FTP Motorsport Hub
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) Countdown
Follow the 2026 DTM season, including Nicki Thiim, Comtoyou Racing and Aston Martin’s Vantage GT3 campaign. Fuel the Passion is an independent media platform.
Next DTM race
DTM
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, better known as DTM, is one of Europe’s leading GT sprint championships, combining FIA GT3 machinery with hour-long double-header races and one driver allocated to each car. The 2026 season features 16 races across eight weekends in Austria, the Netherlands and Germany. Aston Martin is represented by Comtoyou Racing’s two Vantage GT3s, driven by Nicki Thiim and Nicolas Baert.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Season so far
Comtoyou Racing began Aston Martin’s second DTM season with encouraging points finishes at the Red Bull Ring, where Nicki Thiim placed 10th and fifth. Zandvoort proved more difficult, producing ninth and 18th-place finishes as the Vantage GT3 struggled to match the leading pace.
The campaign moved forward decisively at the Lausitzring. Thiim secured Aston Martin’s first DTM pole position and recovered from a difficult wet opening phase to finish fourth in Race 1, before claiming second place in Race 2 for his first podium of the season.
The breakthrough then arrived at the Norisring. Thiim completed a perfect weekend with two pole positions and two victories, delivering Aston Martin’s first DTM wins and collecting the maximum available 56 points. The result moved him nine points clear at the top of the Drivers’ Championship after eight races.
Oschersleben brought a sharp change in fortune. Thiim recovered from 18th on the grid to finish 12th on Saturday, before an unusual tyre-fitting error compromised Sunday qualifying and left him starting 19th. He recovered to 13th, scoring seven points across a difficult weekend.
The Nürburgring produced another challenging weekend, although Thiim remained in the championship fight. He finished 11th in an incident-filled opening race before qualifying a much stronger fourth on Sunday and taking seventh in Race 2.
The Sachsenring then dealt another significant blow to his title hopes. Thiim qualified 10th for Saturday’s opening race and recovered to finish eighth, adding eight championship points. Nicolas Baert brought the second Comtoyou Aston Martin home 16th. Marco Wittmann won the race for BMW ahead of Jules Gounon and Thomas Preining.
Sunday became far more dramatic. With the circuit still damp after earlier rain, Thiim was one of only six drivers to start on wet tyres. The gamble initially looked promising, but the track dried quickly and forced the wet-tyre runners into an early change. Later, during the second pit-stop phase, Thiim locked up and collided heavily with Gounon’s Mercedes as it emerged from the pits. Both cars were forced to retire and the Safety Car was deployed. Ben Dörr went on to win for McLaren, with Preining second.
After 14 of the season’s 16 races, Thiim has 147 points. Thomas Preining now leads the championship on 197, ahead of Maro Engel on 174 and Marco Wittmann on 173, with Lucas Auer on 152 and Thiim fifth. The Aston Martin driver is therefore 50 points from the championship lead with a maximum of 56 still available at the Hockenheim finale.
The title is mathematically still possible, but the Sachsenring has changed the nature of Aston Martin’s challenge. Thiim would now require an exceptional Hockenheim weekend combined with major setbacks for several rivals ahead of him.
The wider 2026 picture nevertheless remains a significant step forward for Aston Martin in DTM. Thiim has delivered poles, podiums and the marque’s first two victories, proving that the Vantage GT3 Evo can compete at the front. Hockenheim now offers one final opportunity to end Aston Martin’s second DTM season on a high.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Latest Results
Sachsenring Setback Leaves Thiim Facing Long-Shot Title Challenge
The Sachsenring delivered a difficult penultimate weekend for Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing. Nicki Thiim secured eighth place and eight championship points in Saturday's opening race, while Nicolas Baert finished 16th. Sunday's changing conditions initially offered Thiim an opportunity through an early wet-tyre gamble, but a collision with Jules Gounon during the second pit-stop phase forced both cars out. Baert also retired, leaving Aston Martin without points from Race 2.
Race 1
| Pos | Driver | Car / Team | Gap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Wittmann | #11 BMW M4 GT3 Evo Schubert Motorsport | Winner | Converted pole position into victory and moved firmly into the championship battle |
| 2 | Jules Gounon | #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER | +0.450 | Finished less than half a second behind Wittmann after a close battle at the front |
| 3 | Thomas Preining | #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo Manthey | +3.684 | Another podium strengthened Preining's championship position |
| 4 | Kelvin van der Linde | #3 BMW M4 GT3 Evo Schubert Motorsport | +14.991 | Second Schubert BMW inside the top four |
| 5 | Maro Engel | #80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL | +15.265 | Added 11 race points but lost further ground to Preining in the title fight |
| 8 | Nicki Thiim ASTON MARTIN | #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Comtoyou Racing | +17.235 | Started 10th and brought the Aston Martin home eighth to add eight championship points |
| 16 | Nicolas Baert ASTON MARTIN | #8 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Comtoyou Racing | +49.248 | Completed all 41 laps but finished one place outside the points-paying positions |
Race 2
| Pos | Driver | Car / Team | Gap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Dörr | #25 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo Dörr Motorsport | Winner | Mastered a chaotic wet-to-dry race to claim his second DTM victory |
| 2 | Thomas Preining | #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo Manthey | +1.219 | Second place extended his championship lead ahead of the Hockenheim finale |
| 3 | Ricardo Feller | #90 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo Manthey | +2.021 | Late progress secured a second Manthey Porsche on the podium |
| 4 | Matteo Cairoli | #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Emil Frey Racing | +2.293 | Charged from 14th on the grid to fourth and moved ahead of Thiim in the championship |
| 5 | Lucas Auer | #22 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf | +3.565 | Promoted to fifth after Maro Engel received a 15-second post-race penalty |
| DNF | Nicki Thiim ASTON MARTIN | #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Comtoyou Racing | Retired | Started on wet tyres before the circuit dried. Later collided heavily with Jules Gounon as the Mercedes emerged from the pits, forcing both cars to retire |
| DNF | Nicolas Baert ASTON MARTIN | #8 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Comtoyou Racing | Retired | Early retirement completed a difficult Sunday for Comtoyou Racing; no confirmed cause is included here |
Sachsenring was a major blow to Nicki Thiim's title hopes. Saturday's eighth place kept the points moving, but Sunday's retirement left Aston Martin unable to capitalise during a race in which several championship rivals also encountered problems. Thiim heads to Hockenheim 50 points behind Thomas Preining with a maximum of 56 still available. The title therefore remains mathematically possible, but now requires an exceptional finale and major setbacks for the drivers ahead.
