Will a DTM starting position become a tradable commodity in the future? Why the ADAC wants to adopt the NASCAR model and why the idea is also popular with the teams
Will the DTM adopt a franchise model in the future? Similar to the charter system introduced in the NASCAR series in 2016 and also adopted by IndyCars this year, teams would acquire a guaranteed DTM starting place. In return, they would have more say and could also benefit from the racing series’ revenues.
“We are considering it—and want to offer something like this.” What speaks in favor of it: Spectator interest in the series has steadily increased in recent years, and the number of participants has also remained stable. Seven of the twelve teams in the 2025 season have been competing for the past three years. As for 2026, there was no uncertainty in the run-up to this season, and the core teams will definitely be competing in the coming season.
Dörr boss calls for franchise model: “Incentive to participate”
There is also great interest in a franchise model among DTM participants, as the ADAC would thus create planning and financial security. Rainer Dörr, who entered the DTM in 2024 with his McLaren team Dörr Motorsport and will also be on board in 2026, the final year of the three-year plan, is particularly keen to see it introduced. “The racing teams invest a lot of money,” explains the Frankfurt-based team owner. “If the racing series creates value and you receive a transfer fee as a team when you give up your place, that would be an incentive to participate.”
Dörr compares the situation to Formula 1, where the starting field is limited and a new team has to pay an entry fee of around US$200 million.
“ADAC should say that 24 cars is the limit”
In the DTM, too, teams must pay an entry fee of around €100,000 per car to participate in the season. The field is limited to 28 cars in 2026. At present, however, it does not look as if this limit will be reached.
“The ADAC should say that 24 cars is the limit – and you can only get in if a team drops out,” says Rainer Dörr. That way, “we could build something together.”
ADAC: How much say should the teams have?
For the ADAC, the model of a DTM starting place becoming a tradable commodity is entirely conceivable. “If a team says it can’t or doesn’t want to participate anymore, it could resell the starting place with the appropriate approvals,” confirms ADAC motorsport boss Voss.
However, it is important to him that the ADAC continues to set the direction despite the increased importance of the teams as stakeholders. “For me, a franchise system is more of a business deal than a system where you really talk about sporting details,” he explains.
“I don’t want to have a committee of eight, nine, ten decision-makers on the subject of the calendar,” Voss gives as an example. “That has to be in one hand, otherwise there will be conflicts of interest.”
When is an introduction realistic?
However, he says, “we have to think carefully about where to give the teams a say, what their interests are and what they may not be interested in. This is important in order to avoid watering things down or getting bogged down in endless discussions.”
How soon is it realistic to introduce this? That is the big question. However, given the existing structures and the complexity of the issue, it is certainly not to be expected that it will be implemented in the short term.
