Dario Apa wins the PRTC at Lausitzring for Switzerland – Dirk Ehlebracht extends championship lead

Lausitzring. The Pfister-Racing Touring Car Challenge (PRTC) from 03-04/06/2023 at the DEKRA Lausitzring has already reached its mid-season with the competitive races 5 & 6. Many visitors made their way to the racing circuit to take in the atmosphere and enjoy the diverse program of the ADAC racing weekend at no cost. You could also follow the races on screen thanks to a brilliant live-stream with commentary.

The Lausitzring is the only circuit with a steep turn on the PRTC race calendar and puts the drivers to the test with a challenging "in-field".

True to the series motto "real cars, real racing", both ambitious youngsters and experienced "gentleman drivers" again competed against each other in the PRTC. Ruth Mbabazi from Switzerland made her touring car debut on this racing weekend. The 28-year-old was able to successfully participate in a racing driver licensing course and now ventures into competition.

"An exciting racing season is entering its next stage. The Lausitzring awaits us, together with our friends from the Touring Car Classics as well as bright sunshine and the best track conditions. These are the best conditions for real touring car motorsporting, which the PRTC will once again give us this racing weekend!" says series organizer Andreas Pfister before the start of the racing weekend.

Ruth Mbabazi (CHE) made it onto the podium on her touring car debut

After the first test drives on Friday and Saturday, the touring car drivers went into the important qualifying laps to earn their position on the starting grid.

Clean start to the racing weekend with pole position for Dario Apa

Dario Apa (CHE, Zurich) already showed in the free practice that the Lausitzring circuit suits him well and that he could get used to the track very quickly. In the following qualifying session he reached pole position with a superb lap time of 1:53:320.

The first row of the starting grid was completed by local hero Marco Bedrich (GER, Cottbus) who was cheered on by his home fans.

The third place on the grid went to Lars Stubanus (GER, Gernsbach), ahead of Dirk Ehlebracht (GER, Oberursel), showing an upward trend.

Man of the racing weekend: Dario Apa from Zurich

Unlucky fellow Marco Bedrich: Technical failure in the very first race

After the qualifying session, both the racers and the mechanics of the Pfister Racing Team had little time to prepare for the first race. The race was to be started with a rolling "Indianapolis start".

After the first lap there was a huge disappointment for the fans of Marco Bedrich: The Lausitz racer was very unlucky and had to park his touring car in the pit lane due to a performance loss.

Meanwhile, Dario Apa had a clear run at the front and was able to leave the competition behind right from the start of the race.

Ehlebracht scores further important points as "Mr. Consistency"

Dirk Ehlebracht drove himself into a tactically important second place. With the drop-out of his biggest rival for the championship, Marco Bedrich, Ehlebracht was able to add another 8 important points to his balance.

Behind them, Ruth Mbabazi made it to the podium in her first ever race in a touring car, and she was able to receive her first trophy.

Strengthened his chances for a championship: Veteran Dirk Ehlebracht

Tire management also played a role at the Lausitzring: Those who brought their TOYO TIRES Proxes R888R semi-slicks best over the distance in the warm temperatures, had the best grip for the second race.

Second race, second victory: perfect weekend for Dario Apa

The second race on Sunday brought some more action, as is usual in the PRTC. Apa turned his pole position into a lead once again, but then had to contend with tenacious attacks from Marco Bedrich right from the start.

Bedrich launched a few attacks to claim the lead from the slipstream, but Apa slickly defended his leading position. Then, during the first overtakings, another moment of "aha" for Marco Bedrich: His front wheels locked and caused him to collide with a BMW, resulting in a damaged front bumper and a time penalty.

Dirk Ehlebracht had to work much harder in this race as well: For several laps he was in a duel with Lars Stubanus for the third position, which he finally managed to achieve by a narrow margin.

Home podium despite a turbulent second race: Marco Bedrich from Cottbus

At the front, Apa let nothing get in his way and took his second win at the Lausitzring and his joy was palpable as he got out of his racing car. Marco Bedrich was able to take the second place in front of Dirk Ehlebracht despite a time penalty, and could thus do some "damage limitation" for his home race.

In the overall ranking, Dirk Ehlebracht is now on the first place with a total of 50 points, ahead of Marco Bedrich with 36 points and Raphael Rennhofer (AUT, Niederneukirchen) with 30 points.

The next PRTC action will take place from 28-30/07/2023, again as part of the ADAC Racing Weekend, but this time at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.