Ahead of the 2026 DTM season, Pit Debrief spoke exclusively with Marco Wittmann about his expectations for the new campaign, his continued partnership with BMW and Schubert Motorsport, and his ambitions for the year ahead.
The two-time DTM champion entered the season aiming to build on the progress he and the team made during the previous two years. Despite changes across the championship, Wittmann remained confident that his experience and the continuity within his crew would put him in a strong position to challenge at the front.
Wittmann welcomed the start of another DTM campaign together with BMW
Speaking to Pit Debrief before the opening round of the 2026 season, Wittmann explained that excitement outweighed any uncertainty he felt about the changes across the championship.
The German driver has witnessed the DTM evolve considerably during his career. Teams, manufacturers and drivers have come and gone, while the championship itself has moved through different technical eras, including the transition from Class 1 machinery to GT3 regulations. That experience allowed Wittmann to approach another season of change with a sense of familiarity rather than concern.
“For me, it’s always more a sense of anticipation when a season begins. After all, the DTM winter break in particular is quite long, running from October to April, so you really start looking forward to the start of the season.“
The lengthy gap between DTM campaigns only increased his desire to return to the grid. Although Wittmann continued racing and testing elsewhere during the winter, those outings did not replace the feeling of beginning another season in a championship that has formed such a major part of his career.
“Luckily, I also have the chance to compete in a few other races, where the racing season and test drives kick off as early as January. But that’s why the anticipation clearly outweighs any uncertainty – because, having been involved in the DTM for so many years now, there have always been changes in terms of drivers, teams, manufacturers and the regulations, from Class 1 to GT3.“
His additional racing commitments helped him remain sharp during the off-season, but the return of the DTM still carried its own significance. After spending so many years in the series, Wittmann understood the demands of a new campaign and knew that changes within the paddock formed a natural part of the championship.
Experience helped Wittmann embrace changes to the grid
Wittmann’s extensive DTM career also shaped his attitude towards the changing driver line-up. The arrival of new competitors and the absence of familiar names did not alter his preparation or expectations ahead of the season.
Rather than focusing on who had joined or left the championship, Wittmann concentrated on his own DTM programme with BMW and Schubert Motorsport. His familiarity with the series meant that he did not view the altered field as unfamiliar territory or a reason to approach the campaign with caution.
“Well, I’ve been through a lot in the DTM. So it’s nothing new to me, and it’s not unfamiliar territory just because there might be a few new drivers or perhaps a few old ones who aren’t there anymore. Ultimately, that doesn’t matter to me. So, as I said, I’m just really looking forward to the season finally getting underway in April.“
That experience gave Wittmann a calm outlook before the first race. Having already adapted to major regulatory and structural changes during his time in the DTM, he viewed the developments ahead of 2026 as another part of the championship’s continued evolution.
His focus therefore remained firmly on returning to competition and making the most of the season with BMW. Instead of allowing the changes around him to create uncertainty, Wittmann used his experience to maintain a clear and consistent approach heading into the new campaign.
A third DTM title remained Wittmann’s target
Wittmann continued his long-standing relationship with BMW and Schubert Motorsport for the 2026 season. After developing a strong foundation together during the previous two campaigns, he entered the year with a clear objective.
Rather than viewing the season as simply another challenge, Wittmann made it clear that he wanted to fight for the championship and secure the third DTM title of his career. The continuity within his crew also gave him confidence. With an almost unchanged group around him, Wittmann believed the team could use the experience it gained during the 2025 season to improve its performance.
“No, absolutely. Our goal is to compete for the title. And to secure my third title. We’ve built a solid foundation over the last two years that I’ve been with Team Schubert. I’m also heading into this season with an almost unchanged crew, which of course helps, because we’ve established a good foundation in 2025 and built up a strong rapport. I believe that could be a factor that definitely gives us an advantage for 2026, because you simply start from a completely different position and can also look back on the 2025 season and draw your conclusions from it as to what went well and what perhaps didn’t.“