Championship Standings
Thiim Sixth as the DTM Title Battle Heads to Hockenheim
Thomas Preining leaves the Sachsenring with 197 points and a 23-point championship lead over Maro Engel. Marco Wittmann is only one further point behind, while Lucas Auer and Matteo Cairoli remain within mathematical reach. Nicki Thiim is now sixth on 147 points, 50 behind Preining with a maximum of 56 available during the Hockenheim finale.
Top Five + Aston Martin Focus
| Pos | Driver | Team | Pts | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Preining | Manthey | 197 | — |
| 2 | Maro Engel | Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL | 174 | −23 |
| 3 | Marco Wittmann | Schubert Motorsport | 173 | −24 |
| 4 | Lucas Auer | Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf | 152 | −45 |
| 5 | Matteo Cairoli | Emil Frey Racing | 150 | −47 |
| 6 | Nicki Thiim ASTON MARTIN | Comtoyou Racing | 147 | −50 |
| 21 | Nicolas Baert ASTON MARTIN | Comtoyou Racing | 7 | −190 |
Preining enters Hockenheim in control of the championship, but Engel, Wittmann, Auer, Cairoli and Thiim all remain mathematically capable of taking the title. A maximum of 56 points is available from the final two races and their qualifying sessions. For Thiim, the 50-point deficit means the route is extremely narrow: Aston Martin would need an exceptional weekend combined with very low scores for several of the drivers ahead.
Standings incorporate Maro Engel's 15-second post-race Sachsenring penalty. The amended Oschersleben Race 2 classification remains subject to an appeal due to be heard on 25 September; if successful, Engel's current championship total could fall by a further seven points.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Round 07 - Sachsenring | 11th–13th September 2026
Sachsenring Setback Leaves Thiim Facing Long-Shot DTM Title Challenge
Aston Martin’s DTM championship challenge suffered its most significant setback of the season at the Sachsenring, where Nicki Thiim scored points with eighth place on Saturday before a collision with Jules Gounon ended his Sunday race.
The #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo had arrived in Saxony still firmly involved in the Drivers’ Championship after an extraordinary season that had already delivered pole positions, podiums and Aston Martin’s first two DTM victories. Sachsenring proved considerably more difficult. Thiim recovered from a contentious battle with Tom Kalender to score eight points in Race 1, but a wet Sunday qualifying session left him deep in the field before an early tyre gamble and later collision brought his second race to a premature end. Nicolas Baert endured another difficult weekend in the sister #8 Aston Martin, finishing 16th on Saturday before retiring early from Sunday’s race.
Qualifying 1 – Thiim Starts from Tenth
Saturday qualifying underlined how competitive the Sachsenring field had become. Marco Wittmann placed the Schubert Motorsport BMW on pole with a 1:17.627, beating championship leader Thomas Preining by 0.126 seconds. Jules Gounon qualified third and Kelvin van der Linde fourth. Thiim put the #7 Aston Martin 10th on the grid with a 1:18.536, 0.909 seconds from pole. Baert faced a much more difficult session and qualified 21st, recording a 1:19.482.
It wasn’t the kind of qualifying performance Comtoyou had produced during Aston Martin’s strongest weekends at the Lausitzring and Norisring, but Thiim remained close enough to the points positions to give himself an opportunity in the race.
Race 1 – Thiim Recovers After Kalender Clash
Wittmann retained the lead from pole at the start, while Preining dropped behind Gounon and Kelvin van der Linde. Further back, the opening lap quickly became chaotic. Bastian Buus was stranded in the gravel after contact involving several cars, while both ABT Lamborghini entries became caught up in the incident. The Safety Car was deployed while the circuit was cleared.
For Thiim, the restart produced another chapter in what had already become a tense on-track rivalry with Tom Kalender. The Aston Martin made contact with the rear of Kalender’s Mercedes while the pair battled in the midfield. Kalender was pushed off the circuit and several cars passed. Race control subsequently instructed Thiim to return the position, dropping him from eighth to 13th, while the Dane also received a warning. That intervention left Thiim with work to do.
As the race progressed through the compulsory pit-stop phase, he gradually recovered positions and became involved in further battles around the lower end of the top ten. At the front, Gounon briefly gained the advantage over Wittmann by running one lap longer before stopping, but Wittmann reclaimed the lead after the Mercedes locked a tyre at Turn 1. From there, the BMW driver resisted sustained pressure to claim his second consecutive DTM victory. Gounon finished less than half a second behind, with Preining completing the podium.
