NEWS

03 September, Thursday

Contract until the end of 2028: Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport extend their partnership

The Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport are continuing their long-standing partnership until at least 2028. The performance and sports car brand from Affalterbach, which has been the Nürburgring’s Official Automotive Partner for ten years, will thus remain at the highest partnership level with the historic race track. A contract to this effect has been signed by both companies. Mercedes-AMG...
Grand Final of the 2026 Nürburgring Drift Cup

03.09.2026

The ultimate showdown of the Nürburgring Drift Cup 2026 is here: Europe’s drifting elite return to Germany’s legendary ‘Green Hell’ from 4 to 6 September. After two rounds of relentless wheel-to-wheel action, the championship reaches its climax in the iconic Müllenbachschleife. With the fiercely contested 2026 titles at stake and a daring track layout designed specifically for this final battle, the stage is set for an electrifying weekend of screeching tyres, deafening horsepower and unforgettable motorsport entertainment. A championship on a knife-edge: the title contendersIn the leading PRO class, Dutch champion Roene Zwanenburg leads the overall standings with 160 points at the wheel of his lightning-fast, 650 PS BMW E46. But the title is far from decided. Hot on his heels is his compatriot Niels Visser in his roaring 700 PS BMW E46 with 138 points, closely followed by Germany’s Manuel Schrimpf (133 points) in his formidable 600 PS Nissan Skyline R33. Former runner-up Denise Ritzmann (128 points, 600 PS BMW E30), French challenger Dylan Mougenot (126 points, 530-PS BMW E36) and the German drift icon Uwe Sener (125 points, 550-PS supercharged BMW E36) are all still mathematically in contention. With three qualifying heats and a fully packed knockout bracket ahead of them, every millimetre of tarmac will count. An awe-inspiring fleet of custom-built cars brings added excitement to the PRO starting line-up. Germany’s Kenneth Konz is ready to make the grandstands tremble with his fearsome 1,400 PS turbo V8 Mazda MX-5 LSX, whilst the leading Swiss drivers Steve Rinsoz (BMW M2, 750 PS) and Gregoire Du Pasquier (Nissan S15, 750 PS) deliver pure heavyweight aggression. Add to that Christian Schirmer’s crowd-pleasing 500-PS Subaru Impreza, Arunas Atkociunas in his 510-PS BMW E82 M1 and Serbia’s Sacha Aleksic (700-PS BMW M2), and the PRO battles will push the limits of tyre grip like never before. The title race in the CLUB class is just as fierce. The exceptional Belgian driver Cedric Luyckx dominates the championship with 191 points following consecutive victories in his high-torque, 400 PS BMW 130d. But the battle behind him is heating up: Top qualifier Marco Sammler (Nissan 200SX, 680 PS) holds second place with 155 points, but is under heavy pressure from Frenchman Quentin Savouret (BMW E46, 400 PS) and German Janis Spohner (BMW E36, 286 PS), who are tied on 145 points each. Bianca Lankes-Mack (Mercedes CLK, 500 PS, 131 points) is on the rise, whilst an explosive line-up of wildcards – including Johan Derenette’s 800 PS 2JZ BMW E46, Job Van Putten’s 700 PS LS7 E46 and the Turkish aces Kemal Soylu (600 PS) and Ahmet Tunc (400 PS) – is guaranteed to cause chaos in the tournament bracket. A completely new battlefield: the Müllenbachschleife redesignedTo crown the 2026 champions in the most dramatic way possible, the organisers have scrapped the previous layout and replaced it with a radical, challenging circuit designed to push nerves and car set-ups to the absolute limit. The drivers accelerate down the straight towards the Goodyear hairpin before cutting across