The DTM will start the 2026 season at the end of April in the Austrian Alps of all places: Whether the drivers fear the snow and how the ADAC explains the decision
In 2026, for the first time in its almost 40-year history, the DTM will start the new season in Austria. The Red Bull Ring is considered the most modern facility in the DTM calendar, which remains unchanged in terms of tracks, but the decision also carries risks: the season opener will take place at the end of April, and the course is located at around 700 meters above sea level.
“There could even be snow,” says Dörr-McLaren driver Timo Glock. “I hope it doesn’t snow, otherwise I’ll bring my skis,” jokes the veteran. It’s not such a far-fetched idea: In 2023, the official DTM test was held in Spielberg on April 15 – and the day before, it snowed heavily at the racetrack. Glock sees no problem with the fact that the season opener will not take place in Germany for the first time since 2022, when it started in Portimao due to the coronavirus crisis. “Of course, you can discuss and question whether a German championship should start in Austria. But we don’t race all our races in Germany anyway; we travel all over Europe.”
Bortolotti: “Weather could become the main issue”
Incidentally, the weather is not only an issue for Glock, but also for Mirko Bortolotti. “In my opinion, the previous Spielberg date was always perfect. We always had great weather and it fit perfectly into the year,” says the Abt Lamborghini driver. “They will have their reasons for changing it, but of course it will be colder,” says Bortolotti, referring to the new date of April 24-26. “The weather could become the main issue.”
One person who is very positive about the date, however, is local hero Thomas Preining. “Totally awesome,” says the ‘Grello’ Porsche driver. “Having the home race right at the start is great.” This is not only “brilliant for Austrian motorsport,” but also for the DTM. “Starting the season with a bang is amazing for the DTM.”
Local hero Auer: Spielberg opener a “clever move”
Is he not afraid of the snow? “I hope not,” says Preining, who hails from Linz. He points out that the climate is no different than in Germany: “If you have snow here, it can also happen in Germany.”
Runner-up Lucas Auer, who comes from the Tyrolean mountains, also does not believe there will be snow at the season opener. Rather, he considers the date a “clever move” in terms of spectator interest.
This is because the DTM weekend marks the start of the motorsport season at the Red Bull Ring, where Formula 1 and MotoGP also hold their races. “I think this will attract additional spectators because the DTM takes place before the other events,” says Auer.
ADAC explains how the Spielberg opener came about
But how does the ADAC explain the decision? It cites the Motorcycle World Championship, which will be held at the Red Bull Ring from September 18 to 20, 2026, as the main reason for the change in date.
“The MotoGP date was moved back, so the race track asked us to reconsider our date so that there would be more time between the major events of Formula 1, MotoGP, and DTM,” explains ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss. The trigger for the decision to choose a date in the spring was the ADAC GT Masters, which in the past took place in May in front of well-attended stands in Spielberg.
“This is the first major event of the year, and we all know how much a Formula 1 and MotoGP ticket costs,” explains Voss. “When I put myself in the shoes of motorsport enthusiasts in the region, I realize that these are significant expenses. I’d rather be the first to take advantage of that.”
What does he think about the risk of snow? “We’ve had snow at the Nürburgring in May before,” Voss shrugs. “You should never say never, but snow at the end of April down at the racetrack? I don’t think so.” Apart from the fact that the September date is also “not ideal” in this regard.
