"Road to DTM": Five winners on the up

• Zulauf becomes first driver to win the junior classification twice
• Berndt and Robinson receive support to enable the step up to the ADAC GT Masters
• Kart champion Kamenik can progress into automobile racing in 2027

Munich. Four series, five winners, one common path: Finn Zulauf, Denny Berndt, Lachlan Robinson, Michael Schrey and Jakub Kamenik won the "Road to DTM" in 2026. From karting, via the BMW M2 Cup and ADAC GT4 Germany, and on to the ADAC GT Masters, drivers are offered support on their personal road to the DTM. The 2026 season was a particularly successful one for Finn Zulauf. Having previously tasted success in ADAC GT4 Germany, the 22-year-old this time won the "Road to DTM" competition in the ADAC GT Masters, and with it a support package to allow him a possible start in the 2027 DTM.

Zulauf completes a historic double
Zulauf (Königstein im Taunus) made history at the season finale at the Hockenheimring. Together with Felix Hirsiger, the Lamborghini driver from Liqui Moly Team Engstler Motorsport won the ADAC GT Masters title and also came out on top in the "Road to DTM" classification. Zulauf was crowned ADAC GT4 Germany champion in 2024, for which he was rewarded with a financial support package that allowed him to make the step up to the ADAC GT Masters. He now becomes the first driver to be successful on two different levels of the "Road to DTM". "It is a very cool story for me to have now added the ADAC GT Masters title to my success in ADAC GT4 Germany, and with that to have become the first driver to win the 'Road to DTM' in both championships," says Zulauf. "I am very grateful to the ADAC for allowing me to continue to climb this success ladder."

Victory in the junior classification earned Zulauf a support package for the 2027 DTM season. Finn Wiebelhaus (Obertshausen) showed this year that it is possible to make the step up from the ADAC GT Masters to the DTM. Last year's champion and "Road to DTM" winner entered the DTM with HRT Ford Racing in 2026, and immediately impressed with fine performances in the Ford Mustang GT3.

Berndt and Robinson look towards GT3
The new ADAC GT4 Germany champions also came out on top in the "Road to DTM". Berndt (Berlin) and Robinson (AUS/both AVIA W&S Motorsport) not only won the Driver and Junior titles together in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, but also receive the support they need for a possible promotion to the ADAC GT Masters through the ADAC's youth development programme. "The 'Road to DTM' programme is interesting for me - as is GT3 racing. It would be an honour to appear in the ADAC GT Masters," says Robinson, looking ahead to the coming season. Team-mate Berndt adds: "I find the support offered by the ADAC through the 'Road to DTM' super and helpful. As a young driver, you are always looking up." Whether the duo moves into GT3 racing together or defends their title in ADAC GT4 Germany in 2027 remains to be seen.

Schrey wins in the BMW M2 Cup
Organised by the ADAC, the BMW M2 Cup was held for the first time in 2026, and it was Schrey (Wallenhorst) who emerged victorious. The experienced racer from Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport won the one-make cup in his BMW M2 Racing, and with it the "Road to DTM". Schrey already had extensive experience ahead of his start in the BMW M2 Cup, and was ADAC GT4 Germany champion in 2021.

Kamenik on his way into automobile racing
The German Kart Championship, in which the youth development programme is anchored in the OK-N class, is the entry level on the "Road to DTM". It was Kamenik who won the title here, and also picked up the "Road to DTM" trophy. The Czech driver receives the starting fee for the 2027 season in the BMW M2 Cup or ADAC GT4 Germany, and with it the opportunity to move straight from karting to automobile racing. "I am really looking forward to what lies ahead. The 'Road to DTM' is giving me the chance to take the next step and show what I can do in GT4 racing or the M2 Cup. I am very excited about that," says Kamenik.

The "Road to DTM" has been realigned for the 2027 to focus even more on the direct step up to the next motorsport division. To make this possible, the support packages have been restructured at all levels. In total, € 1.5 million will be up for grabs, in the form of cash and non-cash prizes. The winners of the "Road to DTM" will benefit from that prize purse for the first time in the 2027 season.