Manufacturing unit Porsche driver Preining emerged on prime in a season-long battle with Lamborghini’s Bortolotti after dominating the ultimate spherical at Hockenheim, winning both races from pole position to attain an ideal haul of 56 factors.
The Austrian wrapped up the title when he secured three further factors for pole in Sunday’s second qualifying, however the championship battle was successfully determined the day gone by when he romped to a simple win whereas Bortolotti might solely muster a fifth-place end.
In that exact race, Bortolotti struggled to make a lot headway from eighth on the grid, and will solely make up some floor within the latter phases after two feisty battles with Kelvin van der Linde and Jack Aitken.
When he was requested on TV about his onerous driving fashion, the Italian’s response generated a significant controversy on social media.
He was quoted as saying: “From me? Folks solely ever see what I do.
“In the event you’re pushed onto the grass on a regular basis, in the midst of the straight, after which I get it off. Sorry, I am not going to permit that anymore.
“You also needs to have respect in case you are Italian and never simply German and drive a German automobile. I feel I needed to take greater than I gave out at this time.”
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
Thomas Preining, Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3-R
However Preining has come out in defence of his chief championship rival, highlighting how he reached out to him in parc ferme to congratulate him for his success.
“It is actually not straightforward whenever you’re in his footwear now,” Preining advised broadcaster ran.de. “You misplaced the championship ten minutes in the past. To have the balls there and instantly go and congratulate, that is actually onerous to do.
“He was the primary well-wisher after qualifying and after the race. To struggle in opposition to him after which additionally to beat him is absolutely particular.”
Preining felt the hate feedback Bortolotti acquired on the web weren’t justified.
“I noticed on Saturday that he acquired loads of dangerous feedback on the Web,” he mentioned. “After all everybody can write and do no matter they need, however I actually should say he was all the time very respectful, the entire season.”
Bortolotti, on his half, clarified that these feedback weren’t geared toward different drivers however on the query that had been posed to him by the TV reporter.
Nonetheless, he was clear that he gained’t change his angle regardless of the controversy that had been generated.
“What goes on in social media does not trouble me in any respect,” the SSR Performance driver advised ran.de.
“I do know what I say, after I say it and why I say it. Perhaps sure folks ought to get some details earlier than they shoot out feedback right here free of charge.
“And never as a result of I needed to get detrimental on any folks. It wasn’t directed at different drivers, however on the query because it was worded.
“I am not going to again down from expressing my opinion. Folks can write what they need on the market. Allow them to get their lives collectively as a substitute of judging mine.”