Four top drivers are gone – but the 2026 DTM field remains top-class: Who is now stepping into the gap and which drivers you should particularly keep an eye on
The new DTM season starts next weekend in Spielberg with a new field of 21 drivers. Compared to last year, there are four prominent departures: in addition to Manthey champion Ayhancan Güven, who is being drawn into Formula E by Porsche, figurehead Rene Rast, Emil Frey Ferrari driver Jack Aitken and Grasser discovery Jordan Pepper will no longer be competing.
Rast and Aitken are concentrating on prototypes this year, while Pepper has moved to BMW, where there is currently no vacancy in the DTM. The departures offer other top drivers from the 21-strong driver line-up for the 2026 DTM season the chance to fill this gap. what to expect from them in 2026.
Despite the departure of four top drivers, the starting field for the new season is also absolutely top-class, as the DTM attracts the crème de la crème of GT works drivers with its one-driver-per-car concept, which is unique in GT3 sport apart from the GT World Cup in Macau.
Drivers from eleven nations, lion’s share from Germany
The 21 drivers for the 2026 season come from a total of eleven nations. With eight drivers, the DTM motherland Germany provides the lion’s share as usual. Italy is in second place with three drivers, followed by Austria and Denmark with two starters. Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, India and South Africa each have one driver.
A total of eleven race winners and three DTM champions will be on the grid in 2026. The average age this year is 29.5, compared to 28.6 at the start of the season last year, so the field is slightly older.
Eight retirements, five newcomers compared to 2025
But has the field actually changed much compared to the 2025 season finale? In addition to the four top-class drivers who have already left the DTM, Manthey-Porsche driver Morris Schuring, HRT-Ford driver Fabio Scherer, Emil Frey Ferrari driver Ben Green and Comtoyou-Aston Martin driver Gilles Magnus are no longer on the grid this year, which means a total of eight departures.
There are five newcomers instead.
In return, there are five newcomers to the grid for the 2026 season, four of whom are genuine rookies and have not yet contested a single DTM race. The entry into the DTM should not be underestimated, because in the traditional series – in contrast to the GT World Challenge Europe – the tires are not allowed to be heated.
Bringing the tires up to temperature for the optimum qualifying lap is the great art in the DTM – and requires experience. Which doesn’t make it any easier: There is a restrictive test limitation in the DTM, which only allows the drivers four test days on DTM circuits after the official test in Spielberg next weekend, which has already been completed.