well before the bend at breakneck speed and with an extreme, wide drift angle. From there, the drivers must carve an uncompromising outside line through the entire radius of the sweeping bowl, shrouding the grandstands in thick clouds of smoke, before cutting sharply into a tight, technical series of hairpin bends. This tight circuit demands pinpoint throttle control and lightning-fast changes of direction before the cars are catapulted back through the entire bend as if on a slingshot – initially close to the inner apex, before drifting outwards as closely as possible and shooting across the finish line right past the judges’ tower. It is a configuration designed to deliver breathtaking wheel-to-wheel battles and extreme excitement for spectators. A race weekend not to be missedThe drama begins on Friday with a full day of free practice sessions, during which the teams will retune their cars to master the circuit layout, which will be used for the first time in the 2026 season. On Saturday, the pressure mounts: following the morning practice session, the decisive qualifying session begins at 1.30 pm, with each driver given three full runs to secure one of the coveted places in Sunday’s knockout grid.Sunday serves as the season’s grand finale. Battle practice starts early at 08:00 and sets the stage for the knockout tandem battles. The CLUB class Top 32 battles begin at 09:55, followed immediately by the PRO Top 32 at 10:55. Following the official rider presentations, the highly prize-money-rich Top 16 tandem heats will start at 1.15 pm, leading into the PRO finals at 2.45 pm, where the 2026 champions will finally be crowned on the podium at 4.00 pm. The detailed timetable: Friday, 4 September 2026•    14:00: Free practice 1 (CLUB)•    15:00: Free practice 1 (PRO)•    16:00: Free practice 2 (CLUB)•    5.00 pm: Free practice 2 (PRO) Saturday, 5 September 2026•    8.00 am: Free practice 3 (CLUB)•    9.00 am: Free practice 3 (PRO)•    10.00 am: Free practice 4 (CLUB)•    11.15: Free Practice 4 (PRO)•    13.30: Qualifying (CLUB – 3 heats per driver)•    After CLUB: Qualifying (PRO – 3 heats per driver) Sunday, 6 September 2026•    08.00: Battle Practice (CLUB)•    08:50: Battle practice (PRO)•    09:55: Top 32 battles (CLUB)•    10:55: Top 32 battles (PRO)•    13:00: Top 16 driver presentation (CLUB)•    13:15: Top 16 battles (CLUB)•    14:30: Top 16 driver presentation (PRO)•    14:45: Top 16 battles (PRO)•    16:00: Podium presentation & championship ceremony•    16:45: Free drifting (all drivers, time permitting) The format: precision meets aggressionFollowing Saturday’s qualifying, the competition moves into head-to-head knockout battles. The ‘Lead’ driver must demonstrate the perfect line, speed and optimal drift angle, whilst the ‘Chase’ driver’s task is to shadow the leader wheel-to-wheel, matching their angle and pace without making contact. An experienced panel of judges assesses line precision, entry speed, drift angle and overall style. Get your tickets now!Full weekend tickets start from just €40, whilst day tickets are available from €25. Entry on Friday is completely free! All tickets grant unrestricted access to the open paddock – offering fans unrivalled proximity to the cars and drivers – as well as free choice of seating in grandstands T6 to T9.•    Children up to 14 years old: Free entry (when accompanied by an adult)•    Young people (aged 15–17) & accompanying adults (A/H): Reduced prices apply YouTube highlightsFans who are unable to attend the season finale in person can watch all the action afterwards on YouTube via the organiser, Skylimit Events. A highlights programme celebrating the 2026 champions will be released in the week following the event.

