Mirko Bortolotti is relaxed when he sits in the Hockenheim press room to talk about his 2023 DTM season which has just seen him emerge defeated by Thomas Preining.
A few meters away the Porsche-Manthey standard bearer proudly and excitedly wears the Champion’s t-shirt, but the boy from Lamborghini Squadra Corse appears calm while Motorsport.com and other journalists present shake his hand and equally congratulate him.
In fact, aboard the Huracan GT3 EVO2 prepared by SSR Performance was a truly beautiful and interesting year for the 33-year-old native of Trento, with some snags that ultimately weighed on a calculation that he himself still considers very positive by adding up the other aspects.
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3
Mirko, you started with new cars and teams for Lamborghini, at the beginning of the year would you have ever thought of competing for the title?
“If I think back to the difficulties we had at the beginning, there were some doubts. The start of the season was tough, but we took important points which later turned out to be useful, as well as superior considering the potential of that moment. Along the way I think that the team adapted to the change from Porsche to Lamborghini, certainly a shock because you’re starting from scratch and without references from the past. Time has helped us, both on the Lamborghini and SSR side.”
And here you are back in the game…
“Yes, we’re back in the running. The improvements were fundamental in the key moment of the season to get back into the fight. From that moment on I really believed in it, before I wasn’t completely convinced.”
Between IMSA, GTWC and DTM, here you were more competitive with the new Huracan; What made the difference?
“In my opinion, competitiveness has always been there, in the GTWC, for example, we almost always started on the first or second row, making the podium on our debut in Monza. It is also true that certain things have happened which in endurance races make the difference for better or worse compared to the DTM, which is a sprint championship with a quick pit stop and different regulations”.
![Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3](https://cdn-2.motorsport.com/images/mgl/0a9anyN0/s1000/mirko-bortolotti-ssr-performan-1.jpg)
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT3
Where have you lost ground in the GTWC?
“In endurance racing we were unable to resolve some problems, see the events of Paul Ricard and Spa-Francorchamps, at the Nurburgring and in Barcelona, the contacts at the start knocked us out. Sometimes we start from the front and bring home the result, in others we remain empty-handed and here we need to understand why. The races are like this, but the competitiveness has always been there even with Iron Lynx, on our debut in Monza we achieved the podium and without problems we could continue on the same wave”.
In the DTM the battle is always very close, you have suffered from some technical problems and accidents; Which episode had the most negative impact in your opinion?
“At the end of the season it’s always easy to point the finger at something. Instead, I think it should be highlighted that everyone gave 110%, there wasn’t a single member of us who made glaring errors. At the Nurburgring we had technical problems that prevented from going on the grid; in that case the causes must be analyzed and resolved for the future. Clearly, problems, at a certain point in the season, have an impact. But I don’t see one in particular that has cut our legs short.”
Especially if you have rivals like Preining who have done practically nothing wrong…
“In fact, we must give credit to Thomas, Manthey and Porsche for what they have done, without running into problems. For us, their performances must be an incentive to do better as a whole. In terms of competitiveness, I think we have always had it, perhaps a few too many missed passes cost us those points which could have put more pressure on our rivals, even overturning a weekend like this. Finding ourselves at -10 instead of with a potential +15 is very different, it could have changed the scenario.”
![Thomas Preining, Manthey EMA, Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance](https://cdn-6.motorsport.com/images/mgl/6AEQABG6/s1000/thomas-preining-manthey-ema-mi-1.jpg)
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Thomas Preining, Manthey EMA, Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance
What did you miss this weekend to stay ahead of Preining?
“First of all, the 6 thousandths in Qualifying, because if we had started in Pole the story would have been very different. The speed on the straight was certainly not the best, but it must be said that we suffer more if we are in the slipstream of another car compared to when we race with a clear track. And then it should also be underlined that the Porsche showed its real potential, they had never been so heavy and at the same time strong as here. They were also very good at managing the season by doing the best with what they had available, despite an important Balance of Performance”.
Compared to last year, how do you evaluate this DTM season?
“I think that in 2022 we had a more mature car because it was at the end of its cycle, but there were more problems on the team side, throwing away races with problems and pit stops; all mistakes that cost us dearly. This year the team doesn’t have any committed, the problems arose from a car that was still young, so the potential was always there, but with unknowns. As happened in endurance racing, some races went differently than we would have liked.”
Would you like to continue with the DTM in 2024?
“My desire is to always race at the highest level of competition to compete with the best and I believe that here we are. The decision, however, is not up to me, we are also working on the LMDh, a very important project for the company, but the DTM and we will not neglect the GT races. We will decide on future commitments with Lamborghini, taking into account that there will be concomitances and that the calendars must match. If there is the possibility of continuing, starting from the positive things of this year, I will not hold back “.
![Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2](https://cdn-8.motorsport.com/images/mgl/0k7gwMl0/s1000/mirko-bortolotti-ssr-performan-1.jpg)
Photo by: Lamborghini Squadra Corse
Mirko Bortolotti, SSR Performance, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2
How important is continuity?
“Very much, it’s an aspect that shouldn’t be forgotten. In 2022 I was with Grasser Racing and this year they started again from the work I had done with them, so they were at another level compared to us who were starting from scratch. For this reason, if I’m there in 2024, the starting point with SSR will be very different. But at the moment I don’t know what I’ll do.”
How did you get on with the SSR team?
“As I said before, no mistakes were made and an incredible job was done if we consider that they changed brands and found themselves with a new car and environment. Playing for the title against experts like Manthey in the first year is, as they say, a lot of stuff.”
Lately you’ve been used to racing in a team with mates, how much have you grown in these two years of DTM alone?
“Personally, I always grew up driving alone, coming from the world of karts and single-seaters, so the real shock was finding myself sharing a car! I really like to divide myself into various commitments during the weeks, but there’s little to invent ; the Huracan EVO2, as a set-up, is not too different from the EVO1 and we know which direction to go. It’s just a matter of working as a team and setting it up for two or three drivers. In the DTM, being alone, I can refine some details in based on my preferences and have the opportunity to express myself even better”.
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