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16.08.2026 - DTM
DTM – Stars and Stories from the Nürburgring
Nürburg. The DTM weekend at the Nürburgring not only produced another dramatic chapter in this year's title race, but there was also plenty going on away from the track. Prominent guests from the worlds of sport and entertainment delighted the crowds: table tennis legend Timo Boll presented a trophy, former bachelor Felix Stein did a lap in the Cupra lead car, and Joey Kelly presented the cult Kelly Family bus. Olympic champions including ski cross star Daniela Maier and canoe ace Ricarda Funk were also there to cheer the drivers on. Plus, trials freestyle rider Adrian Guggemos pulled off some breath-taking stunts.
Joey Kelly thrills fans with cult bus
The Kelly Family's iconic red double-decker bus was a real eye-catcher at the Nürburgring DTM weekend. Joey Kelly was there in person for the presentation of the cult vehicle from the family's earlier touring years. "The bus was in storage for 28 years and has undergone extensive restoration, supervised by Dekra. It will get its official license in the next few weeks," said the musician and extreme sports enthusiast. Kelly himself is a huge fan of motorsport and the Nürburgring: "I actually spent three years racing in smaller classes, and made four appearances in the 24-hour race. I love the Nordschleife, the Ring is my thing," he revealed with a twinkle in his eye. On Saturday afternoon, Kelly was put to work on the start/finish straight, where he sent the drivers into race eleven of the season with the "Drivers start your engines" sign.
Frentzen family back at the DTM
Heinz-Harald Frentzen can look back on an impressive career: he contested 157 races in Formula 1 and was runner-up in the pinnacle of motor racing in 1997. From 2004 to 2006, the man from Mönchengladbach raced in the DTM with Opel and Audi. On Sunday, the 59-year-old visited the Nürburgring with his daughter Lea. They both strolled through the paddock and the grid, meeting old acquaintances on their way. "It feels special to visit the DTM with my father for the first time. The coolest thing for me about the DTM is definitely the start, when all the cars go into turn one together," said Lea Frentzen. As an influencer, she regularly offers her followers insights into her childhood and takes fans behind the scenes of motorsport. "I started out in social media three years ago, when I visited Formula 1 for the first time in Silverstone. It is unbelievably nice to see how many fans my father still has today."
Table tennis legend Timo Boll presents DTM trophy
Timo Boll visited the DTM at the Nürburgring in his mobile home. The table tennis icon achieved unique successes over the course of his career: Boll was the first and only German to top the world rankings, won eight European Championship titles, was third in the World Championship, and won multiple Olympic silver medals with the national team. In the Eifel region, the man from Hesse enjoyed the special atmosphere at The Ring, and discovered parallels between motorsport and table tennis: "You have to think ahead and read situations correctly in both sports. Plus, the material - such as the grip of the rubber on the bat - also plays a big role for us." After Saturday's DTM race, the table tennis ace presented the trophy to the runner-up. "I used to receive trophies, now I am presenting them," said Boll with a wink. "However, I really enjoy doing it, as anyone who makes it onto the podium in the DTM has achieved something special."
Olympic champions Maier and Funk have their fingers crossed for Wittmann
Schaeffler invited two Olympic champions to the DTM in the Eifel Mountains: Daniela Maier and Ricarda Funk. Ski cross gold medallist Maier first experienced the DTM as a child. "I was about eight years old when I first visited the DTM. There is such an incredible amount going on here - it is one highlight after another. It is a mega experience to be at a race weekend," said Maier. Funk, who was born in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, near the Nürburgring, and is an Olympic champion in the canoe slalom, grew up with speed in the Eifel. "A DTM weekend is spot on for me. I come from a background of action sports, and have even jumped out of a plane. I have my fingers crossed for Marco Wittmann," Funk revealed.
Breath-taking stunts with trials freestyle star Adrian Guggemos
Adrian Guggemos impressed with a spectacular live stunt show in the paddock and in turn one ahead of the DTM races. The 32-year-old from Schorndorf got spectators' adrenalin pumping with some daredevil manoeuvres, including riding on the front or rear wheel. He produced his highlight in front of the grandstands: much to the delight of the fans, Guggemos jumped over the DTM safety car - a Cupra Formentor VZ5 - on his trials bike.