Contract until the end of 2028: Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport extend their partnership

03.09.2026

The Nürburgring and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport are continuing their long-standing partnership until at least 2028. The performance and sports car brand from Affalterbach, which has been the Nürburgring’s Official Automotive Partner for ten years, will thus remain at the highest partnership level with the historic race track. A contract to this effect has been signed by both companies. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport will continue to feature prominently at key locations around the Nürburgring. Key elements of the partnership will include the advertising space at the famous Caracciola Carousel on the Nordschleife, as well as the naming rights to the AMG Arena and the AMG Grandstand on the Grand Prix circuit. In addition, the AMG VIP Lounge above the pit lane will remain in place. This commitment is complemented by advertising spots on the ring°wall as well as selected joint communication initiatives. “Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and the Nürburgring have enjoyed a close partnership for many years. Both brands stand for emotion, performance and the highest standards. We are therefore delighted to continue on this shared journey in the years to come,” explains Christian Stephani, Managing Director of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG. “Whether in motorsport or as a benchmark for our road cars – the Nürburgring has always held special significance for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. It has been the setting for numerous milestones, most recently our victory in the legendary 24-hour race. Furthermore, we have been linked by an official partnership for ten years now, which underlines our emotional connection to this unique race track. We are delighted to continue this successful collaboration in the future,” says Simon Wilbers, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. Since 2017, the Nürburgring and the performance and sports car brand have enjoyed a long-standing and successful partnership. The extension of the partnership underlines the close connection between the two brands and continues their collaboration at one of the world’s most famous motorsport venues.

The Highlights in September

31.08.2026

The days are getting shorter, but the race days at the Nürburgring are far from over. In September, the legendary circuit, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, presents a varied programme. Alongside exciting career opportunities away from the track at the Jobmesse powered by Nürburgring (11–12 September), fans can look forward to action-packed motorsport weekends featuring historic endurance racing at the ADAC 1000km-Rennen (18–20 September), thrilling two-wheel action at EURO MOTO (04–06 September), smoking tyres at the Nürburgring Drift Cup (04–06 September) and a NLS double-header (12–13 September) in the Green Hell. Information on all events and tickets is available here on our website. EURO MOTO | 04 to 06 September 2026 Two-wheel action on the Nürburgring Sprintstrecke: EURO MOTO (formerly IDM) is entering a new era and promises spectacular lean angles and high-level motorcycle battles. In the Superbike, Supersport and Sportbike classes, Europe’s motorcycle aces will fight for every inch of asphalt. The event sees itself as a family-friendly motorsport festival: children and young people up to and including the age of 14 can enter free of charge, while day tickets for adults start at just €5.00 (Friday) and €25.00 (Saturday). A weekend ticket costs €45.00. Nürburgring Drift Cup | 04 to 06 September 2026At the same time as the two-wheel spectacle of EURO MOTO, tyres will be smoking once again at the Müllenbachschleife. At the Nürburgring Drift Cup, Europe’s drifting elite will compete in the next championship round. Following free practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, the weekend will culminate in the spectacular “Twin-Battles” on Sunday. Two drift cars producing up to 1,000 hp will fly door-to-door through the lowest section of the Grand-Prix-Strecke, promising thrilling battles decided by mere millimetres at high speed. Day tickets are available for €25.00, while a weekend ticket costs €40.00. Job Fair powered by Nürburgring | 11 to 12 September 2026On 11 and 12 September, everything at the ring°boulevard will revolve around careers, training and professional opportunities from 10:00 to 16:00 on both days. More than 30 exhibitors will present a wide range of career opportunities at the Jobmesse powered by Nürburgring. Participating companies and institutions come from a wide variety of sectors, including Bundespolizei, Bundeswehr, dm, Manthey, Köllemann, Schnorpfeil and Strabag. A large job wall will also showcase current vacancies from the participating employers. On Friday, classes from several partner schools in the region will also visit the fair. Admission to the Jobmesse is free of charge. ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie | 12 to 13 September 2026At the same time, endurance racing action will take place right next door with a double dose of racing. The ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie is set for a double-header: two four-hour races on two consecutive days – one on Saturday and one on Sunday, featuring more than 100 race cars across a wide variety of classes. Day tickets are available from €25.00 (children up to and including 14 years of age free of charge) and include access to the open grandstands, paddock, as well as the pit walk and grid walk. Those looking to make the weekend extra special can book a RACE&LUNCH ticket from €190.00 or one of the popular VIP packages from €285.00, including a bus tour around the circuit. ADAC 1000km-Race | 18 to 20 September 2026It is the horsepower-packed weekend of a true motorsport icon at the Nürburgring: the ADAC 1000km-Rennen. Several races on the Grand-Prix-Strecke and Nordschleife will make the hearts of motorsport nostalgists beat faster. The field ranges from touring cars and youngtimers from the 1960s to icons of the early 2000s. Alongside the main races, events such as the Deutsche Historische Langstreckenmeisterschaft (DHLM), the Tourenwagen Golden Ära and the Porsche Transaxle Cup will provide spectacular grids. The Grid Walk shortly before the start, as well as free access to all grandstands, the pit roof and paddock, make the event an up-close experience. Advance day tickets start at €20.00 (children up to 15 years of age free of charge), while a weekend combi ticket is available from €35.00. VIP experiences can be booked from €290.00. The Nürburgring highlights in September 2026: 04–06 September: EURO MOTO 04–06 September: Nürburgring Drift Cup 05 September: RCN / GLP 11–12 September: Job Fair powered by Nürburgring 12–13 September: ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (Double Header) 18–20 September: ADAC 1000km-Race 26 September: RCN / GLP