Thiim eventually brought the Aston Martin home eighth, 17.235 seconds behind the winner, salvaging eight championship points from a race in which the position-swap instruction had temporarily pushed him well outside the top ten. Baert finished 16th, completing all 41 laps but missing the points. For Aston Martin, eighth was a useful recovery rather than a major result. More importantly, however, Preining’s podium and Wittmann’s victory meant the championship battle was beginning to move away from Thiim. By Saturday evening the Aston Martin driver had slipped to fourth in the standings, 30 points from the lead.
Sunday Qualifying – Wet Conditions Leave Thiim at the Back
Sunday morning brought rain and a completely different challenge. The Sachsenring remained wet for qualifying, with Maro Engel mastering the conditions to take pole in the Mercedes-AMG with a 1:26.307. Ricardo Feller qualified second and Jules Gounon third. Comtoyou’s two Aston Martins experienced contrasting fortunes.
Baert produced one of his stronger qualifying performances of the season, putting the #8 Vantage 11th with a 1:27.907, only 0.090 seconds outside the top ten. Thiim struggled considerably more and qualified 20th, his 1:28.345 leaving him more than two seconds from Engel’s pole time. For a driver already needing a strong points haul to maintain his championship challenge, starting from the tenth row made Sunday an uphill task before the race had even begun.
Race 2 – Wet-Tyre Gamble Offers Early Opportunity
Although the rain had stopped before the race, large sections of the Sachsenring remained damp. That created one of the weekend’s biggest strategic decisions: slicks or wet tyres. Most of the field eventually chose slicks, but six drivers remained on grooved wet tyres, Bastian Buus, Thierry Vermeulen, Simon Connor Primm, Timo Glock, Nicki Thiim and Tom Kalender. Initially, it looked like an inspired decision.
The damp circuit gave the wet-tyre runners a considerable advantage during the opening laps. Buus surged from fifth into the lead, while several other wet-shod cars made rapid progress through the field. Thiim also benefited from the extra grip. The problem was that the advantage didn’t last. The racing line dried quickly and within only a few laps the slick-tyre cars became significantly faster. When the first mandatory pit window opened, the remaining wet-tyre runners immediately stopped to switch compounds. The gamble had offered Thiim a brief opportunity, but the rapid improvement in conditions meant it was never likely to transform his race from 20th on the grid.
Dörr Takes Control
At the front, Ben Dörr emerged as the driver best able to exploit the changing conditions. Starting fourth in the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, Dörr passed Engel and then Buus to take the lead on Lap 5. As the circuit continued to dry he built an advantage of more than ten seconds over the chasing pack.
Behind him, Preining climbed through to second, while Matteo Cairoli charged forward from 14th on the grid in the Emil Frey Ferrari. The race then settled through the first mandatory stops before the second pit window reopened the strategic battle. It was during this phase that Aston Martin’s race ended.
Thiim and Gounon Collide at Turn 1
Jules Gounon had just emerged from the pit lane when Thiim approached Turn 1. The Aston Martin locked heavily under braking and struck the side of Gounon’s Mercedes, sending both cars out of the race. The accident left the Mercedes in the gravel and Thiim was also forced to stop shortly afterwards. The Safety Car was deployed. For Thiim, it was a costly conclusion to a weekend in which every remaining championship point had become increasingly valuable.
There was no suggestion that the incident resulted from a mechanical problem. Replays showed the Aston Martin arriving under heavy braking before making substantial contact with Gounon as the Mercedes rejoined from the pit exit. Baert’s race had already ended much earlier, with the second Aston Martin completing only four laps before retiring. Comtoyou therefore left Sunday without either car reaching the finish.
Late Drama Reshapes the Championship
Thiim’s accident erased Dörr’s large advantage by triggering the Safety Car, setting up a late restart. Further drama followed almost immediately. Engel ran into the rear of Kelvin van der Linde’s BMW, sending the South African into the gravel and prompting another Safety Car. Engel initially crossed the line fifth but was later handed a 15-second penalty, dropping him to 17th and out of the points.
Dörr nevertheless controlled the remaining restart and secured his second DTM victory. Preining finished second for his sixth consecutive podium, while Ricardo Feller inherited third after Cairoli ran wide during the closing stages. Cairoli recovered to fourth and Lucas Auer was promoted to fifth following Engel’s penalty. The result substantially strengthened Preining’s championship position.
Championship Impact – Mathematical Hope Remains
After 14 of the season’s 16 races, Thiim has 147 points. Preining now leads with 197, followed by Engel on 174 and Wittmann on 173. Auer has 152 points, Cairoli 150 and Thiim sits sixth. That leaves the Aston Martin driver 50 points behind the championship leader. With 25 points available for each race victory and three points for each pole position, a maximum of 56 points remains available at the Hockenheim finale. Thiim is therefore still mathematically capable of becoming DTM champion.
Realistically, however, the route is exceptionally narrow. Thiim would need an almost perfect Hockenheim weekend while Preining, Engel, Wittmann and the other drivers ahead of him all suffer major setbacks. The Sachsenring has therefore changed Aston Martin’s championship position from genuine contention to an outside mathematical possibility.
