Outstanding result after impressive performance: Reinhard Kofler was overcome with joy as he crossed the line in the tenth round of the DTM Trophy season. “What a race! That’s a huge weight off our minds now,” said the KTM works driver after first-place finish. Kofler’s victory marked his first win in the GT support race as part of the DTM programme, and a maiden victory for KTM.
Kofler began the race at TT Circuit Assen as he meant to go on, starting from second on the grid. “I knew that I would have the best chance to grab the lead in the first few corners,” he says. “I made sure I seized the opportunity, drew level with the leader and overtook him. I spent the next three or four laps defending my position, but then I was able to manage the gap to the rest of the field and bring the car home in first. This is a real milestone for KTM and I would like to thank everyone at True Racing, Reiter Engineering and all of my teammates.”
The race win quickly made up for the disappointment of the previous day: Despite being one of the quickest drivers in the field, taking the chequered flag in third, Kofler was classified in sixth due to a five-second post-race penalty.
Not only was a KTM driver on the top step of the podium for the first time in the DTM Trophy, the Austrian manufacturer also secured its largest ever points haul at a single race weekend. Florian Janits brought the sister car home in seventh (Saturday) and fifth (Sunday), giving True Racing by Reiter Engineering a total of 53 points across the two races.
KTM’s home race at the Red Bull Ring provided an indication that the Austrian manufacturer is on the up. Janits and teammate Laura Kraihamer both finished in the top ten at the eighth race of the season back in early September.
Buoyed by the latest success, KTM will travel to the final two weekends of the season in a confident mood. The next stop on the calendar is Hockenheim from 1 to 3 October, followed by the season finale at the Norisring one week later.