GT World brings 28,000 spectators to the Nürburgring

30.08.2026

The Nürburgring delivered a GT World event to remember this weekend (28–30 August). Headlined by the GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup, the long-running meeting in the Eifel mountains drew 28,000 spectators to experience a full schedule of entertainment on the circuit and activities in the open paddock.  The fans saw champions crowned on Sunday afternoon as Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter completed its mission to clinch the Endurance Cup on home turf. Fourth place was enough to put the drivers' title beyond doubt for Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Luca Stolz, cementing their status among the elite of global GT racing. The star of the three-hour race was the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, which was in full control from start to finish. The Belgian squad came to the Nürburgring knowing that victory was essential to keep its title hopes alive and its trio of Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen and Mattia Drudi executed perfectly from pole.It was not quite enough to take the fight to the finale at Portimão, but the win was a fitting reward for a peerless performance. Team WRT claimed the runner-up spot with its #32 BMW, followed by Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing which claimed its first-ever Endurance Cup podium just a few weeks after earning a maiden Sprint Cup triumph.  Tresor Attempto Racing took Gold Cup victory after Dylan Pereira seized the class lead during the final hour. The #99 Audi was a factor from the very beginning, first with Alex Aka and then Alex Frassineti at the wheel. The battle for the Gold Cup crown will go to Portimão with several crews still firmly in the hunt. The Silver Cup has been settled. Team WRT wrapped up the title with its #30 BMW crew of Matisse Lismont, Ignacio Montenegro and Amaury Cordeel, who led much of the race but finished second after a late charge from HRT Ford Racing. This marked the first GT World Challenge class victory for the Mustang GT3 thanks to the crew of Eduardo Coseteng, Nicolas Baert and Niklas Kalus – the latter making a big impression on his series debut by completing the winning overtake.  The #222 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG won the Bronze Cup class from pole, though the car lost the lead at the start and did not regain it until the final hour. The same squad won this race last year with Charles Dawson at the wheel for both; on this occasion, his victorious teammates were Kiern Jewiss and Reece Barr. The Bronze Cup teams' title has been decided in favour of Kessel Racing, which came home third in class with its #74 Ferrari despite being involved in a Turn 1 incident. The drivers' fight will be resolved at Portimão.  In addition to the action on the track, there were plenty of activities for spectators to experience at the Nürburgring. They were brought closer to the competitors with pit walks organised on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a pre-race autograph session featuring the full field of drivers.  The BMW M3 Touring 24H that won so many fans during this year's 24 Hours of Nürburgring was on display in the paddock, though it wasn't just a showpiece. The car ran taxi laps on Saturday and two lucky competition winners were among those to enjoy the ride of a lifetime, sitting in the passenger seat alongside BMW factory driver Max Hesse.  Support race action was provided by Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the GT3 Revival Series and Mazda MX-5 Cup Benelux. The notable storylines included a title success for former GT World Challenge racer Jean-Luc Beaubelique. The Frenchman clinched the GT3 Revival Seres Pro-Am crown in his Ferrari 458, the very same car with which he claimed CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa class victory in 2013.

