The 2026 DTM season continues this weekend as the championship travels to Circuit Zandvoort for its second round of the year. After opening the campaign at the Red Bull Ring, the field now moves from the Austrian hills to the Dutch North Sea coast for races three and four of the 16-race season.
Zandvoort gives the championship a very different test. The Red Bull Ring emphasised long straights, braking stability, tyre preparation and pit strategy. By contrast, Zandvoort demands accuracy, rhythm and confidence through crests, gravel traps, fast direction changes and banked corners.
As a result, the weekend should offer a clearer view of the early competitive order. Mercedes-AMG arrives with the championship lead after a strong opening round, but Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Ford all have reasons to target progress. Meanwhile, Lamborghini needs a response after a difficult start with the new Temerario GT3.
However, before the championship picture takes centre stage, the home focus belongs to Thierry Vermeulen.
Vermeulen carries home hopes
Thierry Vermeulen will attract significant attention at Zandvoort as he prepares for his home event with Emil Frey Racing. The Dutch driver, who was born in Venlo, arrives at the second round after scoring points at the Red Bull Ring and will now aim to build on Ferrari’s early-season promise in front of a home crowd.
Vermeulen and teammate Matteo Cairoli both showed competitive flashes in Austria, although Emil Frey Racing still needs a cleaner weekend to move closer to the leading group. Zandvoort could offer that opportunity, but the circuit also leaves little room for error.
Vermeulen knows the scale of that challenge.
He told DTM: “Zandvoort has an old-school character. The track is very undulating, has a lot of crests, big changes in elevation, and gravel beds instead of asphalt run-off zones. You have to be very accurate, particularly in qualifying, as the circuit does not forgive any mistakes. You can take different lines in the banked corners, so I reckon there will be some spectacular battles here. I can hardly wait to line up in Zandvoort, and hope that many fans will come and see me and my Ferrari in the garage.”
His comments capture the central demands of the weekend. Qualifying will matter, mistakes will carry a high price, and the banked corners could create different attacking options during the races. For Vermeulen, the challenge also carries emotional weight. Strong home support can provide extra motivation, but it can also raise expectations.
The story so far after the Red Bull Ring
The opening round at the Red Bull Ring gave the 2026 DTM season an unpredictable start. Interrupted practice running and limited data on the new tyre left teams with several unknowns heading into qualifying. Then, safety cars, penalties, tyre behaviour and pit strategy shaped both races.
Mercedes-AMG emerged from Austria with the strongest overall position. Maro Engel took pole for Race 1, finished on the podium, and then won Race 2 to leave Spielberg as the championship leader. Lucas Auer also delivered a strong weekend for Mercedes-AMG, scoring podiums in both races.
However, the opener did not produce a one-sided picture. Thomas Preining gave Porsche an early victory in Race 1, while Marco Wittmann moved BMW into the early championship fight with a strong recovery drive in Race 2. Kelvin van der Linde also showed BMW’s one-lap pace by taking pole for Race 2, even though he could not convert that starting position into victory.
Further back, Ford, Aston Martin and Ferrari showed signs of promise. By contrast, Lamborghini faced the most difficult start. The new Temerario GT3 struggled to join the main midfield fight, leaving Mirko Bortolotti, Luca Engstler, Maximilian Paul and Marco Mapelli searching for progress heading into Zandvoort.
Championship picture heading into Round 2
Engel leads the Drivers’ standings with 44 points after his strong Red Bull Ring weekend. Auer sits second on 37 points after two podium finishes, while Wittmann holds third with 31 points for Schubert Motorsport.
Preining follows in fourth on 29 points after winning Race 1 in Austria. Thiim completes the top five on 17 points after a solid first weekend with Comtoyou Racing and Aston Martin.
The early order gives Mercedes-AMG the advantage. Landgraf Motorsport leads the Teams’ Championship, while Mercedes-AMG also heads the Manufacturers’ standings ahead of Porsche and BMW.
However, DTM can change quickly. Balance of Performance, ballast, tyre behaviour, pit execution and track characteristics can all reshape the field from one round to the next. Zandvoort will therefore test whether Mercedes-AMG’s early advantage carries across a very different circuit.
Zandvoort presents a technical and strategic test
Circuit Zandvoort measures 4.259 kilometres and features 14 corners, with ten right-handers and four left-handers. The clockwise layout runs through the dunes and includes several defining sections, including Tarzanbocht, Scheivlak, Hugenholtzbocht and Arie Luyendykbocht.
