Mirko Bortolotti, Kelvin van der Linde and Maro Engel: Two title contenders will not win a DTM title after the finale in Hockenheim – but they are not alone…
Next weekend will decide who will be crowned DTM champion in 2024: Mirko Bortolotti, Kelvin van der Linde or Maro Engel? It would be the first DTM title for all three drivers, while the other two will join an inglorious statistic, at least for the time being.
Because in the history of the DTM, there have been many successful heroes who have never won a DTM title in their career! This fate could also befall the two drivers in second and third place this season, who already have numerous successes to their name.
Kelvin van der Linde (Abt-Audi) has celebrated seven race wins so far and only just missed out on winning the title in 2021, while Bortolotti (SSR-Lamborghini) has four successes to his name and was runner-up last year. Winward-Mercedes driver Engel has competed in over a hundred DTM races, but has only made it to the top of the podium twice.
But all three drivers have one thing in common: they are chasing their first DTM title! And while the lucky champion gets to hold the coveted trophy aloft this coming weekend, the other two drivers will have to continue dreaming and hoping to triumph again in the years to come.
Otherwise, they will suffer the same fate as Jamie Green, who competed in a total of 161 DTM races for Mercedes-AMG and Audi. The Briton took 17 victories and 40 podium finishes, but never managed an overall victory! In the 2015 season, the now 42-year-old was crowned runner-up, while in 2012, 2016 and 2017 he finished the season in third place.
This makes Green the DTM driver with the most victories but without a championship title. However, the Brit is not alone: DTM legend Roland Asch celebrated six race victories and 32 podium finishes. He was runner-up twice in 1988 and 1993, but was never able to win the title.
Olaf Manthey (four wins, twice runner-up) and “Mister Le Mans” Tom Kristensen (four wins, twice third overall) were also never able to be crowned DTM champions. Which former DTM heroes who are no longer active have also never been crowned champions can be found out here.