Job Fair at the Nürburgring: More than 30 employers present career opportunities

27.08.2026

Two days, more than 30 exhibitors and numerous career opportunities: On Friday, 11 September, and Saturday, 12 September, the fifth edition of the "Job Fair powered by Nürburgring” will take place. From 10:00 am to 04:00 pm on both days, companies and institutions will present their career and training opportunities at the ring°boulevard. The exhibitors range from regional companies to national employers and institutions. Among those taking part are the Bundespolizei and Bundeswehr, dm, as well as companies such as Manthey, Köllemann, Schnorpfeil and STRABAG. With Nürburgring Hotels & Ferienpark and the Nürburgring operating company, the wide range of career opportunities at the legendary racetrack and event venue will also be represented. This brings together a wide variety of professional fields on the second weekend of September – from retail, construction and technology to public-sector employers and motorsport. In addition to personal conversations at the exhibition stands, a large job wall provides a direct overview of current vacancies at the participating companies. School classes use job fair for career orientationFriday will also focus on career orientation for school students. Partner schools from the region will visit the job fair with their classes. These include Berufsbildende Schule Ahrweiler, Erich-Klausener-Gymnasium Adenau, Grund- und Realschule plus St. Martin Kelberg and Hocheifel Realschule Plus & Fachoberschule Adenau. This gives students the opportunity to talk directly to potential training companies and employers. Parking is free on Friday. Visitors attending the job fair on Saturday will receive a €5 voucher for the ring°fanshop upon presentation of their parking ticket. Motorsport action alongside the job fairVisitors can also enjoy motorsport right next door on both days of the job fair. On Friday, the teams of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will be out on track for practice. On Saturday, things get serious: while the job fair is taking place at the ring°boulevard, the race of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie will start in parallel. The race livestream will also be shown on the ring°wall, which already provides the highly visible LED backdrop for the fair. This means visitors can combine their visit to the job fair with motorsport action at the Nürburgring on both days.

