DTM meets karting: Maini and Schumacher start in the German Kart Championship

• DTM driver and ProSieben expert to make guest appearance in Ampfing
• The two Ford works drivers line up in the OK-N class from 17th to 19th July
• "Road to DTM" fully integrated in the OK-N class since 2026

Munich. DTM driver Arjun Maini and ProSieben expert David Schumacher are swapping their usual 'workplace' for a kart for one race weekend: the two Ford works drivers will line up in the OK-N category in the German Kart Championship in Ampfing this weekend (17th to 19th July). The "Road to DTM", the ADAC's youth development programme, has been fully integrated in this class since the start of this year. The background behind the two guest starts by Maini and Schumacher is the new partnership between the HRT racing team and the Arena E Sachsenring Junior Team.

Maini drives a Ford Mustang GT3 for HRT Ford Racing in the DTM. "It is a long time since I last went karting. As such, I am very excited. However, it goes without saying that my competitive side is also kicking in, and I want to get a good result," says Maini. Schumacher was runner-up in the German Kart Championship in 2017, went on to race in the DTM, and is now known to fans as an expert on TV partner ProSieben. "We are lining up to support karting and raise awareness of this sport. For Arjun and me, the focus is on having fun. We want to have good races and enjoy the weekend," Schumacher reveals. Both drivers have personal experience of the route from karting to professional automobile racing. In Ampfing, Maini and Schumacher will be keen to share that experience with the young drivers, and to offer them some insights into professional motorsport.

The "Road to DTM" is the ADAC's youth development and offers talented youngsters a clear career path from karting to the DTM. Since the realignment for 2026, the programme is now fully integrated in the OK-N class within the DKM. The champion has their starting fee paid for the following season in the BMW M2 Cup or ADAC GT4 Germany. From the BMW M2 Cup and ADAC GT4 Germany, the route leads via the ADAC GT Masters to the DTM. The champions of the BMW M2 Cup and ADAC GT4 Germany also receive support packages for the following season.

Maini's DTM team-mate Finn Wiebelhaus (Obertshausen) has shown just how well the "Road to DTM" can work. From his successful beginnings in the ADAC Kart Masters and the German Kart Championship, he progressed, via the ADAC Formula 4 Junior Team, to the ADAC GT Masters, where he won the title and the "Road to DTM" in 2025. That earned him the opportunity to race in this year's DTM. Last time out at the Norisring, the ADAC Stiftung Sport driver celebrated his second podium in the prestigious series.

The new partnership between HRT and the Arena E Sachsenring Junior Team is behind the guest appearances of Maini and Schumacher. Together, the two partners aim to accompany talented youngsters on the karting scene, and to facilitate their transition to automobile racing. HRT brings its experience of international GT racing and the DTM to the table, while the Junior Team adds its karting infrastructure in Mülsen.