Stellar field set to shine in the 2026 DTM

• Three former champions and eleven DTM race winners on the 2026 grid
• Comeback for Kelvin van der Linde
• Second season in the McLaren for Timo Glock

Munich. A world champion, DTM champions, talented youngsters and a former Formula 1 driver: the DTM arrives in 2026 with a top-class field featuring drivers from eleven countries and eight top international manufacturers. For the first time in the history of the series, which stretches back more than 40 years, the season kicks off in Austria. The Red Bull Ring hosts the opening round from 24th to 26th April. ProSieben is showing all the races live on television, while all rounds can also be seen online and free of charge on super streamer Joyn. Tickets for the DTM start at € 49 and are available at dtm.com. Admission is free for under 16s.

"The quality in the field is immense, and the fact that we have drivers from eleven countries underlines the high degree of international relevance of the series," says ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss. "We are looking forward to watching three former champions, stars like Timo Glock, the return of Kelvin van der Linde, high-quality newcomers, and the exciting debut of Road to DTM winner Finn Wiebelhaus, who has made the step up to the DTM."

Three DTM champions line up in the 2026, when the starting grid will feature no fewer than eleven DTM race winners. They include Mirko Bortolotti (I), the 2024 champion. Together with Maximilian Paul, the Italian has switched to TGI Team by GRT, where, like his fellow Lamborghini drivers at Red Bull Team Abt, he will start in the new Temerario GT3 for the first time. Bortolotti has his sights set on a second title - as does Thomas Preining (A). The 2023 champion is still driving for Manthey and will be at the wheel of a new Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. Marco Wittmann (Schubert Motorsport) is gunning for title number three: with 210 DTM starts to his name, the BMW works driver from Fürth is one of the most experienced drivers in the field and, with two titles, one of the most successful in the history of the series.

Wittmann will face stiff opposition from within his own team: Kelvin van der Linde (ZA) is back in the DTM and hungry for his first title in the BMW M3 GT4 Evo. The South African will be up against his former team-mate Ricardo Feller (CH), who has also switched manufacturer. He now starts for Porsche, having taken over the car that won the championship for Manthey last season. Lucas Auer (A) will feel it is his time to win the title, having been in contention right down to the final round of the championship in 2025. The Austrian remains with Mercedes-AMG, but now lines up in a spectacular Adidas design. Mercedes-AMG, last year's champion manufacturer, comes into the season with an unchanged quartet of Auer, Maro Engel, Jules Gounon (F) and youngster Tom Kalender.

Consistency is also important for Timo Glock: the former Formula 1 driver and five-time DTM race winner starts his second season with McLaren and Dörr Motorsport. At the wheel of the second McLaren will be Ben Dörr, who is contesting his third year in the DTM.

Nicki Thiim (DK) is hoping for his big breakthrough in a familiar car: the Aston Martin works driver had previously driven a Lamborghini in the DTM, but now starts in the trusted Aston Martin Vantage GT3. He lines up alongside Nicolas Baert (B) for Belgian team Comtoyou.

Red Bull Team Abt, the most successful team in the field, has a new line-up: Luca Engstler comes in to replace Grasser-bound Bortolotti, and will drive one of two new Temerario GT3. Engstler is virtually working from home, as he grew up just a few kilometres from the Abt headquarters in Kempten. Lamborghini works driver Marco Mapelli (I) is at the wheel of the second car for Red Bull Team Abt. The Italian is one of four drivers in the field making their debut in 2026. They also include his compatriot Matteo Cairoli (I), who is sure to catch the eye in the pink Ferrari, sponsored by water technology BWT. He and Thierry Vermeulen (NL) will have their sight set on victories for Ferrari and Emil Frey Racing.

Finn Wiebelhaus from Obertshausen has made it to the DTM courtesy of victory in the "Road to DTM" junior competition in the ADAC GT Masters. Wiebelhaus lines up as the team-mate of Arjun Maini (IND) in one of the two Ford Mustang run by HRT Ford Racing. Another new face in the DTM is Bastian Buus (DK), who starts for Land-Motorsport in a Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.

2026 DTM starter list
#3 Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Schubert Motorsport), BMW M4 GT3 Evo
#7 Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing), Aston Martin Vantage GT3
#8 Nicolas Baert (B/Comtoyou Racing), Aston Martin Vantage GT3
#10 Marco Mapelli (I/Red Bull Team Abt), Lamborghini Temerario GT3
#11 Marco Wittmann (D/Schubert Motorsport), BMW M4 GT3 Evo
#14 Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing), Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo
#16 Timo Glock (D/Dörr Motorsport), McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
#19 Mirko Bortolotti (I/TGI Team by GRT), Lamborghini Temerario GT3
#22 Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), Mercedes-AMG GT3
#25 Ben Dörr (D/Dörr Motorsport), McLaren 720S GT3 Evo
#29 Bastian Buus (DK/Land-Motorsport), Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo
#36 Arjun Maini (IND/HRT Ford Racing), Ford Mustang GT3 Evo
#48 Jules Gounon (F/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter), Mercedes-AMG GT3
#63 Maximilian Paul (D/TGI Team by GRT), Lamborghini Temerario GT3
#64 Finn Wiebelhaus (D/HRT Ford Racing), Ford Mustang GT3 Evo
#69 Thierry Vermeulen (NL/Emil Frey Racing), Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo
#80 Maro Engel (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol), Mercedes-AMG GT3
#84 Tom Kalender (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), Mercedes-AMG GT3
#90 Ricardo Feller (CH/Manthey), Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo
#91 Thomas Preining (A/Manthey), Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo
#130 Luca Engstler (D/Red Bull Team Abt), Lamborghini Temerario GT3