Decisive phase of GT World Challenge powered by AWS at Nürburgring

24.08.2026

The GT World Challenge powered by AWS returns to action this weekend (28–30 August). A 55-car grid will chase victory at the Eifel venue, which hosts its 15th GT World Challenge event since joining the calendar in 2012. This begins a run of four rounds in eight weeks – two each for the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cup – culminating in the season finale at Portimão in mid-October.  But we may not have to wait that long to decide this year’s Endurance Cup champions, with at least one title likely to be settled in Germany. The weekend will also feature a busy support line-up consisting of Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the GT3 Revival Series and the Mazda MX-5 Cup Benelux. Off-track activities will give fans even more to see and do at the legendary German venue, with pit walks and an autograph session allowing spectators to see the cars up close and meet the drivers. The location is nothing short of spectacular, blending a rich motorsport culture with breathtaking Eifel scenery. Race previewThe Nürburgring is familiar territory for GT World Challenge. Indeed, with the exception of Spa-Francorchamps, no circuit has staged more events than the 5.1km GP-Strecke. This year’s 55-car grid features 10 manufacturers, marking the first Endurance Cup race since the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa ran at the end of June. Porsche was the big winner in the Ardennes as Lionspeed GP produced a remarkable charge from the back of the field to secure victory. Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter took the runner-up spot, the squad’s third such result from as many Endurance Cup races following Circuit Paul Ricard and Monza. This result put the trio of Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Luca Stolz in position to be crowned champions at the Nürburgring, where a finish of fourth or better will seal the title regardless of what their rivals achieve. Among the class battles, the Gold Cup is the closest contest heading to Germany with just eight points separating Garage 59 (McLaren) from ROWE Racing (BMW). Team WRT (BMW) holds a commanding advantage in Silver and is on course to secure the title with a round to spare, while Kessel Racing (Ferrari) looks well placed to defend its Bronze crown after scoring maximum points at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. You can find the entry list here. Fan ActivationsThe Nürburgring is among the most famous and historic venues in global motorsport. As such, it is a must-visit for every fan. The surrounding area is steeped in racing culture, with memorabilia found in almost every local bar and plenty of racing-related businesses. The wider region is visually spectacular, from the verdant Eifel mountains to the imposing Nürburg castle which can be seen from the circuit. At the track, there will be plenty of opportunities to get close to the action. At 17:55 on Saturday evening, the public will be invited into the pit lane where they can watch as the teams undertake pit stop practice. There will also be an autograph session between 12:30 and 13:10 on Sunday, followed by a pit walk between 13:45 and 14:15. On display at the circuit, fans can see the BMW M3 Touring 24H which became a cult icon during this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours. The circuit is also home to a series of merchandise stores – both modern and retro – selling a very wide variety of souvenirs. You’ll find the usual items like t-shirts, hats and stickers, as well as more unique mementos – including a toaster that leaves an imprint of the Nordschleife layout on your toast! Support RacesAs ever, there's plenty more on-track activity to look forward to during the Nürburgring weekend. Lamborghini Super Trofeo returns from its summer break with just nine points separating three crews at the top of the Pro standings. Silas Lovén Rytter and Patrik Fraboni (Oregon Team) lead Kevin Gilardoni and Simone Iaquinta (DL Racing) by seven, with Nicholas Pujatti and Benedetto Strigano (Villorba Corse) two points further back. The Eifel venue marks its 14th appearance on the Super Trofeo calendar and is sure to produce another pair of entertaining races. The GT3 Revival Series is set for its maiden appearance at the Nürburgring. Launched this year as a home for the early generations of GT3 machinery, the new championship has attracted big grids featuring some iconic cars. The Pro-Am title could be settled in Germany, with Jean-Luc Beaubelique on the cusp of closing the deal with his Ferrari 458 – which, in a previous life, scored class honours at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The Mazda MX-5 Cup Benelux completes the Nürburgring support line-up. Using the globally popular MX-5 platform, this one-make series is popular with young hopefuls and experienced veterans. The Nürburgring makes the fourth of six events and is the only one staged outside the Benelux region. The full timetable can be found here. TicketsTickets begin at 10€ for Friday, while Saturday entry costs 20€ and Sunday is priced at 30€. The best value comes from a full weekend pass, which grants access for all three days and costs 40€. All tickets include access to the paddock and grandstands, while a range of VIP options are also available. Get yours here! Children aged 11 and under may attend free of charge with a paying adult, while those aged between 12 and 17 are entitled to a reduced rate. There are also concessions for spectators who meet a specified disability threshold. How to watchIf you can’t make it to the track, GT World Challenge races are streamed live around the world on the GT World YouTube channel. This is entirely free, allowing fans to experience every second of the action no matter where they are. Live coverage from the Nürburgring begins at 10:50 on Saturday with Free Practice 1, followed on Sunday by Qualifying at 09:45 and the main event at 15:00. The GT3 Revival Series will also air live on GT World.

Road to 100 – The Construction of the Nürburgring: Part 2

23.08.2026

Once the Südschleife had left the dense fir forest of the first few kilometres behind, it was laid out over the next two kilometres or so across partly marshy meadows, which first had to be painstakingly drained by staff from R. Perthel & Co. of Cologne, the company responsible for this section of the works. After a few fast bends, which took the track past one of the many quarries used for the construction, the track  continued straight on for several hundred metres towards Müllenbach. There, in the immediate vicinity of the village, a difficult-to-navigate 90-degree bend was constructed, which was to prove a major challenge, particularly for motorcyclists, in the decades that followed. Shortly after this bend, at kilometre 4, a bridge was built to make the inner section of the Südschleife accessible from Müllenbach. At the same time, this underpass led to one of the three access points for tourist drives. These events, which still attract countless people to the Ring today, have in fact been held right from the start. After the bridge, the track climbed again towards the start and finish line – we will read in the next two parts what special features the track offered up to that point. ℹ️ The Nürburgring opened in 1927. As part of #Roadto100, we are looking back at various milestones in our long history in the run-up to our big anniversary year!

