Arjun Maini Clinches First DTM Pole at Red Bull Ring

Arjun Maini achieved his first DTM pole position at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Amid constantly changing timings, Maini's final lap secured him the top spot. Despite communication issues, he performed exceptionally and looks forward to race 13 from pole position.

In a thrilling qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Arjun Maini clinched the first pole position of his DTM career. The Mercedes-AMG driver held his nerve amidst multiple lead changes, posting the fastest time of 1:30.128 minutes on his final lap.

The Indian driver, who will start from the front of the grid for the first time in race 13 of the season, expressed his excitement despite technical challenges. "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," Maini said, reflecting on the nerve-wracking session. "The pole position feels incredible. I can enjoy the moment for a few hours, until the race starts."

The conditions at the Red Bull Ring were challenging, with temperatures at 10 degrees and parts of the track still damp. Initially, many drivers opted for wet-weather tyres before switching to Pirelli slicks. The lead changed hands frequently, but Maini's final push edged out Lamborghini's Paul, securing him the pole.

The DTM grid, comprising 20 highly competitive drivers from manufacturers such as Mercedes AMG, BMW, Audi, McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini, saw Maini perform remarkably well. He brought the tri-color out with pride after making a strong start and finishing third in a challenging race, marking his second podium finish of the season.

Maini acknowledged the tricky conditions, stating, "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." He expressed gratitude towards the Mercedes AMG team HRT for providing a competitive car and looks forward to maintaining his momentum in upcoming races.

(With inputs from agencies.)