DTM
The DTM is Germany’s top touring car series and one of the most famous sprint championships in the world. It started in 1984 with souped-up production sedans, grew into a high-tech factory war, collapsed, came back, and since 2021 has raced GT3 cars from eight brands, one driver per car, with two races every weekend. Here’s what you’ll want to know: the 2027 calendar, the 2026 champions, the stories fans still argue about, how the rules work, and the manufacturers and drivers with the most titles.
DTM at a Glance
First season 1984 as the DPM; Volker Strycek won the title without a race win
Where it races 8 circuits, 3 countries Germany, Austria and the Netherlands
Cars GT3 since 2021 8 makes in 2026, one driver per car
2026 champion Thomas Preining Manthey Porsche · his second title
Next race April 23–25, 2027 Red Bull Ring, Round 1
Most titles Bernd Schneider, 5 all with Mercedes, 1995–2006
DTM 2027 Calendar
The ADAC announced the 2027 calendar on August 13, 2026, and it’s the same eight tracks as 2026: eight weekends, 16 races, opening at Austria’s Red Bull Ring on April 23–25 and wrapping up at the Hockenheimring on October 8–10, 2027. The big shuffles are Oschersleben moving up to May and Zandvoort sliding back to August. No new countries for now, so the DTM stays a German, Austrian and Dutch affair.
2027 DTM season
| Round | Dates (2027) | Circuit | Country | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 23–25 | Red Bull Ring | Austria | Upcoming |
| 2 | May 7–9 | Motorsport Arena Oschersleben | Germany | Upcoming |
| 3 | June 18–20 | Lausitzring | Germany | Upcoming |
| 4 | July 2–4 | Norisring | Germany | Upcoming |
| 5 | August 6–8 | Circuit Zandvoort | Netherlands | Upcoming |
| 6 | August 20–22 | Nürburgring | Germany | Upcoming |
| 7 | September 24–26 | Sachsenring | Germany | Upcoming |
| 8 | October 8–10 | Hockenheimring (finale) | Germany | Upcoming |
The 2026 season
All eight rounds of 2026 are done. It was the 40th DTM season and the first to open outside Germany, at the Red Bull Ring in April, and the title went down to the final race at Hockenheim on October 11, 2026.
| Round | Dates (2026) | Circuit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 24–26 | Red Bull Ring | Done |
| 2 | May 22–24 | Circuit Zandvoort | Done |
| 3 | June 19–21 | Lausitzring | Done |
| 4 | July 3–5 | Norisring | Done |
| 5 | July 24–26 | Motorsport Arena Oschersleben | Done |
| 6 | August 14–16 | Nürburgring | Done |
| 7 | September 11–13 | Sachsenring | Done |
| 8 | October 9–11 | Hockenheimring (finale, title decided) | Done |
DTM Champions: 2026
The DTM races one class of car, but hands out titles for drivers, teams and manufacturers, plus a Rookie of the Year award. The 2026 season wrapped up at Hockenheim on October 11, 2026, so these are the reigning champions heading into 2027. Funny split this year: Porsche took the drivers’ and teams’ titles, but Mercedes-AMG won the manufacturers’ crown.
Thomas Preining
Drivers’ champion
Manthey Porsche Second title
Preining went into the Hockenheim finale weekend with a 23-point lead and played it safe. In the last race he only needed third, and on the final lap he waved teammate Ricardo Feller through to second as a thank-you and still clinched it. He also won in 2023.
Manthey
Teams’ champion
Porsche 911 GT3 R 3 in 4 years
The Porsche specialist from the Nürburgring beat Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing to the teams’ title, its third since 2023. Feller played wingman to Preining in the finale.
Mercedes-AMG
Manufacturers’ champion
GT3 Evo Third in a row
Mercedes-AMG had four cars on the grid and scored the most points as a brand, ahead of Porsche. Maro Engel won the season finale and finished second in the drivers’ standings.
Tom Kalender
Rookie of the Year
Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG
The rookie award has been handed out since 2025, to DTM newcomers rated no higher than Gold. Kalender took it in a Landgraf-run Mercedes-AMG.
