Motodrom Insight 2026 // DTM
EXCITEMENT, A VARIETY OF BRANDS AND PURE MOTORSPORT
Event date: October 9-11, 2026
The DTM and the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg – an unbeatable combination. Countless times already, the Grand Prix circuit has been the scene of epic battles in Germany’s most popular racing series. And you don’t have to look back very far: as recently as last October, the dramatic 2025 DTM title battle was decided just a few metres from the chequered flag following a spectacular overtaking manoeuvre in the Sachs Corner, with Ayhancan Güven emerging victorious to become the first Turkish DTM champion in history.
Even though Güven will be unable to defend his title in the 2026 season because Porsche has other plans for its works driver, the DTM season promises to be another thrilling one. The diversity of the racing series continues to leave nothing to be desired. Drivers from nine nations, including three former DTM champions, will battle it out across the 16 rounds to succeed Güven.
DTM-ELITE 2026: DRIVERS, TEAMS, FAVOURITES
More than 20 GT3 racing cars from eight different manufacturers will line up on the starting grid for the 2026 DTM. And one of them will be fielding a brand-new car: Lamborghini has a real hot prospect in the Temerario GT3. The latest model is no longer powered by the familiar 5.2-litre V10 mid-engine, but by a newly developed 4-litre V8 biturbo engine, also mounted in front of the rear axle. Four Lamborghinis have been announced for the 2026 DTM, with two each fielded by Grasser Racing Team (GRT) and Abt Sportsline. The Austrian team will be represented by the 2024 DTM champion, Mirko Bortolotti, and rising star Maximilian Paul, whilst Marco Mapelli and Luca Engstler will be behind the wheel for the Kempten-based outfit.
The current manufacturers’ champion is bringing the opposite approach to the grid. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is by far the oldest car on the grid – but naturally also the most mature. With its triumph at the 12-hour race in Bathurst and the GTD class victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona, the car, with its powerful 6.3-litre V8 front-mounted engine, proved right at the start of the season that it is far from being past its prime. With Winward Racing and Landgraf Motorsport, two highly experienced teams are responsible for fielding the four Mercedes-AMG GT3s, and the drivers Maro Engel, Jules Gounon (Winward) as well as Lucas Auer and Tom Kalender (Landgraf) are among the elite of GT racing.
Porsche is tackling the ‘defending the drivers’ title’ project with a slightly modified line-up. The Manthey EMA team has reduced its fleet from three to two Porsche 911 GT3-Rs, but boasts two proven top drivers in its ranks: 2023 champion Thomas Preining from Austria and Ricardo Feller from Switzerland. Meanwhile, Feller’s team from last year, Land-Motorsport, has changed colours: instead of the ageing Audi R8 LMS, which will no longer feature in the DTM field this season, a car from Zuffenhausen is now also being fielded by the team of former Porsche ace Wolfgang Land. The car, powered by a rear-mounted four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine, will be driven by the young Dane Bastian Buus.
BMW, the 2022 DTM champions, are fielding a small but very strong line-up in this year’s impressive field of competitors. The Oschersleben-based Schubert Motorsport team is fielding two of the powerful M4 GT3s. With two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann and South African DTM returnee Kelvin van der Linde, the drivers also represent the crème de la crème of international GT3 racing.
With the beefy Ford Mustang GT3, Haupt Racing Team (HRT) roared straight into the hearts of DTM fans last season. The mighty 5.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine is a real asset to the colourful DTM field, and not just in terms of sound. With Arjun Maini, the team led by former DTM driver Hubert Haupt also has the only Indian driver in the field in its ranks. Maini’s team-mate is the young German Finn Wiebelhaus, a DTM rookie. The 20-year-old from Obertshausen in Hesse is considered a real diamond in the rough.
Last year, Wiebelhaus, as champion of the ADAC GT Masters, won the ‘Road to DTM’ standings and thus secured his place in the top GT3 league.
There were no doubts throughout the winter regarding the line-up for the two McLaren 720S GT3 Evo cars from Dörr Motorsport. Formula 1, IndyCar and DTM veteran Timo Glock will once again bring his vast experience to bear in 2026 to lead the young team to the top of the DTM with the British sports car. With the young Ben Dörr, the veteran has a strong team-mate in his own squad.
Speaking of British sports cars: Aston Martin has further strengthened its line-up for the 2026 DTM season. As was the case last year, two of those Vantage GT3s will be on the grid; in their debut season in 2025, they set two fastest times in practice at the Norisring (although this pole position was subsequently revoked) and made a strong impression at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Aston Martin works driver Nicki Thiim and the young Nicolas Baert, along with their team Comtoyou Racing, will do everything in their power to ensure that this year they are not only at the start but also right at the front at the finish line.
And last but not least, there is that brand which makes the hearts of racing fans worldwide beat faster: Ferrari! The Emil Frey Racing team will be on the grid this season with two of the stunning 296 GT3s. As the new team-mate of Thierry Vermeulen, the son of the manager of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, Italian driver Matteo Cairoli is joining the Swiss team this year.
PIT STOPS AS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
But however strong the drivers and cars may be – on the track, every second often counts, and this is exactly where pit stops come into play. The performance pit stops – one in Saturday’s race, and even two in Sunday’s race – can be decisive in determining victory or defeat. With a maximum of six mechanics, of whom only two are dedicated tyre changers per side of the car, the aim is to change all four wheels as quickly as possible. The DTM Pit Stop Challenge, which takes into account all pit stops of the year, is fiercely contested among the teams. Last year, Winward Racing secured the coveted trophy, with the crew from Altendiez conjuring up the fastest pit stop of the entire season at the Norisring in 5.6 seconds.
This has already sparked anticipation for the 2026 DTM season finale, scheduled for 9–11 October at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. Anyone betting on a real nail-biting finale and thrilling action from start to finish in the two one-hour races on the 4.5-kilometre Grand Prix circuit shouldn’t expect the odds to be too high. What has always been the case usually stays that way …
