DTM – Stars and Stories from the season finale at the Hockenheimring

• Entertainer Sebastian Pufpaff films for TV total at the DTM
• BWT Race Lap Award raises € 70,000 for charity
• Kamrad and H-Blockx create a festival atmosphere at the DTM finale

Sebastian Pufpaff and TV total at the DTM finale
Cabaret artist and entertainer Sebastian Pufpaff from ProSieben was at the finale in Hockenheim to film for his comedy show TV total. On the starting grid before the final race of the championship, even the Grimme Award winner was seriously impressed by the packed grandstands. "The atmosphere is unbelievable. If that does not get to you, then I don't know what would," said Pufpaff. He had previously been taken for a ride in the Schaeffler Innovation Taxi, and admitted: "I underestimated what is possible with a 600-hp car in the hands of professionals. The extremely late and abrupt braking, the incredible acceleration afterwards - it sends your saliva racing through your body of its own accord." After his fast-paced adrenalin kick, Pufpaff sent the DTM field into the all-important final race of the season with the "Drivers start your engines" sign.

BWT Race Lap Award – € 70,000 for clean drinking water
The BWT Race Lap Award was presented in the DTM at the Hockenheimring for the third time this year. Since 2023, the racing series and its partner BWT has donated a fixed amount for each race lap completed to b.waterMission, in order to support projects building wells and providing drinking water in Africa. This season, the DTM drivers completed 14,029 laps. The total amount of € 56,116 was rounded up to € 70,000. At the podium ceremony, the new DTM champion Ayhancan Güvenwas presented with a symbolic cheque. The cooperation between BWT and ADAC dates back as far as 2021, since when a total of € 320,000 has been raised.

Final Festival with Tim Kamrad, H-Blockx and DJ Tomekk
On Saturday evening, spectators were treated to pure musical power at the Hockenheimring, instead of the usual roar of engines. Rising star Kamrad and the legendary H-Blockx performed on the "DTM Powerstage presented by Pirelli". Thousands danced to hits like "I Believe", "Feel Alive" and "Be Mine" from Kamrad. While the stage was being rearranged, DJ Tomekk delivered some fat sounds and thumping beats. After that, it was time for something a bit heavier, as H-Blockx took to the stage with their energetic rock. Not only did the fans enjoy the Final Festival, but so did the musicians. Henning Wehland, singer, keyboard player and guitarist with H-Blockx, clearly had a great time: "It was an awesome show here at the Hockenheimring. Motorsport and rock and roll are the ultimate combination. We will be back."

Marathon hero Ringer: Round the Hockenheimring, stopping at the Rast garage
2022 European marathon champion Richard Ringer did two laps of the Hockenheimring in his running shoes at the weekend. However, the opportunity to see behind the scenes proved to be far more interesting for the 36-year-old, who has also won German titles over shorter distances, including 5,000 and 10,000 metres. "I was here for the whole weekend - from free practice to the final race. It is fascinating how close you get to the race cars in the DTM," said Ringer. "I had a look round René Rast's garage and saw the mechanics going about their work. That was really intriguing."

Sebastian Rode impressed by how accessible the DTM is to fans
Former Bundesliga footballer Sebastian Rode visited the DTM in Hockenheim at the weekend. He first inspected Timo Glock's McLaren before making his way onto the grid before the DTM race. "I did not expect to see so many fans on the starting grid," said Rode, who was twice crowned German champions with FC Bayern Munich and won the Europa League as the captain of Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022. He was particularly impressed by the direct contact between drivers and fans: "This proximity between spectators and athletes is almost inconceivable in football." Rode showed he is not just a fair-weather fan on Saturday afternoon, as he sent the DTM drivers onto the wet track with the "Drivers start your engines" sign.

Manuel Thiele: DTM memories from PlayStation
German-Austrian sports journalist Manuel Thiele is known, among other things, for football analyses on his YouTube channel and as the WWE SmackDown presenter on the DTM's television partner ProSieben. At the Hockenheimring, the guest of Schaeffler revealed he is a fan of the DTM from the 2000s. "As a boy, I spent hours playing DTM Race Driver on the PlayStation. The yellow Audi TT was my favourite car. To see it all live now is a great experience," said Thiele, who is a passionate collector of football shirts, with over 400 in his collection. "Years ago I got to wear a racing overall that belonged to Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso. I still have a photo of it to this day."

Thiim and Bortolotti face young reporters
Ahead of the finale in Hockenheim, Nicki Thiim and Mirko Bortolotti from Abt Sportsline had to face a grilling from some young reporters. The two racing drivers had their brains picked during a children's press conference in the editorial offices of the Heilbronner Stimme - and the young audience came well prepared. The DTM drivers were surprised by some tough questions. "The children had put a lot of thought into it," said Bortolotti, impressed. "They asked us how we prepared for DTM weekends and how we started out in motorsport. Some of the questions were pretty direct, but I'm a big fan of that."

Hockey stars Schultes and Weichenhain go behind the scenes
Ice hockey meets the DTM: German champions Chiara Schultes and Hanna Weichenhain from the Memmingen Indians took a stroll through the paddock on Sunday. While Schultes, netminder for the German national team, recalled old DTM memories ("I was here with my parents as a little girl"), it was a totally new feeling for 16-year-old Weichenhain. "The atmosphere here is intense, totally different to in an ice hockey stadium," said the talented youngster. "My friends will be jealous." The two ice hockey internationals have a definite goal for their next visit: to finally do a lap in the much sought-after Schaeffler Innovation Taxi.