A Difficult Weekend Does Not Define Aston Martin’s Season
It would nevertheless be wrong to allow the Sachsenring result to overshadow the progress Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing have made during 2026. This is only Aston Martin’s second DTM season with the Vantage GT3 Evo. Thiim has already delivered the marque’s first DTM pole position, multiple podiums and, most significantly, the historic double victory at the Norisring. At several circuits the Aston Martin has demonstrated genuine front-running pace.
The Sachsenring instead showed the unforgiving side of DTM competition. A relatively modest Saturday qualifying position, a contentious midfield battle, difficult Sunday conditions and one braking incident were enough to transform a championship challenge that had looked very realistic only a few rounds earlier.
Hockenheim Offers One Final Opportunity
The 2026 DTM season concludes at the Hockenheimring from 9th–11th October. Six drivers remain mathematically capable of winning the championship, but Preining will arrive with a significant advantage. For Thiim and Aston Martin, the objective is now twofold. The title remains possible on paper, so every available point still counts. More realistically, Hockenheim represents an opportunity to finish what has already been a breakthrough DTM season with another strong performance.
Sachsenring was a damaging weekend for Aston Martin’s championship ambitions, but it does not alter the wider significance of 2026. The Vantage GT3 Evo has gone from DTM newcomer to race winner and title contender. Hockenheim now offers one final chance for Thiim and Comtoyou Racing to demonstrate just how far that programme has progressed.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Round 07 Result Snapshot
Sachsenring • Germany • Races 13 & 14
| Session | Nicki Thiim — #7 | Nicolas Baert — #8 | Aston Martin Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying 1 Saturday 12 September | 10th 1:18.536 • +0.909sec from pole | 21st 1:19.482 • difficult opening qualifying session | Thiim placed the #7 Aston Martin inside the top ten, while Baert faced a recovery race from the back of the field. |
| Race 1 Saturday 12 September | 8th Eight points • +17.235sec | 16th Completed all 41 laps • outside the points | Thiim moved forward from tenth to eighth and added useful championship points, while Baert brought the second Comtoyou Aston Martin safely to the finish. |
| Qualifying 2 Sunday 13 September | 19th 1:28.345 • difficult wet session | 10th 1:27.907 • strongest session of Baert's weekend | Baert produced Comtoyou's strongest Aston Martin result of the wet qualifying session by reaching the top ten, while Thiim was left near the rear of the field. |
| Race 2 Sunday 13 September | DNF 27 laps • collision with Jules Gounon | DNF Four laps completed | Thiim's wet-tyre gamble was undone as the circuit dried, before a heavy collision with Gounon ended his race. Baert had already retired during the opening laps. |
| Weekend Record | Thiim: 8th & DNF Eight championship points | Baert: 16th & DNF No championship points | Saturday delivered a useful points finish for Thiim, but Sunday's double retirement made Sachsenring one of Aston Martin's more costly weekends of the season. |
| Championship Impact | Thiim: 6th in Drivers' Championship 147 points • two races remaining | 50 points behind championship leader Thomas Preining, with a maximum of 56 still available at Hockenheim. | |
Round 06 - NÜRBURGRING
Thiim Keeps Aston Martin in the Title Fight After Difficult Eifel Weekend
Nürburgring, Germany | 14th - 16th August 2026 | Races 11 & 12
Nicki Thiim and Comtoyou Racing left the Nürburgring still firmly involved in the 2026 DTM title battle, although Aston Martin’s latest weekend proved considerably tougher than the spectacular double victory achieved at the Norisring earlier in the season.
Thiim scored points in both races aboard the #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, while Nicolas Baert completed both races in the sister #8 car and produced his strongest points haul of the season.
Race 1 - A Difficult Saturday
Saturday began with Thiim qualifying outside the top ten, leaving the Dane with work to do from the outset.
An eventful race followed. Thiim ran wide early on before becoming involved in contact with Tom Kalender at the Veedol Chicane. The Aston Martin had attacked from some distance back and made contact with the Mercedes-AMG, which subsequently retired with damage. Thiim continued but received a penalty lap for the incident.
He remained involved in the midfield fight and produced an entertaining late battle with Ricardo Feller, briefly reclaiming ninth at Turn 1 before running deep and losing the position again. Thiim eventually finished 11th, while Nicolas Baert brought the second Comtoyou Aston Martin home 12th.
At the front, Matteo Cairoli delivered a commanding performance for Emil Frey Racing, converting pole position into victory ahead of Thomas Preining and Marco Wittmann. For Thiim, however, the result represented another setback in a title campaign that had already lost momentum at Oschersleben.
Race 2 - Stronger Pace and More Points
Sunday brought a considerably more encouraging performance. Thiim qualified an impressive fourth, putting the Aston Martin back among the leading cars and giving Comtoyou Racing a genuine opportunity to recover ground. The race was transformed almost immediately when championship leader Maro Engel became involved in an opening-lap incident with Lucas Auer and Kelvin van der Linde. All three were eliminated, creating an opportunity for the remaining championship contenders to capitalise.
Thiim ran strongly during the race and featured as high as third during the pit-stop sequence. However, the closing stages became intensely competitive as drivers on fresher tyres fought their way forward. Tom Kalender passed the Aston Martin with around ten minutes remaining, while further battles eventually pushed Thiim back to seventh at the finish.
Marco Wittmann took victory for BMW, ahead of Kalender and Thomas Preining, while Thiim collected another useful haul of championship points. Baert completed the weekend in 15th, adding another point to Aston Martin’s total.
