MUNICH, Germany After the first DTM title of his career, Mirko Bortolotti was awarded the Golden Shoe.

Bortolotti accepted the prize at the Motorsport Award from Auto Bild and Sport Bild in the Axel Springer journalists club in Berlin. For the Viennese resident, it was the perfect end to an outstanding season with the DTM crown, Bortolotti fulfilled a childhood dream.

In an interview, the Lamborghini driver from SSR Performance talks about the three-way battle with Kelvin van der Linde and Maro Engel, gives insights into his feelings shortly before the decisive race and reveals his future plans.

Q: You received the Golden Shoe this weekend for your DTM success. What does this award mean to you?

BORTOLOTTI: I am very honored by this award. The season was open until the last race. This is the greatest proof of how high the standard is in the DTM and that everything has to be perfect down to the last detail to win the title. Thats why it was all the more wonderful to hold the Golden Shoe in my hands.

How does the DTM title feel after a few weeks?

BORTOLOTTI: Simply fantastic! The feeling is still indescribable even a few weeks later. I still remember the moment last year when I became runner-up and shed a tear or two. The runner-up title in 2023 was a crossroads: does it break you or make you stronger? I resolved to come back with a perfect season. We managed that this year. It is difficult to put into words how much commitment, effort, work and sweat went into this title. A big thank you goes especially to Lamborghini and SSR Performance, who always believed in me.

Q: How did you experience the three-way battle with Kelvin van der Linde and Maro Engel?

BORTOLOTTI: The quality of both is so high that you wouldnt want to have them as opponents. Kelvin and Maro are absolutely top drivers, which is why the championship was extremely exciting and close all year long. In the DTM, anything can happen, which is why the battle with the two of them really pushed me and gave me extra motivation.

Q: What were your thoughts immediately before the start of the decisive final race

BORTOLOTTI: The tension, the pressure and everything that goes with it are exactly the moments that you live for as a racing driver and that make our job so special. I knew that I had just secured the most important pole position of my career in qualifying. Coming back like that after a mixed Saturday and being at the front was very important and a testament to our strong nerves. However, the races are long and as a driver you know that you have a lot of work ahead of you. But I had in the back of my mind that I was in a very good starting position.

At the same time, everyone knows that no matter how well you prepare, there are no guarantees in the DTM. The entire SSR Performance team has worked excellently throughout the year. I wanted to reward not only myself but also the team for their performance.

Q: How did it feel when you knew you were the new DTM champion?

BORTOLOTTI: Incredibly intense! But also the moments before: Experiencing all the spectators and the full starting grid at the DTM finale was something special. The memory of it will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Such moments cannot be described if you have not experienced them yourself. It was just as special to do donuts in front of all the spectators after crossing the finish line and to feel the support of the fans. An absolute highlight of my career.

Q: In the penultimate race you lost the lead in the standings how did you feel when you drove back to the hotel afterwards?

BORTOLOTTI: Of course I wasnt satisfied. I would have preferred to have wrapped it up on Saturday, but thats just not how things work in the DTM. Fifth place was the maximum we could achieve in Saturdays race. Nevertheless, I was proud to have given my best again. Thats why I went to bed with that mindset.

I told myself that I would just give it my all again on Sunday and if it wasnt enough, then I had still achieved the optimum. And if I manage to win the title, then thats all the better. I think thats the only thing you can tell yourself in moments like that.

Q: Your celebration with team owner Stefan Schlund as you stood arm in arm on your Lamborghini made for a special picture.

BORTOLOTTI: Stefan always had the vision of winning the DTM title with his team. He has really done everything he can over the last two years to make this dream come true. He deserves to take this title home like no other and I am really happy for him.

The whole team delivered all year, but without Stefan the team would not exist in this form.

Q: To what extent did your experience from last years runner-up championship help you?

BORTOLOTTI: We have taken another step forward as a team, we have not let ourselves get upset in certain situations and have matured as a whole. After the experience from last year, I knew that we had to have an almost perfect season and not allow ourselves to make any mistakes.

In Oschersleben, however, the season began with problems during the pit stops. Despite this, we kept our faith in our strength, which was what mattered in that situation and over the rest of the season. But even as the new DTM champion, there are things I can improve. I dont think Ill ever get to the point in my life where I think I cant improve any further.

Q: The DTM title was one of your biggest career goals. Whats next for you?

BORTOLOTTI: Nothing has been decided yet, but I have always stressed what the DTM means to me. Even as a young boy I was a huge fan of the series. I fell in love with the red Alfa Romeo at the Bologna Motor Show in 1994, that was more or less the starting signal. Shortly afterwards I got my first kart and thats how my career began.

To now be DTM champion is the absolute crowning achievement. If the conditions are right, I will be happy to defend the title.