Thomas Preining was crowned the 2026 DTM champion after Maro Engel secured victory in the season‑ending race, yet the points gap proved too wide for an upset.
DTM Title Secured While Engel Wins the Finale
The final event saw Engel take pole‑sized victory for Winward Mercedes, but Preining’s consistent points haul from earlier rounds ensured the Manthey Porsche triumphs in the standings.
Race Day Highlights
Preining began third on the grid, leaping to second within the first minute and nudging closer to the front. Engel, deprived of support from teammate Jules Gounon after a collision with Thierry Vermeulen, battled alone for the lead. A daring pass on Bastian Buus, the Land Porsche polesitter, cost the Dane almost one lap, while Preining and fellow Manthey driver Ricardo Feller maintained a calm defence ahead of the race’s final pit windows.
Feller’s clean run earned him second place, as Preining preserved his third‑place finish without risk, satisfied to secure the championship. Engle’s aggressive maneuver behind Buus resulted in a close‑combed win, but his singular effort fell short of overturning the points deficit.
Championship & Team Outcomes
With Preining’s decisive points haul, the Manthey Porsche haul clinched the drivers’ title and a team’s championship, outpacing Winward and Schubert. In the manufacturers’ table, Mercedes‑AMG raised the top spot thanks to the driver’s league success, followed by Porsche, BMW, and Ferrari.
The podium order read: 1. Maro Engel (Winward Mercedes), 2. Ricardo Feller (Manthey Porsche), 3. Thomas Preining (Manthey Porsche), 4. Bastian Buus (Land Porsche), 5. Ben Dorr (Dorr McLaren), 6. Matteo Cairoli (Emil Frey Ferrari), 7. Marco Wittmann (Schubert BMW), 8. Arjun Maini (HRT Ford), 9. Marco Mapelli (Abt Lamborghini), 10. Mirko Bortolotti (Grasser Lamborghini).
Stakeholders and Quotes
“It was a horror day today, especially with the late race, having to wait three hours longer,” Preining recounted on ProSieben. “The goal had been to drive a clean race, without contact, and we managed that. I’m really proud of my team.”
Engel reflected: “I put everything into this weekend and I think we can be proud of what we’ve done. The joy outweighs everything.” He added gratitude towards his crew and Mercedes‑AMG, underscoring the professional partnership.
Season Finale Summary and Future Outlook
The 2027 season opens on April 23–25 at the Red‑Bull Ring in Austria, inviting teams and fans to begin a new chapter in DTM’s evolving story.
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