Championship Fight Remains Wide Open
The Nürburgring weekend may not have delivered another Aston Martin podium, but the championship remains very much alive. Thiim leaves Germany third in the Drivers’ Championship with 139 points, 21 behind leader Maro Engel and 20 behind Thomas Preining. With Engel failing to score in Sunday’s race and Preining closing to within a single point of the championship lead, the battle at the front has tightened considerably.
For Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing, the objective is now clear. Four races remain, and despite two challenging weekends following the Norisring breakthrough, Thiim remains close enough to the leaders to play a significant part in the final stages of the championship. The 2026 DTM title fight is far from over.
Next round: Sachsenring | 11th - 13th September 2026
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Round 06 Result Snapshot
Nürburgring • Germany • Races 11 & 12
| Session | Nicki Thiim — #7 | Nicolas Baert — #8 | Aston Martin Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying 1 Saturday 15 August | 11th Just outside the top ten | 19th Difficult opening qualifying session | Thiim narrowly missed the top ten as both Aston Martins faced work to do in Race 1 |
| Race 1 Saturday 15 August | 11th Five points • penalty following contact with Tom Kalender | 12th Four points • completed the race | Both Comtoyou Aston Martins reached the finish and scored points during an incident-filled opening race |
| Qualifying 2 Sunday 16 August | 4th Just 0.158sec from pole position | 20th Started from the rear of the field | Thiim put the Vantage back among the front runners with Aston Martin’s strongest session of the weekend |
| Race 2 Sunday 16 August | 7th Nine points • ran among the leading group | 15th One point • completed all 39 laps | A stronger Sunday kept Thiim firmly involved in the championship battle |
| Weekend Record | Thiim: 11th & 7th 14 championship points | Baert: 12th & 15th Five championship points | A difficult Saturday was followed by a stronger Sunday, with both Aston Martins scoring in both races |
| Championship Impact | Thiim: 3rd in Drivers’ Championship 139 points • four races remaining | 21 points behind leader Maro Engel and 20 behind second-placed Thomas Preining | |
Round 05 - Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Races 9 and 10
Oschersleben: Thiim Limits the Damage as Aston Martin Loses DTM Lead
Three weeks after Nicki Thiim and Comtoyou Racing completed a perfect double victory at the Norisring, the DTM delivered a very different weekend at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Thiim qualified 18th and finished 12th in Saturday’s opening race before qualifying 19th, starting 18th and recovering to 13th on Sunday. The Aston Martin driver scored seven championship points across the two races, while Nicolas Baert retired from both in the sister Vantage GT3.
Thomas Preining won Race 1 from pole position for Porsche, while Mirko Bortolotti claimed Sunday’s race for Lamborghini after a strategic drive and a costly second pit stop for Preining. Maro Engel finished third on Saturday and second on Sunday, allowing the Mercedes-AMG driver to take the championship lead from Thiim.
Why Thiim Carried Additional Weight
Thiim arrived at Oschersleben leading the Drivers’ Championship following his two victories at the Norisring. However, the DTM’s success-ballast system meant the #7 Aston Martin carried an additional 20kg during Saturday’s race because Thiim had won the immediately preceding race.
Under the 2026 DTM regulations, the winner of the previous race carries 20kg in the following race, the runner-up carries 10kg and the third-placed driver carries 5kg. The weight applies during the race only and is not used in qualifying or free practice. It also does not accumulate, meaning Thiim carried 20kg rather than 40kg despite winning both Norisring races.
This distinction is important. The additional weight contributed to Thiim’s difficult Saturday race, but he carried no success ballast on Sunday after finishing 12th. His problems in Race 2 therefore had a separate and highly unusual cause.
Race 1: Preining Dominates as Thiim Starts 18th
Thomas Preining placed the Manthey Porsche on pole position for Saturday’s 40-lap race, with Luca Engstler second for Lamborghini and Maro Engel third for Mercedes-AMG.
Thiim could manage only 18th in qualifying. The Vantage GT3 had been one of the dominant cars at the Norisring, but Oschersleben’s different corner profile, the Aston Martin’s Balance of Performance and the 20kg of success ballast created a far less favourable combination.
Balance of Performance, usually shortened to BoP, is the system used in GT3 racing to balance fundamentally different cars through measures including minimum weight, engine output and turbo boost pressure. It is separate from success ballast: BoP applies to the model of car, whereas success ballast is added to an individual driver’s car because of the previous race result.
At the start, Preining retained the lead while Engel passed Engstler into the first corner. Preining initially opened a small advantage, although Engel gradually reduced the gap and remained close enough to challenge through the mandatory pit-stop phase.
The decisive moment came after lap 21, when Preining and Engel stopped for fresh tyres. Manthey completed Preining’s stop cleanly, but Engel’s left-front wheel became jammed during his tyre change. The delay dropped the Mercedes-AMG behind Engstler and effectively settled the leading positions.
Preining completed a controlled start-to-finish victory, crossing the line 1.601 seconds ahead of Engstler. Engel recovered to third, with Lucas Auer fourth and Bortolotti fifth.
Thiim Recovers to 12th
Thiim gained six positions during the race to finish 12th, 25.475 seconds behind Preining. It was a determined recovery from the ninth row, but the Aston Martin never possessed the performance needed to challenge the leading group.
The result earned Thiim four championship points. That limited the damage, but Engel’s third-place finish was sufficient to move the Mercedes-AMG driver ahead in the standings.