The circuit combines old-school character with modern GT3 intensity. Drivers must commit through fast sections, manage elevation changes, and stay precise through corners that provide limited margin beyond the racing line. Gravel traps replace generous asphalt run-off in several areas, which raises the cost of even small errors.
The banking also adds another tactical element. Hugenholtzbocht and Arie Luyendykbocht allow drivers to explore different lines, especially when they battle closely. However, those options only help drivers who place the car accurately and manage tyre grip effectively.
Therefore, qualifying should play a major role. Overtaking remains possible, particularly into Turn 1 and through the banked sections, but track position can shape both races. Teams will also need strong tyre preparation and clean pit execution, especially if the weather changes during the weekend.
Key numbers for Circuit Zandvoort
- Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort
- Location: Zandvoort, Netherlands
- Circuit length: 4.259 km
- Layout: 14 corners — ten right-handers and four left-handers
- Direction: Clockwise
- GT3 lap record: 1:33.614, Ben Dörr, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, 2024 DTM round
- 2025 Race 1 winner: Ayhancan Güven, Manthey EMA, Porsche 911 GT3 R
- 2025 Race 2 winner: René Rast, Schubert Motorsport, BMW M4 GT3 Evo
- 2025 Race 1 pole: Jordan Pepper, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, 1:42.194
- 2025 Race 1 fastest lap: Ayhancan Güven, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 1:34.960
- 2025 Race 2 pole: René Rast, BMW M4 GT3 Evo, 1:32.750
- 2025 Race 2 fastest lap: Jack Aitken, Ferrari 296 GT3, 1:33.782
Previous Zandvoort races underline the challenge
Last year’s DTM weekend at Zandvoort produced two very different races and two different winning manufacturers.
In Race 1, changing weather and a drying track created a strategic contest. Ayhancan Güven claimed victory for Manthey EMA in the Porsche 911 GT3 R after starting fifth and switching to slick tyres early. The decision helped him move into winning contention, while others lost time when the pit lane became crowded during the tyre-change phase.
Güven eventually crossed the line just 0.323 seconds ahead of Nicki Thiim, while Maximilian Paul completed the podium. The result showed how quickly Zandvoort can reward decisive strategy and punish hesitation.
Race 2 followed a more controlled pattern. René Rast started from pole and led from the front for Schubert Motorsport in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Wittmann completed a BMW one-two, while Preining finished third for Porsche.
Those two races give both Porsche and BMW strong recent reference points. They also show the range of scenarios that Zandvoort can produce. Mixed conditions can make tyre choice decisive, while stable conditions can increase the value of pole position, track position and pit execution.
Weather and coastal conditions could influence strategy
Zandvoort’s location near the North Sea can make conditions difficult to predict. Wind, cooler temperatures, sand and sudden changes in weather can all affect grip levels, tyre preparation and race strategy.
Last year’s opening race at the circuit showed how quickly conditions can influence the outcome. The race began on a wet track, but the surface dried as the laps progressed. Güven’s early switch to slicks helped put him into victory contention, while other drivers lost time during a crowded pit phase.
Therefore, teams will need to stay flexible this weekend. If conditions change again, tyre timing could prove just as important as outright pace. Even in dry weather, wind and track evolution may influence qualifying laps and race balance across both days.
Engel and Auer lead Mercedes-AMG’s challenge
After the home storyline with Vermeulen, the main championship focus returns to Mercedes-AMG. Engel arrives as the early benchmark after his Red Bull Ring victory and Race 1 podium.
He also has positive memories of Zandvoort. His 2023 victory at the Dutch circuit marked his first DTM win in the GT3 era. This year, he returns with the championship lead and additional momentum after winning the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring last weekend.
Auer gives Mercedes-AMG a second major title threat. He scored podiums in both Red Bull Ring races and sits within seven points of Engel. While Engel took the biggest result, Auer’s consistency strengthened both his own position and Landgraf Motorsport’s place at the top of the Teams’ standings.
Jules Gounon and Tom Kalender also add depth to the Mercedes-AMG group. Both showed speed in Austria, although their weekends included setbacks. Zandvoort gives them another chance to convert pace into stronger points.
BMW looks to convert Zandvoort history into momentum
BMW heads to Zandvoort with recent success at the circuit. Rast and Wittmann delivered Schubert Motorsport’s one-two last season, and Wittmann now returns third in the Drivers’ standings.
Wittmann’s experience strengthens BMW’s case. He has already won twice at Zandvoort in DTM, and his Red Bull Ring recovery drive showed that he can still maximise races even when he does not start from the front.
Van der Linde also gives Schubert Motorsport another important reference. His Race 2 pole at the Red Bull Ring showed BMW’s one-lap speed, but his race result exposed areas for improvement. Zandvoort will test whether BMW can combine qualifying performance with stronger race execution.
