TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT supported by Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse experienced a rollercoaster of emotions last weekend. At the third round of the 2025 DTM season in Zandvoort (6th to 8th June), the team experienced just about everything: from pole position and a one-two lead to turbulent race scenes and unfortunate pit stops to the retirement of Jordan Pepper’s Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 #63 and a strong fightback by Luca Engster in Sunday’s race. With a total of three top ten finishes, both GRT drivers collected further valuable championship points.

The third DTM round in Zandvoort got off to a promising start: Jordan Pepper lapped the Dutch dune circuit in 1:42.194 minutes in the wet qualifying session on Saturday morning. With a lead of 0.008 seconds, the 28-year-old South African secured the first pole position of his DTM career. Pepper’s team-mate Luca Engstler achieved a similar feat in wet and windy conditions, taking third place on the grid with a time of 1:42.211 minutes.

At the start of the race on a wet track, Pepper confidently maintained his top position, while Engstler was able to move into second place on the inside of turn 1. GRT’s one-two lead lasted until the pit stop window opened. An initially drying track, followed by renewed rain, made tyre choice a game of chance. This resulted in some chaotic scenes, racing accidents and a mixed-up classification. A technical defect on an impact wrench during a tyre change cost Pepper additional valuable time. Back on the track, the South African continued to struggle with his tyres, which did not reach the ideal temperature after a safety car deployment. Pepper lost several positions during this phase and eventually crossed the finish line in eighth place.

Luca Engstler crossed the finish line in fourth place and narrowly missed out on the podium in Saturday’s race. However, the 25-year-old Lamborghini Factory Driver was subsequently handed a five-second penalty for a collision at the start of the race. Particularly bitter: as the field was very close together at the end due to a late safety car deployment, the time penalty meant that Engstler was relegated six places from fourth to tenth. As a result, his team-mate Pepper moved up from eighth to seventh place.

Sunday’s DTM race on a dry track was far less dramatic than the day before – and unfortunately also far shorter for Jordan Pepper. A puncture on the first lap led to an unscheduled pit stop and ultimately to his retirement from the race, which had become hopeless for him. Meanwhile, his team-mate Luca Engstler in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 #19 put in a remarkable recovery. A flawless performance and good timing at the pit stops saw the GRT driver move up from 14th on the grid to sixth place at the finish.

After the Zandvoort races, Jordan Pepper is the best Lamborghini driver in eighth place in the drivers‘ standings, followed by Engstler in eleventh. TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT is in fourth place in the team standings. The DTM continues on the weekend of 4th to 6th July at the Norisring.

Jordan Pepper (RSA)

#63 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT

Qualifying 1: P1 – Race 1: P7

Qualifying 2: P8 – Race 2: DNF

Jordan Pepper: „That was not the weekend we had imagined. The result doesn’t reflect our pace and performance. As far as qualifying for Saturday’s race is concerned, it went almost perfectly. It was great to share my first pole position in the DTM with the team. Eighth place on the grid for Sunday’s race wasn’t bad either, especially as we still had some problems in practice. Unfortunately, the two races didn’t go as planned. But that’s also part of motorsport. In Saturday’s race, I was able to pull away a bit at the start. Unfortunately, we lost our chance of victory at the pit stop. But we are a team and we win and lose together. Sunday’s race was basically over for me before it had even started. The contact at the start of the race damaged my left front tyre and I had to retire from the race. But we will come back stronger. The weekend showed what potential we have.”

Luca Engstler (GER)

#19 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT

Qualifying 1: P3 – Race 1: P10

Qualifying 2: P14 – Race 2: P6

Luca Engstler: „That was a weekend of mixed emotions for me. On Saturday, I finished in P4 and was then penalised and classified in P10. That’s bitter, because I had a good chance of finishing on the podium. As a team, we have improved a lot. The race showed that we can keep up with the fight for the top positions. That’s very positive. On Sunday, we also realised this quite well. I started from P14 and finished in P6, the fastest Lamborghini once again. We got everything out of it that was possible – that feels good. But of course we all want a bit more and to fight for the big points. I’m already looking forward to attacking again at the Norisring.”

Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal GRT: „Up until the first pit stop in Saturday’s race, the weekend was great. We delivered a fantastic qualifying in the rain. The BoP plays less of a role in the rain, so you could see what we’re really capable of. P1 and P3, great! Then in the race there was a problem with a pit stop gun, which led to a botched stop by Jordan. It was also difficult to get the tyres up to temperature in the rain. In the second race, Jordan was again unlucky with a puncture at the start. But a big compliment to Luca and his crew. They had good pit stops and a mega strategy, thanks to which he moved up from P14 to P6 on Sunday. We now have a two-week break before we continue with the 24-hour race at Spa and then the DTM at the Norisring.”