Thiim’s Saturday result should therefore not be read simply as a sudden disappearance of the speed Aston Martin had shown at the Norisring. The Vantage carried an additional 20kg during the race and was competing on a circuit with very different characteristics from the short, stop-start Nuremberg street track.
Even with those factors considered, however, the size of the performance shift was significant. Thiim had taken pole position and victory in both Norisring races; at Oschersleben, he was unable to progress beyond the lower points positions.
Baert Retires from Race 1
Nicolas Baert’s opening race ended after 15 laps. The official classification listed the #8 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin among the non-finishers, completing an already difficult Saturday for the Belgian team.
Baert’s retirement meant Thiim’s four points were Comtoyou Racing’s only return from the opening race.
Race 2 Qualifying: An Extraordinary Tyre Error
Preining continued his domination on Sunday morning, securing a second pole position with a lap of 1:22.400. Engstler qualified second, with Marco Wittmann third and Engel fifth.
Thiim again found himself near the rear, qualifying 19th despite the Aston Martin receiving an increase in permitted turbo boost pressure before the session. He was promoted to 18th on the starting grid following a penalty for Ben Dörr, but the qualifying position was not simply the result of a slow car.
A serious tyre-fitting error had left Thiim’s Aston Martin running with the two larger rear tyres on the right-hand side of the car and the two smaller front tyres on the left. The front and rear DTM tyres differ in width, diameter and rolling circumference, leaving the car effectively uneven from one side to the other.
The consequences extended beyond the car’s physical balance. The differing rolling circumferences produced inconsistent wheel-speed readings, disturbed the anti-lock braking system and placed abnormal loads on the differential. Thiim initially believed he had suffered a puncture, while Comtoyou Racing described the car as effectively sitting crooked.
The differential was subsequently replaced after qualifying. The team was also permitted to replace the damaged qualifying tyres with a new set before the race.
Although the tyre supplier was responsible for mounting the tyres to the rims, the incident inevitably raised questions about the checking process before the car left the garage. What is clear is that the mistake severely compromised Thiim’s qualifying session and left Aston Martin facing another recovery race from near the back.
Race 2: Bortolotti Capitalises on Preining’s Pit-Stop Trouble
Preining initially maintained his lead despite a strong attack from Engstler at the opening corner. The Lamborghini briefly moved ahead, but drifted away from the ideal line and allowed Preining to reclaim first position.
Sunday’s race featured two mandatory pit stops. Thiim was the first driver to stop, with Comtoyou Racing choosing an alternative strategy in an attempt to move the Aston Martin out of traffic and gain positions through the pit sequence.
At the front, Bortolotti extended his opening stint and used the overcut to move from sixth on the grid into second place behind Preining. Engel also benefited from stopping later, while Engstler lost ground following a problem with the left wheel gun during his first tyre change.
A brief rain shower passed over the circuit around half-distance but was not heavy enough to require wet-weather tyres. Preining remained ahead, with Bortolotti gradually reducing the gap to less than one second before the second pit-stop window.
The race changed when the leaders stopped for the final time. Manthey encountered a problem at the left-rear of Preining’s Porsche, costing the Austrian several seconds and dropping him behind both Bortolotti and Engel.
Bortolotti emerged in the lead and controlled the remaining laps to claim the first DTM victory for the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3. Engel finished second, with Preining third and Wittmann fourth. Engstler completed the top five.
Thiim Recovers Five Positions
Thiim’s early first stop and Comtoyou Racing’s strong pit work helped him recover from 18th on the grid to finish 13th. The team completed its two tyre changes in approximately 6.2 and 6.1 seconds, with Thiim praising the Comtoyou crew for its execution after the difficulties earlier in the day. The result earned him another three championship points.
It was another useful recovery, but the Aston Martin was never in contention for the front positions. Thiim’s weekend ended with 12th and 13th-place finishes, a striking contrast with the two poles and two victories secured at the previous round.
Unlike Saturday, success ballast did not contribute to the Sunday result. Thiim carried none after finishing 12th in Race 1. The tyre error during qualifying, the resulting differential problem and the poor starting position provide the more direct explanation for his second difficult race.
Another Retirement for Baert
Baert qualified 20th for Sunday’s race and retired after completing 29 laps. It left Comtoyou Racing without a finish from the sister Aston Martin across the entire weekend. Baert remains 21st in the Drivers’ Championship with two points, both earned through his 15th-place finishes at the Norisring.
Thiim Loses the Championship Lead
Engel’s two podium finishes transformed the Drivers’ Championship. The Mercedes-AMG driver leaves Oschersleben at the top of the standings with 145 points. Thiim remains second with 124 points, 21 behind Engel and one point ahead of Auer on 123. Preining’s victory and third place moved the Porsche driver to fourth with 117 points.
The championship position is less commanding than it was after the Norisring, but Aston Martin remains firmly involved in the title contest. Six races remain, meaning a maximum of 168 points is still available through race and qualifying results.
The next round takes place at the Nürburgring from 14th to 16th August. Thiim will arrive without success ballast for Saturday’s opening race because he finished outside the top three at Oschersleben.
A Difficult Weekend, Not the End of the Challenge
Oschersleben demonstrated how quickly competitive order can change in DTM. At the Norisring, Aston Martin appeared almost untouchable. Three weeks later, Thiim was fighting for the final points positions.
Part of that reversal can be explained. Saturday’s Aston Martin carried 20kg of success ballast, while Sunday’s qualifying was compromised by an extraordinary tyre error that affected the car’s balance, braking electronics and differential. Neither issue alone, however, completely explains the Vantage’s lack of front-running pace throughout the weekend.