Wittmann wins gripping Eifel thriller and celebrates 20th DTM victory

16.08.2026

Calm under pressure and tactically smart: Marco Wittmann (Fürth/Schubert Motorsport) secured his 20th DTM victory on Sunday at the Nürburgring. The 36-year-old impressed with early and fast pit stops as well as clean overtaking manoeuvres. In the final third of a chaotic race, the BMW driver took the lead and secured his first DTM victory in two years. “The 20th victory means an enormous amount to me! Throughout all my years in the DTM, I have experienced many highs and lows. It feels fantastic to be fighting right at the front on our own strength. The race was chaotic at times, but I kept a cool head, even though things got really tight towards the end,” explained Wittmann. Tom Kalender (Hamm/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf) delivered a sensational performance: The youngster gained nine positions and celebrated the first podium finish of his DTM career in second place. Thomas Preining (A/Manthey) narrowly missed out on taking the lead in the standings with third place and is now just one point behind championship leader Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol). The 40-year-old retired after a collision on the opening lap and therefore failed to score points for the first time in 18 DTM races. 81,000 spectators experienced a hot race weekend at the Nürburgring – with plenty of overtaking manoeuvres and hard-fought battles. Keyfacts, 12th race of the season out of 16• Pole position: Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo #48), 1:25.062 minutes• Winner: Marco Wittmann (Schubert Motorsport, BMW M4 GT3 R #11)• Fastest lap: Finn Wiebelhaus (HRT Ford Racing, Ford Mustang GT3 #64), 1:25.988 minutes Shortly after the start of the 12th DTM championship race, a collision occurred at the first corner of the Nürburgring – the Safety Car was deployed. Championship leader Engel had to retire his Mercedes-AMG GT3, as did fellow Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), who consequently dropped to fourth place in the standings. The race was also over for Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Schubert Motorsport). After the restart, pole-sitter Jules Gounon (F/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) led ahead of Ben Dörr (Butzbach/Dörr Motorsport) and Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing). Wittmann had moved up one position to fourth and took second place behind Gounon after an early pit stop. Dörr retired with an incorrectly fitted rear tyre, while Cairoli dropped far down the order after a weak mandatory pit stop. Preining also benefited from this and moved up to third. Shortly afterwards, Wittmann took the lead in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo as Gounon had to serve a Penalty Lap for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane, losing several positions in the process. After the second tyre change, Wittmann and Preining defended their positions. Kalender, on the other hand, opted for a late stop and returned to the track in fifth place on fresh Pirelli slicks. With skilful overtaking manoeuvres, the 18-year-old fought his way up to third place. The Mercedes-AMG driver then attacked Preining and passed the Austrian one lap before the finish. Kalender even managed to close the gap to the leading Wittmann – but after 39 turbulent laps, Wittmann crossed the finish line first. Behind Wittmann, Kalender and Preining, Arjun Maini (IND/HRT Ford Racing) and Mirko Bortolotti (I/TGI Team by GRT) finished fourth and fifth respectively in the Lamborghini Temerario GT3. Luca Engstler (Kempten/Red Bull Team Abt) took sixth place in another Lamborghini. Aston Martin works driver Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing) moved up to third place in the overall standings with seventh place. Timo Glock (Kreuzlingen) placed the second McLaren 720S GT3 Evo from Dörr Motorsport in eighth. Marco Mapelli (I/Red Bull Team Abt) followed in ninth, ahead of Porsche driver Bastian Buus (DK/Land-Motorsport). Tom Kalender: “When I ran to my team after the podium ceremony, I saw so many happy faces as never before. In just four years, I have made it from karting to the DTM podium. This feeling is indescribable. After my retirement on Saturday, I still had a fresh set of tyres in reserve. That obviously helped me in the battle with Thomas Preining.” Thomas Preining: “A great home race for the team! At the start, I was incredibly lucky to just avoid the collision involving the cars next to me. I would have loved to bring second place home and I gave it everything I had, but Tom Kalender was simply impossible to hold off. We are now fully involved in the championship fight and we have worked hard to get here.” Results, 12th championship race1. Marco Wittmann (D/Schubert Motorsport)2. Tom Kalender (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), +0,517 seconds3. Thomas Preining (A/Manthey), +0,918 seconds4. Arjun Maini (IND/HRT Ford Performance), +2,571 seconds5. Mirko Bortolotti (I/TGI Team by GRT), +3,112 seconds The complete result is available here.