"Cupra unofficial": The dark side of the brand conquers the Eifel circuit
As Official Car Partner, Cupra again leads out the DTM field in 2026. However, the brand presented a different, more unusual side, at the Nürburgring: as "Unofficial Partner", the Spanish automobile manufacturer revealed its dark side - with the goal being to push limits, give passion for racing free rein, and not to be held back. With that in mind, the safety and lead car at the Nürburgring was given a new "Unofficial Livery", which was administered over the existing branding. Furthermore, an "Unofficial Zone" with eight exclusive seats was set up right inside turn one on both race days - a place that is not usually accessible to spectators. The action was complemented by "Unofficial Flags" with the slogans "Remember why you’re driving", "Folge deinem Instinkt" ("Follow your instinct"), and "Unofficial Partner".
DTM at the Nürburgring overwhelms bachelor Felix Stein
Felix Stein attended the DTM race weekend at the Nürburgring on Saturday. As part of Cupra's "Unofficial Crew", the 2025 bachelor from the RTL dating show waved the flag from the lead car as it headed onto the grid, cheered on with great fervour by the fans. The man from Berlin was totally impressed by the DTM atmosphere: "It only took ten minutes for me to be part of the DTM community. The sound of the cars, the atmosphere in the grandstands, and the friendliness of the people - it is all overwhelming. The ride in the lead car was also amazing. I had no idea that these cars were so fast," said Stein.
Olympic bobsleigh champion Georg Fleischhauer: "These DTM cars are beasts"
Georg Fleischhauer returned to the DTM after a long time this weekend - and was visibly impressed. "The last time I was at a DTM event was over 15 years ago. As such, I was delighted to be invited by Schaeffler," said the two-time German champion in the 400-metre hurdles, who is now known as one of the strongest pushers in the sport of bobsleigh. Together with driver Johannes Lochner, he was crowned world champion and won a gold medal in both the two-man and four-man bob. The athlete was particularly taken by the DTM cars: "These cars are beasts. Our bobs are also high-tech pieces of equipment, but these cars are something very special. Speed and the right line also play a crucial role in bobsleigh. However, the temperatures we encounter are a bit different to here at the Nürburgring," said Fleischhauer.
Ludwig, Scheider, Güven – three generations of DTM champions at the Nürburgring
Klaus Ludwig (1982, 1988, 1994), Timo Scheider (2008, 2009) and Ayhancan Güven (2025) – three DTM champions from three decades - met at the Nürburgring. While the experienced Ludwig and Scheider have long since been part of DTM history, reigning champion Güven moved to the FIA World Endurance Championship after his title-winning season. As such, the first Turkish DTM champion really enjoyed visiting his old stomping ground. "It is great to be back at the DTM. This atmosphere in the paddock and on the grid, and the great fans, are unique. However, I would prefer to be in a race car and driving with them," said Güven. Despite this, he still took great pleasure from his walkabout in the crowds: "I feel like a rock star, I have had to pose for so many selfies here at The Ring."
Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf wins the truck competition
There was a feast of horsepower on display at the Nürburgring on Saturday evening: the traditional "DTM-Trucks Go and Stop" competition saw the DTM teams' trucks go head to head, as their drivers showed off just how good they are at accelerating and braking. The challenge: To accelerate at full power along the start/finish straight, before coming to a stop in front of three cones arranged in a row at the end of the main stand. Only the front cone was allowed to be knocked over. A challenge that demanded great feel on the brake pedal. Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf came out on top against Emil Frey Racing in the final. Svetoslav Koynov revealed the secret to his success, with a grin: "Put the accelerator pedal to the floor at the start, then slam on the brakes. And then celebrate victory with the whole team."
Tim Jarschel is crowned eSports champion at the Nürburgring
He held his nerve to win the first on-site finale in the history of the DTM eSports Championship: Tim Jarschel won two of the four final races on Saturday in the RaceRoom SimRaceCafé on the Ring Boulevard, and in doing so clinched his second title. Jarschel not only picked up a cheque for € 5,000, but was also rewarded with a very special bonus prize: a starting place in the BMW M2 Cup at the DTM finale in Hockenheim. "That was a crazy day," beamed the newly-crowned champion. "I am a big fan of the DTM. To win my second title here is very special. I celebrated properly after the win, and then had my fingers crossed for my favourite driver, Thomas Preining, on Sunday."
Wild kart action in the Eifel Mountains
The first race of the DTM weekend took place on the kart track at The Ring. Twelve competitors lined up on Friday evening: DTM drivers Ben Dörr and Tom Kalender were joined by Ford works driver David Schumacher. Drivers Elia Weiß and Oliver Goethe, who are supported by the ADAC Stiftung Sport foundation, and Devin Titz (member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Team) were also in action. Media representatives and talented young kart drivers completed the strong field. Fabian Klatt, who was given a wildcard by the Nürburgring, won the Kart Grand Prix after 32 hard-fought laps. Former DTM driver Schumacher was seventh. Dörr commented on his eighth place, which saw him finish in front of Kalender: "It is a long time since I have been in a kart. As such, it was great to test myself against the other drivers. Tom and I had a fierce battle at the end - they were a few really cool fights." The best-placed media representative was Michael Bräutigam (Motorsport Aktuell) in tenth.
