The DTM heads to the Nürburgring from 14-16 August as the 2026 title fight enters its decisive final three weekends. Maro Engel arrives in the Eifel as the championship leader, with Nicki Thiim, Lucas Auer and Thomas Preining forming the closest group of challengers.
Seven manufacturers feature inside the top eight of the Drivers’ Championship, underlining the competitive nature of the season after five rounds. Meanwhile, the Oschersleben Race 2 classification and its impact on the standings remain provisional following TGI Team by GRT’s appeal against Mirko Bortolotti’s disqualification.
The 3.629km Nürburgring sprint layout will host Races 11 and 12 of the 16-race season. Jack Aitken won the opening race at the circuit in 2025 for Emil Frey Racing, before René Rast claimed Race 2 for Schubert Motorsport.
Engel leads chasing pack into Nürburgring
Engel has established himself as one of the most consistent drivers of the season and has remained among the championship leaders since the opening round. The Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol driver has averaged 29 points per weekend across the opening five rounds and also returns to a circuit where he has already enjoyed major success this year.
Engel formed part of the winning crew at the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring and now returns to the Eifel with another championship objective.
“It is no secret that the Nürburgring is one of my favourite circuits. I have had some great successes there. The big crowds make every race a spectacle.”
However, Engel refuses to place too much importance on his current championship position with six races still remaining.
“The championship lead is just a current snapshot. We are taking it one race at a time, and want to improve consistently. After all, the opposition is not sleeping,” says Engel.
That opposition remains particularly close behind.
Thiim looks to respond after difficult Oschersleben round
Thiim enters the Nürburgring weekend second in the championship after losing the standings lead during the previous round at Oschersleben. Nevertheless, the Comtoyou Racing driver remains firmly involved in the title battle with his Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
The Dane believes his championship position already exceeds the expectations the team carried into the start of the campaign.
“Before the start of the season, we would have dreamed of travelling to the Nürburgring in second place and being part of the discussion when it comes to the title.”
The sprint configuration also provides a challenge Thiim particularly enjoys.
“For us drivers, the sprint circuit is a good mix of tight turns and fast sections. That is precisely what I love about the DTM: we often use track variants that are not so familiar from other racing series.”
Auer also remains close after beginning the season with three consecutive podiums, although the Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf driver will want another major points haul to prevent Engel from stretching his advantage.
Preining carries renewed momentum into Manthey home race
Preining has re-established himself as a major championship contender following a strong Oschersleben weekend. The Austrian heads to the Nürburgring fourth in the standings and now faces a home round for Manthey, whose headquarters sit only a short distance from the circuit.
Despite his previous DTM success, Preining has yet to win a championship race at the Nürburgring. He wants to change that this weekend.
“We are very motivated coming into our home event, and want to back up the performance from the last race weekend in front of our fans. Mercedes has been strong this season. But we are too, and it is about time we picked up the first DTM victory for Porsche at the Nürburgring,” said Preining.
Manthey will therefore arrive with both championship and home-race motivation as Preining attempts to continue closing on the leading group.
Bortolotti heads to Nürburgring with Oschersleben appeal unresolved
Bortolotti crossed the line first in Oschersleben Race 2 and initially appeared to deliver the Lamborghini Temerario GT3 its first DTM victory. However, officials subsequently disqualified the No. 63 TGI Team by GRT entry after a technical investigation into its wheel bearings.
The team has appealed the decision, leaving the race classification and associated championship consequences provisional.
Regardless of that unresolved result, Bortolotti remains focused on continuing the development of Lamborghini’s new GT3 challenger.
“If we have the chance to win, we will take it,” said Bortolotti.
The Nürburgring also carries positive memories for the Italian after he secured his maiden DTM victory there in 2023.
“I won my first DTM race at the Nürburgring in 2023. We are still in the midst of development with the Temerario. For us, it will be all about using the practice sessions to find the right set-up for the car. It is important for me to put myself in a position, from which I can challenge for a good result.”
Engelhart makes DTM return with GRT
TGI Team by GRT will also field a revised driver line-up at the Nürburgring.
DTM race winner Christian Engelhart returns to the championship as he replaces the injured Maximilian Paul. The change gives Engelhart an opportunity to compete with the Temerario GT3 as Lamborghini continues the first DTM season of its new car.
Meanwhile, Bortolotti will look to build on the pace GRT displayed at Oschersleben while the appeal over his previous result continues away from the circuit.
The Nürburgring’s technical sprint layout will give the team another opportunity to understand the Temerario across a different set of demands.
HRT Ford Performance joins Manthey for 2026 home DTM weekend
HRT Ford Performance will join Manthey in contesting a home event this weekend. Both teams operate only minutes from the Nürburgring, adding further significance to Round 6 for their staff and partners.
Arjun Maini also considers the event a home round. The Indian lives in Troisdorf, around an hour away from the circuit, and arrives sixth in the Drivers’ Championship after a significant improvement during Ford’s second DTM season.
Maini and HRT have already secured podium success with the updated Mustang GT3 this year and have increasingly challenged nearer the front.
The Ford driver believes the Evo package has widened the car’s performance window and given the team greater freedom with its set-up.
With Finn Wiebelhaus also showing strong pace this season, HRT will aim to use its home event to continue Ford’s progress and pursue the Mustang’s first DTM victory.
Nürburgring sprint circuit presents mixed challenge
The 3.629km sprint layout contains 11 corners, with seven right-handers and four left-handers, and runs clockwise. Its configuration combines the tight opening Mercedes Arena section with faster sections later in the lap. Drivers must also attack the final chicane precisely, while kerb usage can make a significant difference to lap time.
The unpredictable Eifel weather could add another variable throughout the weekend. A rapidly changing surface can transform tyre preparation and strategy, while the short lap means small mistakes can have a particularly large effect during qualifying.
With the DTM field remaining tightly matched, track position could once again prove crucial across both races.
Three support categories add to 2026 DTM Nürburgring programme
The DTM will share the Nürburgring weekend with three additional championships.
ADAC GT4 Germany, the BMW M2 Cup and Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland will all compete throughout the event, adding further racing to the schedule.
Fans can also see machinery from DTM history through demonstration runs featuring cars from four decades of the championship.
Away from the racing, the DTM Kart Grand Prix will take place on Friday evening from 18:30, with drivers including Ben Dörr and Tom Kalender among those set to participate.
The DTM eSports Championship finale will follow at the RaceRoom SimRaceCafé on Saturday at 15:00. Saturday evening will then feature the DTM Trucks Go and Stop competition on the start-finish straight.
How to follow the 2026 DTM Nürburgring round
ProSieben will broadcast both DTM races live on free-to-air television, with coverage beginning at 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Fans can also watch both contests through Joyn, ran.de, ServusTV On and the official DTM YouTube channel.
For the first time, Sunday’s DTM race will also feature a live audio description service for blind and visually impaired spectators.
With the championship entering its final three rounds, the Nürburgring could prove decisive. Engel leads the way, but Thiim, Auer and Preining remain within striking distance, while seven manufacturers occupy the top eight positions. At the same time, Manthey and HRT Ford Performance will aim to capitalise on home advantage as the title fight reaches the business end of the season.