If Schubert Motorsport manages that balance, BMW should have a realistic chance to challenge near the front.
Porsche targets another front-running weekend
Porsche also enters the weekend with a strong case. Preining won Race 1 at the Red Bull Ring and moved to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. His victory gave Manthey an early highlight and proved that Porsche can challenge Mercedes-AMG when the car sits in the right performance window.
Güven’s 2025 Zandvoort victory adds another relevant reference. Although that win came in mixed conditions, Manthey executed the race well and converted tyre strategy into victory.
This weekend, Manthey will look to combine that recent circuit success with Preining’s opening-round momentum. Ricardo Feller will also seek a stronger weekend after scoring points in both Red Bull Ring races but trailing Preining’s headline result.
Aston Martin and Ford chase further progress
Comtoyou Racing and Aston Martin arrive with one clear early reference: Thiim. The Dane sits fifth in the standings after a solid opening round and returns to a circuit where he finished second last season.
Thiim’s 2025 Zandvoort podium came in different machinery, but it still showed his ability to manage risk and attack in changeable conditions. This year, he will aim to continue Aston Martin’s progress with the Vantage GT3. Meanwhile, Nicolas Baert needs a cleaner weekend after leaving the Red Bull Ring without points.
Ford also showed encouraging signs in Austria. Finn Wiebelhaus and Arjun Maini both scored points for HRT Ford Racing, while Wiebelhaus demonstrated strong qualifying pace. Zandvoort will now test whether Ford can maintain that progress on a circuit that places more emphasis on precision, balance and rhythm than outright straight-line efficiency.
Lamborghini seeks a clearer step with the Temerario
Lamborghini enters Round 2 with the most obvious technical question. The new Temerario GT3 struggled at the Red Bull Ring, where Bortolotti, Paul, Engstler and Mapelli spent much of the weekend near the lower end of the order.
Bortolotti scored four points, Engstler scored one, and both Paul and Mapelli left Austria without points. That placed Lamborghini at the foot of the Manufacturers’ Championship after the opening round.
Zandvoort offers an important comparison because Lamborghini performed strongly there last season with the Huracán GT3 Evo2. Thiim, Paul and Engstler finished second, third and fourth in Race 1 in 2025, giving the brand one of its strongest weekends at the circuit.
This year, the focus turns to whether the Temerario can move closer to the main midfield fight. Progress in qualifying, tyre behaviour or race pace would give Lamborghini useful evidence after a difficult debut weekend. Another low-scoring round, however, would increase the pressure on the programme early in the season.
2026 DTM Zandvoort weekend schedule
Friday, 22 May
- 12:00–12:55 — DTM Free Practice 1
- 16:20–17:05 — DTM Free Practice 2
Saturday, 23 May
- 09:45–10:05 — DTM Qualifying 1
- 13:30–14:30 — DTM Race 1
Sunday, 24 May
- 09:40–10:00 — DTM Qualifying 2
- 13:30–14:30 — DTM Race 2
Support series complete the weekend programme
The Zandvoort event also includes ADAC GT Masters, Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.
ADAC GT Masters continues its 20th season on the DTM platform, while the two Porsche Carrera Cup categories bring one-make racing to the Dutch coast. Formula Regional also returns after appearing at the Red Bull Ring, giving junior single-seater drivers another chance to race on the DTM bill.
Together, those categories create a full weekend of GT racing, Porsche Cup competition and junior formula action around the main DTM races.
Zandvoort can test the early order
The Red Bull Ring established the first competitive picture of the 2026 DTM season. Mercedes-AMG left Austria with the lead, Engel and Auer built early momentum, Porsche claimed a victory, BMW showed both race and qualifying pace, and several midfield manufacturers hinted at progress.
However, Zandvoort asks different questions. The Dutch circuit rewards precision, commitment and qualifying execution, while its banked corners, crests and gravel traps punish mistakes more severely than Spielberg. It can also place strategy at the centre of the race if coastal weather changes the track surface.
For that reason, races three and four could reveal how reliable the early hierarchy really is. If Mercedes-AMG remains ahead on a contrasting circuit, its benchmark status will become stronger. If Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin or Ford respond, the title fight could tighten before the season reaches its third round.
Lamborghini also faces an important opportunity to measure progress with the Temerario GT3. After a difficult opening round, any step towards the midfield would give the manufacturer a more positive foundation for the coming races.
Zandvoort will not decide the championship, but it can clarify the direction of the early season. In a series shaped by small margins, that makes the second round an important test for every contender.