Joey Kelly thrills fans with cult bus
The Kelly Family's iconic red double-decker bus was a real eye-catcher at the Nürburgring DTM weekend. Joey Kelly was there in person for the presentation of the cult vehicle from the family's earlier touring years. "The bus was in storage for 28 years and has undergone extensive restoration, supervised by Dekra. It will get its official license in the next few weeks," said the musician and extreme sports enthusiast. Kelly himself is a huge fan of motorsport and the Nürburgring: "I actually spent three years racing in smaller classes, and made four appearances in the 24-hour race. I love the Nordschleife, the Ring is my thing," he revealed with a twinkle in his eye. On Saturday afternoon, Kelly was put to work on the start/finish straight, where he sent the drivers into race eleven of the season with the "Drivers start your engines" sign.
Frentzen family back at the DTM
Heinz-Harald Frentzen can look back on an impressive career: he contested 157 races in Formula 1 and was runner-up in the pinnacle of motor racing in 1997. From 2004 to 2006, the man from Mönchengladbach raced in the DTM with Opel and Audi. On Sunday, the 59-year-old visited the Nürburgring with his daughter Lea. They both strolled through the paddock and the grid, meeting old acquaintances on their way. "It feels special to visit the DTM with my father for the first time. The coolest thing for me about the DTM is definitely the start, when all the cars go into turn one together," said Lea Frentzen. As an influencer, she regularly offers her followers insights into her childhood and takes fans behind the scenes of motorsport. "I started out in social media three years ago, when I visited Formula 1 for the first time in Silverstone. It is unbelievably nice to see how many fans my father still has today."
Table tennis legend Timo Boll presents DTM trophy
Timo Boll visited the DTM at the Nürburgring in his mobile home. The table tennis icon achieved unique successes over the course of his career: Boll was the first and only German to top the world rankings, won eight European Championship titles, was third in the World Championship, and won multiple Olympic silver medals with the national team. In the Eifel region, the man from Hesse enjoyed the special atmosphere at The Ring, and discovered parallels between motorsport and table tennis: "You have to think ahead and read situations correctly in both sports. Plus, the material - such as the grip of the rubber on the bat - also plays a big role for us." After Saturday's DTM race, the table tennis ace presented the trophy to the runner-up. "I used to receive trophies, now I am presenting them," said Boll with a wink. "However, I really enjoy doing it, as anyone who makes it onto the podium in the DTM has achieved something special."
Olympic champions Maier and Funk have their fingers crossed for Wittmann
Schaeffler invited two Olympic champions to the DTM in the Eifel Mountains: Daniela Maier and Ricarda Funk. Ski cross gold medallist Maier first experienced the DTM as a child. "I was about eight years old when I first visited the DTM. There is such an incredible amount going on here - it is one highlight after another. It is a mega experience to be at a race weekend," said Maier. Funk, who was born in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, near the Nürburgring, and is an Olympic champion in the canoe slalom, grew up with speed in the Eifel. "A DTM weekend is spot on for me. I come from a background of action sports, and have even jumped out of a plane. I have my fingers crossed for Marco Wittmann," Funk revealed.
Breath-taking stunts with trials freestyle star Adrian Guggemos
Adrian Guggemos impressed with a spectacular live stunt show in the paddock and in turn one ahead of the DTM races. The 32-year-old from Schorndorf got spectators' adrenalin pumping with some daredevil manoeuvres, including riding on the front or rear wheel. He produced his highlight in front of the grandstands: much to the delight of the fans, Guggemos jumped over the DTM safety car - a Cupra Formentor VZ5 - on his trials bike.
"Cupra unofficial": The dark side of the brand conquers the Eifel circuit
As Official Car Partner, Cupra again leads out the DTM field in 2026. However, the brand presented a different, more unusual side, at the Nürburgring: as "Unofficial Partner", the Spanish automobile manufacturer revealed its dark side - with the goal being to push limits, give passion for racing free rein, and not to be held back. With that in mind, the safety and lead car at the Nürburgring was given a new "Unofficial Livery", which was administered over the existing branding. Furthermore, an "Unofficial Zone" with eight exclusive seats was set up right inside turn one on both race days - a place that is not usually accessible to spectators. The action was complemented by "Unofficial Flags" with the slogans "Remember why you’re driving", "Folge deinem Instinkt" ("Follow your instinct"), and "Unofficial Partner".
