Ben Dörr delivered a standout performance during the 2026 DTM pre-season test at the Red Bull Ring, topping the combined times despite a dramatic on-track incident.
The 21-year-old McLaren driver set the fastest lap of the test with a 1:28.199, narrowly beating Jules Gounon by just 0.018 seconds. The Mercedes-AMG driver had set the benchmark earlier in the day before leaving the circuit to attend a FIA World Endurance Championship test in Imola. Thomas Preining secured third, ahead of Lucas Auer and Tom Kalender.
The official combined results confirmed the tight margins across the field, with less than three tenths covering the top five.
Dörr overcomes scare to set benchmark
Dörr not only led the timesheets but also caused one of several red flags during the session. Shortly after a pit stop, he lost his right-rear wheel and brought the car to a halt on track.
Speaking to Motorsport-Total, Dörr explained:
“At the top of Turn 3, I realised something wasn’t right, and then the wheel was loose in the wheel housing. That’s why I stopped — just not to break anything.”
He added:
“Something probably jammed when tightening the nut, or it wasn’t tightened properly.”
Despite the incident, Dörr had already set his fastest lap earlier in the afternoon during a qualifying simulation run.
“Right after the lunch break, we went out for a short qualifying run to see what was possible on fresh tyres.”
Changing weather conditions later in the day prevented others from improving, as rain arrived shortly after his run.
Glock faces renewed issues
While Dörr completed 99 laps without major setbacks, his teammate Timo Glock endured a more difficult day.
Glock finished sixth overall, 0.320 seconds behind Dörr, but completed only 61 laps, the lowest total among the field. He struggled with steering vibrations and spent much of the afternoon in the garage while the team investigated the issue.
The problems limited his running and delayed his return to the track, continuing a frustrating trend for the experienced driver.
Multiple interruptions disrupt running of 2026 DTM test
Several incidents triggered red flags throughout the day. Kalender stopped with a rear mechanical issue, while Maximilian Paul halted on track after a water radiator problem on his Lamborghini.
Thierry Vermeulen also caused a stoppage when he ran into the gravel at Turn 8.
Meanwhile, Kelvin van der Linde lost valuable running time in the morning session due to an oil pump issue on his BMW. He later returned to complete 83 laps but finished 20th overall.
Reflecting on the importance of testing, van der Linde said:
“Testing opportunities in DTM are limited, so every kilometre on track is extremely valuable. I was able to get to know the car last year, which was an important step ahead of my first DTM season with BMW. My goal is clear: I want to finally win the DTM.”
Lamborghini continues development work
Lamborghini continued to develop its new Temerario GT3 during the 2026 DTM test, with mixed results.
Newly appointed ABT driver, Luca Engstler, led the manufacturer’s efforts in 13th place, narrowly ahead of Mirko Bortolotti.
Engstler, who completed 133 laps, highlighted the scale of the challenge:
“A new car means a lot of work, but also an exciting challenge. There are still some intense days and long nights ahead, because we want to get the maximum out of it and be fully prepared for the start of the season.”
Grasser Racing Team boss Gottfried Grasser also acknowledged the progress:
“We’ve at least closed the gap to those behind, but there is still a lot to do and to learn.”
Tyres and consistency in focus
Teams paid close attention to the new DTM-specific Pirelli tyre, which made its debut during the test.
Thierry Vermeulen gave a positive assessment, telling Motorsport-Total:
“We ran qualifying and race simulations, which gave us a good feeling for the tyre, and we were very satisfied. Overall, the performance looks strong. Over one lap, we seem to be a bit faster, and in long runs the behaviour is very consistent. You get the feeling that you can control the wear better. That is definitely a step forward. I also find it exciting that DTM now has an exclusive tyre.”
Despite generally positive feedback, some teams, particularly BMW, encountered graining issues in the cooler conditions.
Final preparations ahead of the season opener
The test marked the final opportunity for teams to prepare ahead of the season opener at the same circuit.
Maro Engel, entering his tenth DTM season, emphasised the value of continuity:
“I’m working with the same team as last year and I know the car very well. That is clearly one of our strengths. We ran various simulations today and feel ready for the season. It’s great that the opener takes place at the Red Bull Ring. I really enjoy driving this track and I like the area as well.”
Across the day, 21 drivers completed 2,279 laps, covering 9,859 kilometres as teams gathered crucial data ahead of the new campaign.
With minimal gaps at the front and several teams still working through technical challenges, the Red Bull Ring test underlined the competitiveness of the 2026 grid.
DTM 2026 Test Results (Best Time)
- Ben Dörr – Dörr Motorsport (McLaren 720S GT3 Evo) – 1:28.199
- Jules Gounon – Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo) – +0.018
- Thomas Preining – Manthey (Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo) – +0.155
- Lucas Auer – Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo) – +0.274
- Tom Kalender – Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo) – +0.282
- Timo Glock – Dörr Motorsport (McLaren 720S GT3 Evo) – +0.320
- Ricardo Feller – Manthey (Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo) – +0.424
- Finn Wiebelhaus – HRT Ford Racing (Ford Mustang GT3) – +0.468
- Maro Engel – Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol (Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo) – +0.536
- Bastian Buus – Land Motorsport (Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo) – +0.564
- Thierry Vermeulen – Emil Frey Racing (Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo) – +0.802
- Arjun Maini – HRT Ford Racing (Ford Mustang GT3) – +0.897
- Luca Engstler – Red Bull Team ABT (Lamborghini Temerario GT3) – +0.910
- Mirko Bortolotti – TGI Team by GRT (Lamborghini Temerario GT3) – +1.057
- Matteo Cairoli – Emil Frey Racing (Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo) – +1.115
- Marco Wittmann – Schubert Motorsport (BMW M4 GT3 Evo) – +1.153
- Nicki Thiim – Comtoyou Racing (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo) – +1.162
- Marco Mapelli – Red Bull Team ABT (Lamborghini Temerario GT3) – +1.265
- Maximilian Paul – TGI Team by GRT (Lamborghini Temerario GT3) – +1.332
- Kelvin van der Linde – Schubert Motorsport (BMW M4 GT3 Evo) – +1.620
- Nico Baert – Comtoyou Racing (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo) – +1.976