The result also highlights the importance of circuit characteristics and Balance of Performance in GT3 racing. A car that excels at one venue may face a very different competitive picture at the next, particularly when success ballast is then added to the equation.
Thiim nevertheless scored points in both races and remains second in the championship. After a weekend in which very little went to plan, seven points may prove valuable when the title is decided later in the season.
The Norisring established Aston Martin as a genuine DTM championship contender. Oschersleben showed how difficult that challenge will be to sustain.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Round 05 Result Snapshot
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben • Germany • Races 9 & 10
TITLE FIGHT CONTINUES
| Session | Nicki Thiim — #7 | Nicolas Baert — #8 | Aston Martin Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying 1 Saturday 25 July | 18th Started from the ninth row | 20th Started from the rear | Both Aston Martins faced a difficult opening qualifying session |
| Race 1 Saturday 25 July | 12th Four points • 20kg success ballast | NC Retired after 15 laps | Thiim recovered six places and limited the championship damage |
| Qualifying 2 Sunday 26 July | 19th Tyre-fitting error compromised the car | 20th Completed the Aston Martin back row | An extraordinary tyre error left Thiim’s Vantage uneven and disrupted its balance and wheel-speed readings |
| Race 2 Sunday 26 July | 13th Three points • recovered from 18th on the grid | NC Retired after 29 laps | Thiim scored again, but Comtoyou Racing endured another difficult race |
| Weekend Record | Thiim: 12th and 13th • Seven points Baert retired from both races | A difficult reversal after Aston Martin’s Norisring double victory | |
| Championship Impact | Thiim: 2nd in Drivers’ Championship 124 points | 21 points behind Maro Engel and one ahead of Lucas Auer | |
Round 04 - Norisring, comprising Races 7 and 8
Norisring: Thiim Delivers Historic Aston Martin Double
Nicki Thiim and Comtoyou Racing produced a landmark weekend for Aston Martin at the Norisring, taking both pole positions and winning both races at the demanding Nuremberg street circuit. The clean sweep delivered Aston Martin’s first two DTM victories and carried Thiim into the lead of the Drivers’ Championship at the halfway point of the season.
Race 1: Aston Martin’s First DTM Victory
Thiim began Saturday’s race from pole position in the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and successfully resisted Maro Engel’s challenge into the opening corner. From there, the Dane controlled the race, gradually establishing an advantage while Engel came under pressure from Arjun Maini’s Ford Mustang GT3.
The first Safety Car appeared after Tom Kalender struck the barriers, delaying the mandatory pit-stop window. Engel was the first of the leaders to stop, while Thiim remained on track before Comtoyou Racing completed a clean and well-timed tyre change. Thiim returned ahead of the Mercedes-AMG and retained the effective race lead despite initially running on cold tyres.
The race was later stopped for almost an hour following a major accident involving Maximilian Paul’s Lamborghini and Kelvin van der Linde’s BMW at the Grundig hairpin. Both drivers were responsive and received medical attention, while repairs were carried out to the circuit barriers.
When racing resumed, Thiim managed the final restart and controlled the remaining laps. Engel closed the gap but was unable to mount a decisive attack, leaving Thiim to cross the line 0.587 seconds ahead. Maini completed the podium in third.
The victory was Thiim’s second in DTM competition, following his Norisring success in 2024, but it represented Aston Martin’s first win in the championship. Nicolas Baert brought the sister #8 Comtoyou Racing Vantage home in 15th position.
Race 2: Thiim Completes the Sweep
Thiim repeated his qualifying success on Sunday to place the Aston Martin on pole once again. He converted that advantage into the early lead, ahead of the two HRT Ford Mustangs driven by Finn Wiebelhaus and Maini.
The opening stages were disrupted by contact further down the field and an early Safety Car. Rain then began to fall, making the already unforgiving street circuit increasingly difficult. A collision involving Marco Mapelli and Matteo Cairoli brought out another Safety Car and ultimately a red flag.
During the stoppage, the field changed onto wet-weather tyres. However, the circuit soon began to dry, creating another strategic challenge as drivers prepared to return to slicks. Wiebelhaus remained close to Thiim and repeatedly threatened the Aston Martin, particularly as the Ford brought its slick tyres up to temperature more quickly.
Thiim defended calmly before Comtoyou Racing again executed the two mandatory pit-stop phases effectively. Wiebelhaus attempted to gain an advantage by stopping earlier, but the Aston Martin remained ahead once the strategies had played out.
The Ford closed during the final laps, but Thiim absorbed the pressure and crossed the line 0.887 seconds clear to complete an exceptional four-from-four weekend: two poles and two victories. Wiebelhaus finished second, with Lucas Auer taking third for Mercedes-AMG.
Baert again finished 15th in the second Vantage, adding another championship point to Comtoyou Racing’s weekend.
A Landmark Weekend for Aston Martin
The Norisring transformed the shape of Aston Martin’s DTM campaign. Having already demonstrated front-running potential at the Lausitzring, Thiim and Comtoyou Racing converted that pace into a perfect result on one of the championship’s most demanding circuits.
Aston Martin left Nuremberg with its first and second DTM victories, while Thiim collected the maximum available 56 points and moved nine points clear at the head of the Drivers’ Championship after eight of the season’s 16 races.