2026 champions at a glance
| Title | Champion | Team and car | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drivers’ Championship | Thomas Preining (Austria) | Manthey, Porsche 911 GT3 R | 225 points, 12 ahead of Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG) |
| Teams’ Championship | Manthey | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Third teams’ title in four years (2023, 2025, 2026) |
| Manufacturers’ Championship | Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Third straight manufacturers’ title; Porsche second |
| Rookie of the Year | Tom Kalender (Germany) | Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf | Best DTM newcomer |
DTM History
The DTM has lived three lives. From 1984 to 1996 it grew from a production-car series into one of the most expensive touring car championships ever, and then blew up. From 2000 to 2020 it came back as a factory-backed silhouette series with Audi, Mercedes and BMW slugging it out. And since 2021 it has run GT3 cars entered by customer teams, which brought in Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Ford and Aston Martin.
- 1984 The series starts as the Deutsche Produktionswagen-Meisterschaft (DPM), with lightly modified sedans. The first race is at Zolder in Belgium on March 11, and Volker Strycek takes the title in a BMW 635 CSi without winning a single race.
- 1986 The name changes to Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft, the original DTM.
- 1988–1992 The Group A golden era: BMW M3, Ford Sierra RS500, Mercedes 190E and Audi’s V8 quattro. Audi wins the title in its first season, 1990, with Hans-Joachim Stuck.
- 1993 Class 1 rules arrive, with 2.5-liter engines, all-wheel drive and lots of electronics. Alfa Romeo’s 155 V6 TI wins the title first time out.
- 1995–1996 The DTM runs alongside, then merges into, the FIA’s International Touring Car Championship, with races as far away as Suzuka and Interlagos. Costs soar, crowds and TV fade, Alfa Romeo and Opel pull out, and the series folds after 1996.
- 2000 The DTM returns as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, with Mercedes, Opel and Abt-run Audis. Bernd Schneider wins the first race at Hockenheim and the title.
- 2001–2011 A two-brand fight between Audi and Mercedes, once Opel leaves after 2005. Schneider, Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider win multiple titles.
- 2012 BMW comes back after almost two decades away and wins the drivers’, teams’ and manufacturers’ titles at the first attempt.
- 2017 Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger takes over the series’ organizer, ITR.
- 2019 Class One rules bring 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinders, Aston Martin joins, and the DTM races Japan’s Super GT cars in a Dream Race at Fuji.
- 2020 Audi leaves after René Rast’s third title, and the old factory formula is finished.
- 2021 The DTM switches to GT3 cars run by customer teams. Maximilian Götz wins the title for Mercedes-AMG.
- 2023 The ADAC, Germany’s big motoring club, takes over the series. Thomas Preining wins Porsche’s first DTM title.
- 2025 Ford and Aston Martin arrive, and Ayhancan Güven becomes the first Turkish champion.
- 2026 The 40th season opens in Austria for the first time, and Preining wins his second title.
Memorable Stories From the DTM
Factory politics, short tracks and a lot of contact mean the DTM never runs short of drama. Here are the ones fans bring up most.
1993
Alfa Romeo crashes the party
Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI Nicola Larini
Alfa Romeo turned up for the new Class 1 rules with a four-wheel-drive V6 sedan, and Nicola Larini took pole and won both races at the Zolder opener. He won 11 races that year, a DTM season record that has been matched but never beaten, and beat the German brands on home turf.
2007
Audi walks out at Barcelona
Audi vs. Mercedes Protest
After Mercedes driver Daniel La Rosa punted championship leader Mattias Ekström, Audi boss Wolfgang Ullrich pulled every Audi off the track with eight laps left, in protest at the rough driving. Jamie Green took his first win, and Ekström still won the title.
2012
BMW’s perfect comeback
BMW M3 DTM Bruno Spengler
BMW came back after nearly 20 years away, and Bruno Spengler won the Hockenheim finale to beat Gary Paffett by four points, 149 to 145. BMW swept the drivers’, teams’ and manufacturers’ titles in its first season back.
