DTM | 2026 Norisring | Race 1 | Thiim wins eventful race as Engel retakes championship lead

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Nicki Thiim headed into Race 1 at the 2026 DTM Norisring round from pole after a record-breaking Qualifying 1 session on Saturday morning.

Maro Engel initially lowered the Norisring qualifying benchmark in Group A with a 48.463s, beating Jordan Pepper’s previous record by 0.004s. However, Group B benefited from a more evolved track, and Thiim took full advantage. The 2024 Norisring winner first moved into the 48s before improving to a 48.449s, denying Engel pole and setting a new qualifying record.

After the session, the stewards disqualified Ben Dörr’s #25 McLaren for running 8.5kg below the prescribed minimum weight. Officials confirmed that they would issue a revised result.

Engel lined up second, while Arjun Maini secured third after a strong Group B performance. With the narrow street circuit offering limited overtaking opportunities, track position looked set to play a crucial role in Race 1.

A delayed start

As the drivers prepared for the formation lap, officials delayed the start while the grid underwent another reshuffle. The reason for the adjustment was not immediately clear, but it moved Mirko Bortolotti into the top 10.

That change created an additional complication for the TGI Team by GRT driver. Because Bortolotti now started inside the top 10, he had to switch back to the tyres he had used in qualifying, as required by the regulations.

The field completed two formation laps before the race began, with officials also needing to clear debris from the track.

Green lights for Race 1 at the 2026 DTM Norisring

When the lights went out, Nicki Thiim and Maro Engel launched side by side into Turn 1. Engel challenged the polesitter off the line, but Thiim held firm and emerged from the opening corner with the lead.

Behind them, officials noted Maximilian Paul for a false start. The Lamborghini driver received a penalty lap, a frustrating outcome after his strong qualifying performance.

Local favourite Marco Wittmann also reported early trouble after picking up a puncture. Nicolas Baert later came under investigation for an incident with the Schubert Motorsport driver, which had likely caused the damage. However, the stewards decided to take no further action. Wittmann eventually had to retire, with the incident appearing to come after a three-wide battle left little room.

Further back, former ABT teammates Kelvin van der Linde and Ricardo Feller ran side by side in one of the early wheel-to-wheel fights. Van der Linde completed the move and gained a place, showing once again why the Norisring often produces close, elbows-out racing.

Marco Mapelli also received a warning for incorrect overtaking during the opening phase.

Dörr begins recovery drive

Ben Dörr quickly started to recover after his qualifying disqualification had forced him to start from the back. The McLaren driver climbed to 13th in the early stages, while teammate Timo Glock also made progress and moved into 10th.

At the front, Engel showed strong pace and set the fastest lap with a 49.107s as he kept Thiim within reach.

In the midfield, Finn Wiebelhaus and Thierry Vermeulen both made clean starts and settled into sixth and seventh respectively. Bortolotti and Glock also kept themselves out of trouble, something that mattered around a circuit where even the smallest mistake could quickly end a race.

Thiim began to build a gap at the front and moved 1.2s clear of Engel. However, the race soon changed when Tom Kalender hit the wall and damaged the right rear of his car, bringing out the Safety Car.

First pit window delayed

Race control postponed the opening of the first mandatory pit stop window while marshals recovered Kalender’s #84 Mercedes-AMG.

When the Safety Car came in, Thiim controlled the restart well. Engel immediately looked for a way past, but he also had to defend from Arjun Maini, who stayed close behind in third.

Once the first pit window opened, Baert immediately peeled into the pit lane. Engel, Dörr and van der Linde followed soon after, with Engel hoping to use fresher tyres to undercut Thiim.

As the pit cycle unfolded, Engel and Thiim ran side by side again, with the Mercedes-AMG driver putting pressure on the race leader.

Maini then came in for his stop, but a problem with one of the left-side tyres cost him valuable time and left him with a 10-second pit stop. Bortolotti and Jules Gounon also completed their stops during this phase.