For Thiim, whose father Kurt won the DTM title in 1986, the achievement also carried considerable personal significance. For Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing, it confirmed that the Vantage GT3 is no longer simply competing in DTM, it’s become a genuine championship contender.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Round 04 Result Snapshot
Norisring • Nuremberg, Germany • Races 7 & 8
DOUBLE VICTORY
| Session | Nicki Thiim — #7 | Nicolas Baert — #8 | Aston Martin Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying 1 Saturday 4 July | 1st Pole position | Comtoyou Racing | Aston Martin starts Race 1 from pole |
| Race 1 Saturday 4 July | 1st Race winner | 15th Finished | Aston Martin’s first DTM victory |
| Qualifying 2 Sunday 5 July | 1st Pole position | Comtoyou Racing | Second consecutive Aston Martin pole |
| Race 2 Sunday 5 July | 1st Race winner | 15th Finished | Second victory completes a perfect weekend |
| Weekend Record | Two poles • Two victories | Aston Martin wins both Norisring races | |
| Championship Impact | Thiim: 1st in Drivers’ Championship | Nine-point lead after eight of 16 races | |
Round 03 - comprising Races 5 and 6
Lausitzring: Thiim Converts Aston Martin Pace into a Podium
The third round of the 2026 DTM season marked a significant step forward for Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing. Nicki Thiim secured pole position for Saturday’s race, recovered to finish fourth after a strategically unpredictable contest and then claimed second place on Sunday, Aston Martin’s first podium of the season.
Race 1: Pole Position, Changing Weather and Fourth Place
Thiim placed the #7 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on pole for Saturday’s race, but a heavy shower shortly before the start created an immediate tyre dilemma. Comtoyou Racing elected to begin on slick tyres, while several leading rivals chose wet-weather rubber.
The gamble initially worked against Thiim. With the circuit still extremely slippery, he fell from first to 13th as the wet-tyre runners moved ahead. However, a Safety Car allowed the track to continue drying and, once racing resumed, the balance changed rapidly in favour of the slick-shod Aston Martin.
Thiim began working his way back through the field and eventually reclaimed the lead before the mandatory pit-stop window. His recovery suggested that victory was possible, but the timing of a subsequent Full Course Yellow transformed the race.
Marco Mapelli, Ben Dörr and Ricardo Feller had entered the pits immediately before the neutralisation began and gained a substantial advantage over Thiim, who had already completed his stop under normal racing conditions. Thiim therefore had to settle for fourth despite demonstrating front-running pace.
Mapelli crossed the line first but later received a 15-second penalty for speeding under Full Course Yellow conditions. The amended classification promoted Dörr to his first DTM victory, ahead of Mapelli and Feller. Nicolas Baert finished 16th in the sister Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin.
Race 2: Thiim Pushes Cairoli to the Flag
Sunday’s race took place in dry conditions, with Thiim starting third behind Arjun Maini’s Ford Mustang and Matteo Cairoli’s Ferrari. An early Safety Car was required after debris was scattered across the circuit, but Maini retained the lead when racing resumed.
Cairoli gained the advantage during the first mandatory pit-stop phase by stopping one lap before Maini and using the undercut to move ahead. Thiim extended his opening stint and returned to the circuit in third position, remaining firmly involved in the battle at the front.
Comtoyou Racing again kept Thiim on track longer during the second pit-stop window. The strategy allowed him to emerge ahead of Maini, although he initially had to defend while bringing his fresh tyres up to temperature.
Once the tyres were working effectively, Thiim began closing rapidly on Cairoli. The Ferrari’s grip faded during the final laps, bringing the Aston Martin to within striking distance, but Cairoli defended successfully and crossed the line just 0.413 seconds ahead.
Thiim’s second place delivered Aston Martin’s first DTM podium of the season and confirmed that the Vantage had developed into a genuine front-running package. Baert completed the race in 17th position in the second Aston Martin.
Aston Martin Takes a Major Step Forward
The Lausitzring weekend did not produce the victory that Thiim’s speed suggested was possible, but it represented a decisive progression for Aston Martin. Pole position, fourth place and a runner-up finish demonstrated that the Vantage GT3 could challenge at the front in both mixed and dry conditions.
Thiim left the circuit with considerable championship momentum, while Comtoyou Racing had established the performance foundation that would lead to Aston Martin’s historic double victory at the Norisring two weeks later.
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.
Round 03 Result Snapshot
DEKRA Lausitzring • Germany • Races 5 & 6
FIRST PODIUM
| Session | Nicki Thiim — #7 | Nicolas Baert — #8 | Aston Martin Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying 1 Saturday 20 June | 1st Pole position • 1:19.463 | 9th Inside the top ten | Aston Martin’s first DTM pole position |
| Race 1 Saturday 20 June | 4th Recovered after difficult opening laps | 16th Reached the finish | Front-running pace despite changing conditions |
| Qualifying 2 Sunday 21 June | 3rd Second-row start • one qualifying point | 21st Rear of the grid | Thiim remains among the leading qualifiers |
| Race 2 Sunday 21 June | 2nd Finished 0.413 seconds behind the winner | 17th Finished on the lead lap | Aston Martin’s first DTM podium of 2026 |
| Weekend Record | One pole • Fourth place • Second place | Aston Martin establishes genuine front-running pace | |
| Championship Impact | Thiim: 3rd in Drivers’ Championship 61 points after six races | The title challenge gathers momentum before the Norisring | |
Round 01 & 02 reviews coming soon
Image © Aston Martin Lagonda. Used for editorial purposes.