Pure excitement at the big DTM title showdown in Hockenheim

The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg will once again host a DTM season finale from 3rd to 5th October
The power density in the 2025 DTM is enormous – the top 4 in the overall standings are separated by just six points
Attractive, varied programme for the whole family with
plenty of entertainment and affordable ticket prices

The 2025 DTM season finale is casting its shadow. In around five weeks, one of the most exciting and balanced seasons of modern times will be decided. After six of the season’s eight events, a real showdown for the 2025 DTM title is on the horizon. And this will take place from 3 to 5 October at the venue that has already hosted a DTM finale 29 times – the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.

While the DTM has not been short on variety and excitement in recent years, Germany’s flagship racing series is going one better in the 2025 season. 24 fascinating racing cars from nine brands (Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche) will be on the grid, driven by the crème de la crème of international GT racing. Racing drivers from twelve nations will be at the wheel of the approximately 550 hp racing cars, some of which represent completely different technical concepts. Turbo versus naturally aspirated, six-cylinder boxer versus V8 versus V10, front-engine versus mid-engine versus rear-engine, flat super sports car à la McLaren or Lambo versus beefy powerhouse à la BMW or Ford – there is something for every taste.

And as far as excitement is concerned – more is almost impossible. The top four in the overall standings are separated by just six points, and even the ninth-placed driver, two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann in the BMW M4 GT3, can count himself in with a 28-point gap to the title. That’s because 28 points is exactly the same as adding a pole position and a race win together.

But it’s the front of the field where the music is playing. With wins 3 and 4 this season, Ayhancan Güven (Manthey EMA / Porsche 911 GT3 R) has made his voice heard loudly in the title fight. After his bravura performance at the Sachsenring, the Turkish driver is now level on points with Jordan Pepper (GRT Grasser Racing / Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO) and only six points behind overall leader Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf / Mercedes AMG GT3). For his part, the Austrian is only two points ahead of Jack Aitken (Emil Frey Racing / Ferrari 296 GT3). In addition to Güven (4), Auer and Aitken (2 each) and Pepper (1), Thomas Preining (Manthey EMA / Porsche 911 GT3 R) and René Rast (Schubert Motorsport / BMW M4 GT3) have also finished on the top step of the podium twice this season. With a deficit of 15 and 21 points respectively, both are still within striking distance of the top of the table, as is Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward / Mercedes-AMG GT3), who has yet to win a race this season but is only 20 points behind Auer as a diligent points scorer.

Given the enormous power density, it is impossible to make any predictions. As a rule, at least 20 cars are within a second of each other in qualifying, and in some cases three tenths of a second can make the difference between five rows on the grid. Whoever is on pole on Saturday should not be surprised to start in the midfield the next day. That’s how close things are in the DTM, and surprises are possible at any time. So observers rubbed their eyes when 20-year-old Ben Dörr put his McLaren 720S GT3 EVO from Dörr Motorsport on pole in Sunday qualifying at the Nürburgring. And thus proved that all brands are absolutely competitive in the DTM.

The Ford Mustang GT3 of the Haupt Racing Team (HRT) is also getting stronger and stronger. With their beefy looks and brute V8 sound, the American cars driven by Indian Arjun Maini and Swiss Fabio Scherer have long since won the hearts of DTM fans. The same applies to the Aston Martin from Comtoyou Racing. Two top positions in the qualifying sessions prove the great potential of the Belgian team and their English GT3 racer. And when we talk about crowd favourites, we are almost inevitably referring to the Swiss Ricardo Feller and Wolfgang Land’s team, who have the sympathy of the DTM fan community with the only Audi R8 LMS in the field.

It is therefore clear that the upcoming race weekend at the Red Bull Ring, which the turbo faction and the Ford Mustang, which is as fast as an arrow on the straights, are particularly looking forward to, could completely reshuffle the cards. However, you don’t even need basic prophetic knowledge to expect the decision on the 2025 DTM title to be made at the big final weekend at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.

Great supporting programme with lots of entertainment
As always, the supporting programme at the DTM finale is top class. In addition to the main series, which as usual will stage a one-hour race on Saturday and Sunday at 1.30 pm, there will also be two races each from the ADAC GT Masters, the ADAC GT4 Germany, the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany and the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, providing a full-day racing spectacle. There is also plenty on offer away from the track: The DTM Fan Zone offers a wide range of entertainment, interviews, shows, music, autograph sessions with the racing drivers and much more. And if the youngest fans need a break from the racing action, they can jump into Europe’s largest mobile ball pool.

A family-friendly programme also includes family-friendly admission prices. Tickets for the event are available from 49 euros in advance. Children under the age of 16 are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available via the official website www.dtm.com.