2026 DTM eSports Championship: Bigger than ever

• Pre-Season Show Event on 2nd May
• Finale on the DTM platform at the Nürburgring
• Prize purse of € 75,000 and test drive in a GT4 race car

Munich. The DTM eSports Championship is back: The virtual competition is open to all sim racers this year, with a new concept. This year, a system based entirely on ratings will ensure that more drivers than ever are able to compete in the championship. The reward for this season's best sim racers is once again a prize purse totalling € 75,000 in cash and non-cash prizes, as well as a test drive in a GT4 series from the ADAC GT4 Germany series. A pre-season race, with no points on offer, at the Red Bull Ring on 2nd May at 19:30 will offer a taste of things to come.

Participation in the DTM eSports Championship is via the RaceRoom driver ranking. The previous qualifying process has been scrapped. All competitors will be split into start groups, in accordance with their ranking. The highest-ranking drivers line up in the top split, with the races from this group streamed live. Points are up for grabs for all participants in a general points format, which gives everyone a fair chance of winning the title. It also means that every driver has a new opportunity at each round to improve their ranking and climb into the top group. This concept allows ambitious rookies to experience thrilling races against established eSports greats like former champions Lukas Müller, Tim Jarschel and Moritz Löhner, who return to the championship with wild cards.

Each round features 20-minute qualifying sessions and 60-minute main races with the 2025 DTM car pack, including individual team designs in the top split. The race calendar is in line with the real DTM. The season's top 20 drivers can look forward to an onsite final in the RaceRoom Arena at the Nürburgring, which will form part of the DTM race weekend in the Eifel region. There, two live races will decide who wins the title and a test drive in a GT4 race car.

This Saturday's Pre-Season Show Event is the first opportunity for all sim racers to make their mark. The full event will be broadcast live on YouTube from 19:30, with commentary in German and English. The first competitive race of the 2026 DTM eSports Championship takes place on 30th May at the virtual circuit in Zandvoort. Any interested sim racers can register for the DTM eSports Championship races with RaceRoom from 24 hours prior to the event.

2026 calendar

02.05.2026	Red Bull Ring (Pre-Season Show Race – no points)
30.05. 2026	Zandvoort
06.06. 2026	Lausitzring
11.07. 2026	Norisring
18.07. 2026	Oschersleben
01.08. 2026	Sachsenring
15.08. 2026	Finale at the DTM event at the Nürburgring (Nürburgring & Hockenheimring)