2015
“Push him out”
Audi RS 5 DTM Red Bull Ring
At the Red Bull Ring, Audi’s Wolfgang Ullrich was heard on the radio telling Timo Scheider to “push him out.” Scheider hit Robert Wickens, who was knocked into Pascal Wehrlein. Scheider was excluded and sat out the next round, and Ullrich was banned from the pit lane for the rest of the year. Wehrlein became the youngest champion ever, at 20.
2018
Paffett’s farewell gift
Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM Gary Paffett
René Rast won the last six races of the year, a DTM record, but Gary Paffett’s third place at the Hockenheim finale was enough to win the title by four points. It came in the last race of Mercedes’ factory DTM program.
2021
Team orders at the Norisring
GT3 era Götz vs. Lawson
Liam Lawson started the finale on pole in his Ferrari, but Kelvin van der Linde’s Audi hit him at the first hairpin and damaged his steering. Then two Mercedes drivers moved aside for Maximilian Götz, who took the lead in the last few laps and the title by three points.
Two more worth knowing: the very first champion, Volker Strycek in 1984, took the title without winning a race, thanks to consistent finishes. And in 2025, Ayhancan Güven came into the Hockenheim finale fifth in the standings, won the last race after losing and retaking the lead on the final lap, and beat Lucas Auer to the title by four points.
DTM Rules
Today’s DTM is a sprint series for GT3 cars, the same kind of car you’ll see in endurance races around the world, but with one pro driver per car and short, flat-out races. Here’s how it works under the 2026 rules. No changes have been announced for 2027.
The cars
One class
GT3 cars
Every car is a GT3 race car. The 2026 grid had the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, Ford Mustang GT3 Evo, Lamborghini Temerario GT3, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo and Porsche 911 GT3 R. ABS and traction control are allowed, as they are in GT3.
Keeping it even
Balance of Performance
SRO, which runs GT World Challenge, sets the Balance of Performance (BoP) with the ADAC before each round. It adjusts weight, turbo boost or air restrictors, wing angle and ride height. In 2026 minimum weights ranged from about 1,300 to 1,345 kg (2,866 to 2,965 lb), depending on the car.
Pirelli only
Tires and fuel
Pirelli is the control tire supplier, and for 2026 it built a DTM-only tire that warms up faster and wears more, so strategy matters. Tire warmers are banned. The cars run on a synthetic fuel introduced in 2025.
How a race weekend works
- The weekend. Two practice sessions on Friday, then a qualifying session and a race on Saturday, and the same again on Sunday. One driver per car, no co-drivers.
- Races. Each race runs 55 minutes plus one lap, from a rolling start.
- Pit stops. Stops are for tire changes only, with no refueling. Saturday’s race has one mandatory stop between minutes 20 and 40. Sunday’s race has two, the first between minutes 10 and 25. A tire change under a safety car or full-course yellow doesn’t count as the mandatory stop.
- Points. The top 15 in each race score 25, 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Each qualifying session pays 3, 2 and 1 to the top three.
- Manufacturers. The manufacturers’ standings count each brand’s two best cars. There’s also a teams’ title, a Rookie of the Year award and a Pit Stop Challenge for the fastest crews.
- Slowing the race. Under a full-course yellow, everyone drops to 80 km/h (50 mph). Speeding under it earns a penalty.
- Tires. Each car gets three or four new sets for the two races, depending on the track, and private testing is capped at five days a year.
Manufacturers With the Most DTM Titles
The manufacturers’ title hasn’t been awarded every year, so we rank brands by drivers’ titles, the one prize handed out every season since 1984. Mercedes and Audi are tied on 12, and Mercedes gets the nod because it has won far more manufacturers’ titles. BMW is third on seven, with Porsche next on three. More on the road cars on our Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and Porsche pages.
12 drivers’ titles
Mercedes-Benz
1992–2021 Most makers’ titles too
From Klaus Ludwig’s 190E in 1992 to Maximilian Götz’s GT3 in 2021, Mercedes drivers have won 12 titles, five of them for Bernd Schneider. Mercedes also has more manufacturers’ titles than anyone, including 2024, 2025 and 2026.
12 drivers’ titles
Audi
1990–2020 7 manufacturers’ titles
Audi won its first two titles with the V8 quattro in 1990 and 1991, then ten more after the 2000 restart, ending with René Rast’s hat-trick of titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020. It left the series after 2020.
