A total of six drivers are still in contention for the title at this year’s DTM finale in Hockenheim: Who has the best chance – and who is merely considered an outsider?
Who will be crowned champion of the 2026 DTM season? Ahead of the grand finale at Hockenheim, a total of six drivers still have a (mathematical) chance of winning this year’s title. However, one contender is already considered the hot favourite for the overall victory thanks to his substantial lead.
Manthey Porsche driver Thomas Preining leads the overall standings by a clear margin ahead of the final race weekend of the year. His lead over his closest rival, Maro Engel in the Winward Mercedes, already stands at 23 points. However, there are only 56 points up for grabs at the finale in Hockenheim.
Following his penalty at the Sachsenring and the unfortunate collision at the start of the race at the Nürburgring, Engel has his back against the wall. The 41-year-old must take every risk at Hockenheim to significantly narrow the gap to Preining and turn the tide in the title race one last time.
Auer, Cairoli and Thiim have long-shot chances
The same applies to Marco Wittmann, who currently lies third in the overall standings. The Schubert-BMW driver is 24 points behind the leader and must also hope for a near-perfect weekend at the finale. These three drivers have the best chances of winning the title.
Behind them are three further drivers, who, however, have only a theoretical chance of winning this year’s DTM title: Lucas Auer (Landgraf-Mercedes) is in fourth place, already 45 points behind the top of the standings, and will likely have to act as a support driver for his brand-mate Engel at Hockenheim.
The chasing pack – Matteo Cairoli (Emil-Frey-Ferrari; 47 points behind) and Nicki Thiim (Comtoyou-Aston-Martin; 50 points behind) are also heading into the finale with only a mathematical chance of winning the title. It therefore looks as though Thomas Preining could be crowned DTM champion for the second time since 2023.
Theoretically, an FIA appeal by the Grasser team against the DMSB’s ruling in the wheel bearing affair could still affect the points standings and thus the title race – but the case is not expected to be heard until after the season finale at Hockenheim. Find out here what the overall standings would look like if the disqualification of Oschersleben winner Mirko Bortolotti were to be overturned before the season finale.
