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DTM Finale Uncertain as Thierry Vermeulen Injured After Victory Celebration
Highlights
- Thierry Vermeulen injured left foot during victory celebration jump
- Injury may affect Vermeulen’s participation in DTM Hockenheim finale
- Team to assess Vermeulen’s condition after Friday free practice
- Vermeulen currently ranks 11th in DTM championship standings
- Teammate Matteo Cairoli lies fifth, 47 points behind leader
- Emil Frey Racing hopeful for regular race conditions at finale
Thierry Vermeulen’s participation in the DTM season finale at Hockenheim is uncertain after he injured his left foot during post-race celebrations in Barcelona.
The Emil Frey Racing driver landed awkwardly after jumping from the roof of his Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, cutting short the winner’s interview and requiring assistance from mechanics.
Vermeulen hurt his braking foot, significant in DTM where drivers routinely exceed 100 kilograms of pedal force.
Emil Frey technical director Jurg Flach confirmed the injury resulted from the jump, noting racing shoes’ thin soles offer little cushioning for high-impact landings.
Despite the setback, Flach remains optimistic about Vermeulen’s availability and does not expect to draft a replacement driver.
“I expect him to drive and everything to be fine.” — Jurg Flach
A final decision will follow Friday free practice for the Hockenheim finale, when the team can gauge pain management and braking consistency over longer runs.
Vermeulen sits 11th in the DTM championship standings with 98 points, close to last season’s total after a campaign of intermittent peaks.
Recent highlights include two pole positions and a second place in 2025, plus two second-place qualifying results and a podium at Zandvoort this season.
A compromised left foot would directly affect heavy braking zones at Hockenheim, influencing tyre management, energy deployment, and defensive positioning into Turn 2 and the hairpin.
Teammate Matteo Cairoli remains in mathematical contention but trails the leader by 47 points, needing significant volatility to enter a realistic title fight.
Cairoli faces a 47-point deficit, requiring an outlier race to transform the championship picture.
Rain is possible on Saturday, yet the team prefers stable conditions to showcase representative pace and execute cleanly.
Flach underlined that normal conditions would aid performance visibility, though challenging the form teams at the front may remain difficult.
Emil Frey Racing will confirm Vermeulen’s participation after Friday’s running, aligning setup with comfort and braking repeatability.
Vermeulen’s fitness will shape Emil Frey’s approach, balancing outright speed with drivability to limit braking strain as the team targets a strong finish at Hockenheim.
Visual Summary
🟨
⚡
INJURED CELEBRATION: VERMEULEN’S SEASON FINALE IN DOUBT
🎉 ➡️ 😣
Triumph on the roof, pain on landing.
Will Vermeulen
be fit for Hockenheim?
🦶
Left Foot = Brakes
100kg+
of force needed every lap
100kg+
of force needed every lap
Will Vermeulen recover in time?
Free practice verdict will decide fate.
Vermeulen
11th in DTM
98
points
11th in DTM
98
points
Cairoli
5th in DTM
-47
pts to lead
5th in DTM
-47
pts to lead
🌧️
Rain? Unpredictable conditions could decide it all.
Rain? Unpredictable conditions could decide it all.
All eyes on Friday:
Will the hero race, or is his season over?
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.