7 drivers’ titles
BMW
1984–2022 3 manufacturers’ titles
BMW won the very first title in 1984, two more with the M3 in the 1980s, then four after its 2012 comeback, most recently with Sheldon van der Linde’s M4 GT3 in 2022.
Drivers With the Most DTM Titles
Only three drivers have won the DTM three times or more. Bernd Schneider stands alone at the top, and Klaus Ludwig and René Rast share second, so there’s no outright third place. Five drivers have two titles: Mattias Ekström, Timo Scheider, Gary Paffett, Marco Wittmann and Thomas Preining.
5 titles
Bernd Schneider
Germany 1995–2006
Mr. DTM won in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006, all with Mercedes. He also holds the records for DTM wins (43) and starts (236). Some lists count his 1995 ITC crown separately and give him six.
3 titles
Klaus Ludwig
Germany 1988–1994
Ludwig won with Ford’s Sierra RS500 in 1988, then with Mercedes in 1992 and 1994. His 37 wins put him second on the all-time list.
3 titles
René Rast
Germany 2017–2020
Rast won three titles in four years with Audi and Team Rosberg, including as a rookie in 2017. He holds the record for poles, and his six straight wins in 2018 are a DTM record.
Talk DTM With Other Fans
Heading to the Norisring, still mad about 2021, or picking the 2027 champion already? Share it with other racing fans in the AutoGathering community.
- DTM 2027 predictions
- Norisring trip planning
- BoP debates
- Class 1 and Group A nostalgia
- Best GT3 car on the grid
- Touring car road car builds
- Sim racing DTM tracks
- Race-weekend photos
DTM FAQ
When does the 2027 DTM season start?
At the Red Bull Ring in Austria on April 23–25, 2027. The season runs eight weekends and finishes at the Hockenheimring on October 8–10, 2027.
Who won the 2026 DTM?
Thomas Preining of Austria, in a Manthey-run Porsche 911 GT3 R. It was his second title after 2023. Manthey won the teams’ title and Mercedes-AMG the manufacturers’ title.
Who has won the most DTM titles?
Bernd Schneider, with five titles between 1995 and 2006, all with Mercedes. Klaus Ludwig and René Rast are next with three each.
What does DTM stand for?
Today it’s the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. The original 1980s and ’90s series was the Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft, or German Touring Car Championship.
What cars race in the DTM?
GT3 cars, since 2021. The 2026 grid had cars from Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
How many races are there at a DTM weekend?
Two: one on Saturday and one on Sunday, each with its own qualifying session. Each race lasts 55 minutes plus one lap.
Do DTM races have pit stops?
Yes. Saturday’s race has one mandatory stop and Sunday’s has two. They’re tire changes only, with no refueling.
Does the DTM race outside Germany?
Yes. Both the 2026 and 2027 calendars include the Red Bull Ring in Austria and Zandvoort in the Netherlands, alongside six German tracks.
Explore the Circuits
Every DTM track is in our Europe circuit directory, from the Norisring street circuit to the Hockenheimring, where the title is usually settled. We also have a full guide to the Nürburgring.
Photo credits
- Header image: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Thomas Preining’s Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R…: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Ricardo Feller’s Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R…: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Jules Gounon’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Norisring…: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Tom Kalender’s Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf GT3 car…: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 1993 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI DTM…: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- DTM cars at Brands Hatch in June…: Tony Harrison from Farnborough, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Bruno Spengler’s No. 7 BMW M3 DTM…: Cord Rodefeld from Ulm, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Alex Albon’s AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3…: Wastrick, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Klaus Ludwig’s 1992 AMG Mercedes 190E 2.5-16…: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Audi V8 quattro DTM car at the…: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 1991 BMW M3 (E30) DTM race car: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM show car in the…: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Klaus Ludwig’s 1994 AMG Mercedes C-Class DTM…: https://www.flickr.com/photos/facing-my-life/, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- René Rast’s Audi RS 5 Turbo DTM…: Morio, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Mattias Ekström’s Red Bull Audi RS 5…: Ank kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Gary Paffett’s Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM during the…: Ralf Ewald, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.