his Ferrari 296 GT3’s tires well and narrowed the gap by nearly four seconds in the last three laps.

On the penultimate lap, Aitken made his move on the outside at Turn 6, a sector where he felt especially strong. Rast tried to defend but had no grip to hold him off.

He later commented that while he could have bumped Aitken, clean racing meant giving each other room both inside and outside throughout the duel.

The finish got even tighter when Jules Gounon in the Winward-Mercedes mounted a late challenge. Rast, still fighting traction problems, watched as Gounon pulled up alongside in a drag race to the checkered flag.

Both drivers swapped small advantages down the main straight, but Rast held on for second place by just 0.045 seconds. He called it “a bit of a nightmare” to not have anything more to give on the final lap, describing it as his closest finish ever in DTM.

Jack Aitken credited his team’s tire strategy and his ability to find the right moment to pounce for the win. He explained that he was hunting for gaps in the first sector, waiting for Rast’s tires to lose performance.

Once he saw an opening on the outside, he committed and completed the pass cleanly. Emil Frey Racing’s technical director, Juerg Flach, praised Aitken’s pace in the closing stages and called the overtake “magnificent.”

Rast took positives from the contest, acknowledging the fair fight between all three drivers in the lead pack. He said the duels were exciting while still respectful, even if the ending was a bit closer than he would have liked.

He also noted that his poor traction forced him to just hope for the best, especially as he and Gounon raced to the line.

This result added another dramatic chapter to the Lausitzring’s DTM history. The podium battle highlighted strategy, tire management, and split-second timing.

For Rast, the race outcome showed the fine margins and cruel luck that can decide motorsport’s most thrilling moments.