More incidents under investigation

Luca Engstler and Feller then came under investigation after the Lamborghini driver brushed the wall at the exit of Turn 1. Engstler appeared to suggest that Feller had contributed to the incident.

Thiim was the next of the frontrunners to pit, and Comtoyou Racing delivered a strong 5.2-second stop to keep him firmly in contention.

Officials also investigated contact between Lucas Auer and Maini, although they later decided to take no further action.

Thomas Preining and Paul were the final two drivers still needing to complete their mandatory stops, with 11 minutes of the pit window remaining.

Meanwhile, all eyes turned to the Dörr Motorsport teammates. Dörr and Glock ran side by side into the chicane as the recovering #25 McLaren continued to move through the order.

Van der Linde and Paul crash brings out red flag

The race then took a dramatic turn when Paul and van der Linde made heavy contact heading into Turn 1.

Race control initially called a Full Course Yellow, but the extent of the accident soon prompted a red flag. From the replay, Paul appeared to lose control and make contact with van der Linde, whose BMW was already on the inside at the apex of Turn 1.

The impact left van der Linde’s left-side door open and heavily damaged. The South African climbed out of the car unaided, but officials confirmed that he would go to the Medical Centre for checks.

Paul was conscious and responsive after the crash, but he was taken to hospital for further checks.

The impact also damaged the barriers and FIA fencing at Turn 1. Marshals began repairs during the red flag period before race control could prepare for a restart.

Officials brought the remaining cars to the red flag line while they waited for the restart procedure.

Back racing at the 2026 DTM Norisring

Race 1 at the 2026 DTM Norisring round officially resumed after the field completed two laps behind the Safety Car.

Before the restart, Dörr Motorsport pushed Timo Glock’s car back into the garage. The team retired the McLaren from the race after it began leaking too much oil.

Thiim controlled the restart well once again, while Maini prevented Engel from launching an attack for the lead. Behind them, Bortolotti made a bold move down the inside of Dörr, sending a clear message as he continued his recovery.

Preining had benefited from the Full Course Yellow and Safety Car phase and restarted in fourth. However, Auer immediately put pressure on his fellow Austrian and soon demoted him to fifth.

Vermeulen tried to profit from the battle ahead, but he also had to watch his mirrors as Wiebelhaus closed in behind him.

No respite for Preining

Preining and Auer went side by side as the fight for fourth intensified. Although Preining initially held the upper hand, Auer made his move stick and took the position.

Vermeulen then looked to copy Auer’s move on Preining, but he had to back out with Wiebelhaus close behind.

The Emil Frey Racing driver later pushed too hard under braking into Turn 1. Preining saw the move coming and left him enough space, but Vermeulen lost momentum and dropped behind Wiebelhaus.

Wiebelhaus then became the next driver to attack Preining. The HRT Ford driver launched a divebomb and briefly gained the upper hand, but officials instructed him to give the position back. He later received an official warning for incorrect overtaking.

Vermeulen stayed close behind Wiebelhaus, while more drivers began to join the train behind Preining. Gounon and Bortolotti both looked for a way through with fewer than four minutes remaining.

Maini holds firm in podium fight

In the closing stages, Maini came under pressure from Auer in the battle for third.

The HRT Ford driver had to manage the gap carefully as he chased his first podium of the 2026 DTM season. Auer stayed close, but Maini refused to leave him an easy opening.

At the front, Thiim focused on bringing the car home, while Engel settled into second place. The Mercedes-AMG driver stood to regain the championship lead with another strong points finish.

Maini, meanwhile, continued to defend third as the race entered its final lap.

Thiim wins again at the Norisring

Thiim started the final lap with control of the race and cleanly brought the Aston Martin home to win Race 1 at the 2026 DTM Norisring round.

The Dane claimed his second DTM victory at the same circuit where he had taken his maiden series win in 2024.

Engel finished second and collected valuable points to move back into the championship lead, while Maini held off Auer to secure his first podium of the 2026 season.