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“We Are Heading to FIA”: Grasser’s Appeal Denied – No DTM Champion at Finale?
Highlights
- DMSB rejected Grasser Racing Team’s appeal on Bortolotti’s disqualification.
- Bortolotti lost DTM win over non-compliant Lamborghini wheel bearing.
- Team plans FIA appeal within seven days to delay championship decision.
- FIA hearing likely after October 9-11 DTM season finale at Hockenheim.
- Thomas Preining currently leads championship by over 20 points.
- Dispute centers on DTM supplementary homologation versus FIA GT3 rules.
DMSB has rejected Grasser Racing Team’s appeal against Mirko Bortolotti’s disqualification, confirming the loss of his Oschersleben DTM win after a non-compliant Lamborghini wheel bearing was found in post-race checks.
Team principal Gottfried Grasser plans to escalate the case to the FIA within seven days, seeking a definitive ruling and potentially delaying confirmation of the championship outcome.
Stewards applied Article 5.1 of the DTM Sporting Regulations, which demands parts are used exactly as supplied. The bearing differed from the DTM GT3 homologation and the mandated reference component.
Grasser argued machining was permissible due to regulatory ambiguity, but the appeals court in Frankfurt rejected that defence after a detailed technical review. The original exclusion, issued on August 13, stands.
DMSB upholds Bortolotti’s disqualification; Grasser moves to seek an FIA ruling.
Because Grasser competes under the AMF’s Austrian licence, the team can seek redress at an FIA court beyond the national process. A hearing would likely follow the Hockenheim finale on October 9-11.
Thomas Preining currently heads the standings by 23 points over Maro Engel and 24 over Marco Wittmann. Any reinstatement for Bortolotti would reshuffle that order and compress Preining’s margin.
Projections place Wittmann 23 behind and Engel 24 behind Preining if results change.
Preining leads by more than 20 points, but the title picture could shift pending any FIA decision.
The crux is DTM’s supplementary GT3 homologation, introduced in 2025 to tighten clarity and reduce costs. Under DTM rules it overrides FIA GT3, with the Lamborghini bearing specified in series documents.
By contrast, the FIA GT3 homologation lists only basic parameters, such as size and material. That contention will be tested if the team lodges an appeal to an FIA court.
DTM’s supplementary homologation currently takes precedence over FIA GT3 within the series framework.
The FIA generally discourages series-level deviations from GT3 homologation, including in championships like DTM and GT World Challenge Europe. Its stance could prove decisive in interpreting responsibility for component conformity.
For now the title picture remains fluid. If Grasser proceeds within seven days, the DTM may leave Hockenheim without a confirmed champion while the FIA process runs its course.
Visual Summary
DSQ
DMSB ⟶ FIA
Championship in Limbo!
Grasser Racing appeals Bortolotti’s DTM disqualification
Final outcome now rests with the FIA.
PRE
+23
ENG
0
WIT
-1
Title battle in flux — standings could shift
if Bortolotti’s result is reinstated.
if Bortolotti’s result is reinstated.
⏳ Decision pending!
No champion could be crowned at Hockenheim finale (Oct 9–11) — all eyes on the FIA ruling.
Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.