DTM at the Nürburgring overwhelms bachelor Felix Stein
Felix Stein attended the DTM race weekend at the Nürburgring on Saturday. As part of Cupra's "Unofficial Crew", the 2025 bachelor from the RTL dating show waved the flag from the lead car as it headed onto the grid, cheered on with great fervour by the fans. The man from Berlin was totally impressed by the DTM atmosphere: "It only took ten minutes for me to be part of the DTM community. The sound of the cars, the atmosphere in the grandstands, and the friendliness of the people - it is all overwhelming. The ride in the lead car was also amazing. I had no idea that these cars were so fast," said Stein.
Olympic bobsleigh champion Georg Fleischhauer: "These DTM cars are beasts"
Georg Fleischhauer returned to the DTM after a long time this weekend - and was visibly impressed. "The last time I was at a DTM event was over 15 years ago. As such, I was delighted to be invited by Schaeffler," said the two-time German champion in the 400-metre hurdles, who is now known as one of the strongest pushers in the sport of bobsleigh. Together with driver Johannes Lochner, he was crowned world champion and won a gold medal in both the two-man and four-man bob. The athlete was particularly taken by the DTM cars: "These cars are beasts. Our bobs are also high-tech pieces of equipment, but these cars are something very special. Speed and the right line also play a crucial role in bobsleigh. However, the temperatures we encounter are a bit different to here at the Nürburgring," said Fleischhauer.
Ludwig, Scheider, Güven – three generations of DTM champions at the Nürburgring
Klaus Ludwig (1982, 1988, 1994), Timo Scheider (2008, 2009) and Ayhancan Güven (2025) – three DTM champions from three decades - met at the Nürburgring. While the experienced Ludwig and Scheider have long since been part of DTM history, reigning champion Güven moved to the FIA World Endurance Championship after his title-winning season. As such, the first Turkish DTM champion really enjoyed visiting his old stomping ground. "It is great to be back at the DTM. This atmosphere in the paddock and on the grid, and the great fans, are unique. However, I would prefer to be in a race car and driving with them," said Güven. Despite this, he still took great pleasure from his walkabout in the crowds: "I feel like a rock star, I have had to pose for so many selfies here at The Ring."
Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf wins the truck competition
There was a feast of horsepower on display at the Nürburgring on Saturday evening: the traditional "DTM-Trucks Go and Stop" competition saw the DTM teams' trucks go head to head, as their drivers showed off just how good they are at accelerating and braking. The challenge: To accelerate at full power along the start/finish straight, before coming to a stop in front of three cones arranged in a row at the end of the main stand. Only the front cone was allowed to be knocked over. A challenge that demanded great feel on the brake pedal. Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf came out on top against Emil Frey Racing in the final. Svetoslav Koynov revealed the secret to his success, with a grin: "Put the accelerator pedal to the floor at the start, then slam on the brakes. And then celebrate victory with the whole team."
Tim Jarschel is crowned eSports champion at the Nürburgring
He held his nerve to win the first on-site finale in the history of the DTM eSports Championship: Tim Jarschel won two of the four final races on Saturday in the RaceRoom SimRaceCafé on the Ring Boulevard, and in doing so clinched his second title. Jarschel not only picked up a cheque for € 5,000, but was also rewarded with a very special bonus prize: a starting place in the BMW M2 Cup at the DTM finale in Hockenheim. "That was a crazy day," beamed the newly-crowned champion. "I am a big fan of the DTM. To win my second title here is very special. I celebrated properly after the win, and then had my fingers crossed for my favourite driver, Thomas Preining, on Sunday."
Wild kart action in the Eifel Mountains
The first race of the DTM weekend took place on the kart track at The Ring. Twelve competitors lined up on Friday evening: DTM drivers Ben Dörr and Tom Kalender were joined by Ford works driver David Schumacher. Drivers Elia Weiß and Oliver Goethe, who are supported by the ADAC Stiftung Sport foundation, and Devin Titz (member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Team) were also in action. Media representatives and talented young kart drivers completed the strong field. Fabian Klatt, who was given a wildcard by the Nürburgring, won the Kart Grand Prix after 32 hard-fought laps. Former DTM driver Schumacher was seventh. Dörr commented on his eighth place, which saw him finish in front of Kalender: "It is a long time since I have been in a kart. As such, it was great to test myself against the other drivers. Tom and I had a fierce battle at the end - they were a few really cool fights." The best-placed media representative was Michael Bräutigam (Motorsport Aktuell) in tenth.