Furious Ferrari at the Nürburgring: Cairoli celebrates third DTM victory

15.08.2026

Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing) comfortably won the eleventh DTM championship race at the Nürburgring on Saturday. The Ferrari driver controlled the field as pole-sitter in midsummer temperatures and was the first to take the chequered flag after 39 laps with a lead of just under ten seconds. “This victory feels fantastic after some rather disappointing weekends recently. Our team did a mega job last week and did everything possible to get us back on the road to success. It has fully paid off. First pole position, then the victory and the fastest race lap – the car was simply a rocket,” said a delighted Cairoli, who has already claimed three victories as a DTM rookie. Porsche driver Thomas Preining (A) finished second at his team Manthey’s home circuit. Third place went to Marco Wittmann (Fürth/Schubert Motorsport) in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Keyfacts, 11th race of the season out of 16•    Pole position: Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo #14), 1:25.345 minutes•    Winner: Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo #14)•    Fastest lap: Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo #14), 1:26.031 minutes Pole-sitter Cairoli maintained the lead ahead of Preining after a perfect start. Behind them, Ben Dörr (Butzbach/Dörr Motorsport) took third place ahead of Wittmann and Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), who lost two positions. While there were some hard-fought battles further down the field, the gaps between the top five remained constant. The 30-year-old Cairoli had built up a lead of more than three seconds by the time of the mandatory pit stop and returned to the track in first place after a quick tyre change. Preining had fitted new Pirelli slicks one lap earlier and reduced the gap to the Italian in his Porsche 911 GT3 R, but was unable to get within striking distance. Wittmann was able to pass Dörr after an early pit stop, while Auer remained in fifth. As Cairoli continued to extend his lead, Dörr closed in on Wittmann but was unable to challenge the experienced driver from Fürth. The Ferrari driver ultimately secured his third victory with a comfortable margin, giving him more race wins this season than any other DTM driver. With second place, Preining also moved up to second in the overall standings. Wittmann and Dörr followed in third and fourth. Auer finished fifth and therefore remained third in the standings. Championship leader Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol) tactically stayed out of the hard-fought battles and maintained his lead in the drivers’ standings with sixth place. Luca Engstler (Kempten/Red Bull Team Abt) was the best-placed Lamborghini driver in seventh. Jules Gounon (F/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) was classified eighth. Ricardo Feller (CH) finished the eleventh race of the season in ninth place in Manthey’s second Porsche 911 GT3 R. Bastian Buus (DK) completed the top ten in the Porsche of Land-Motorsport. Thomas Preining: “A great race for us! The important thing was that I was able to defend second place at the start. Matteo Cairoli was simply too fast to put him under serious pressure. The 20 points are important for the championship, and we have to continue like this on Sunday. I have been driving for Manthey for so many years that, as an Austrian, the Nürburgring weekend already feels like a home race to me.” Marco Wittmann: “The Nürburgring is a track that suits me really well. We have been at the front since the first practice session on Friday and didn’t have to make any major setup adjustments over the weekend. As a driver, that gives you the confidence you need in a DTM race. I had to keep a close eye on the rear-view mirror during the final laps, so I’m all the happier with the result.” Result, 11th championship race1. Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing)2. Thomas Preining (A/Manthey), +9.973 seconds3. Marco Wittmann (D/Schubert Motorsport), +13.756 seconds4. Ben Dörr (D/Dörr Motorsport), +14.569 seconds5. Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), +15.373 seconds The complete result is available here.