Who will be the 2026 champion? Six drivers battle for the title

• Fourie and Zimmermann from FK Performance Motorsport hold slender lead
• Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport drivers Hirsiger and Zulauf poised to pounce
• Blum and Kalus from Haupt Racing Team plan to go on the attack at the finale

Munich. A three-way battle for the title in the ADAC GT Masters. Ahead of the finale at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (9th to 11th October), just five points separate the championship leaders and their challengers – the closest title race for years. Out in front on 184 points are BMW drivers Leyton Fourie (20/ZAF) and Tim Zimmermann (29/Langenargen/both FK Performance Motorsport). They are followed in second place on 179 points by Felix Hirsiger (28/CHE) and Finn Zulauf (22/Königstein im Taunus/both Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport) in a Lamborghini. Kiano Blum (19/AUT) and Niklas Kalus (21/Duisburg/both Haupt Racing Team) in a Ford Mustang could also theoretically get their hands on the trophy. They trail the leaders by 48 points, with 56 points still up for grabs in Hockenheim. Tickets for the grand finale, which forms part of the DTM weekend are available at dtm.com for as little as € 49.

Showdown at the finale
Five points: the difference between first and second place - both in the championship and the scoring format. It is all to play for in the remaining two ADAC GT Masters races. Over the course of the season, the lead has frequently changed hands between Fourie/Zimmermann and Hirsiger/Zulauf. Will the BMW drivers hang onto first place, or can the Lamborghini duo turn the tables again?

With six wins to two at the Hockenheimring, the statistics speak in favour of the Lamborghini. Zimmermann, who claimed his first ADAC GT Masters podium there in 2020, before tasting victory at the same venue in 2023, is out to change all that: "I have had many attempts, and am grateful to be in this position now," he says. "It would be a huge highlight. The title would be a big achievement and a dream come true." South African Fourie has been following the success of the Van der Linde brothers and Jordan Pepper for years, and is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots: "Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of winning a GT3 championship. Sheldon and Jordan, in particular, have given me a lot of support over the years, and it would be nice to emulate them."

Zulauf also knows how it feels to celebrate in Hockenheim. He won the ADAC GT4 Germany title there in 2024, and issued a clear challenge to the opposition. "We come into the weekend expecting to be crowned champions," says Zualuf. "We have fought for this for so long. Finishing second would feel like a defeat." Team-mate Hirsiger comes into the finale as a two-time champion in other series, and has a definite goal: "This would be my third title in a row, and that is my main motivation. It would mean an awful lot to me, and would obviously also be extremely important looking at the future."

48 points back, Kalus and Blum still have an outside chance in the Ford Mustang GT3. However, they are not going to let that deficit get them down, and are fully motivated coming into the finale. "We would really like to get another win," says Kalus. "It will be very difficult to win the championship, but we will do our best and focus on ourselves." Team-mate Blum is also optimistic. "Hockenheim has always been one of my favourite circuits. I dare say that I, personally, am fastest there, because I have done an incredible number of kilometres there in the past. As such, I am confident we are going to have a good end to the season."