DTM - Red Bull Ring by VKB-Bank

The Red Bull Ring by VKB-Bank marks the opening round of the 2026 DTM season in Austria. This event, presented by VKB-Bank, brings premier GT3 racing to the Styrian mountains at one of Europe's most respected racing facilities. The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg hosts two races across the weekend, featuring 21 cars from 11 teams representing eight different manufacturers.

The Red Bull Ring Circuit

The Red Bull Ring measures 4.326 kilometers and features 10 turns. The circuit sits in Spielberg, Styria, and offers significant elevation changes throughout the lap. The track climbs up to 12% in some sections and drops as much as 9.3% in others. An altitude difference of 65 meters separates the highest and lowest points.

The layout combines fast straights with demanding corners and a twisty infield section. Teams must find a setup compromise to handle these varied challenges. The circuit frequently produces close racing that comes down to final-corner battles. The track holds an FIA Grade 1 license for Grand Prix events.

Spectators enjoy excellent views of much of the circuit from the grandstands. The back straight provides a panoramic view across the Mur valley. Motorways and main roads provide easy access from all directions, with airports located in Graz and Vienna.

Race Weekend Format

The DTM Red Bull Ring by VKB-Bank features two races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Each race runs for 55 minutes plus one additional lap. Race directors can extend the race by up to three "joker" laps if a safety car is deployed.

Mandatory Pit Stops

Saturday's race requires one mandatory pit stop, which must be completed between the 20th and 40th minute. Sunday's race demands two mandatory pit stops. The first stop must occur within a window of 10 to 25 minutes, and the second between 35 and 45 minutes into the race.

Support Series

The event includes support races such as the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany. This series features two races per weekend with 510 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. Other categories for young talents also participate in the weekend program.

Teams and Drivers

The 2026 DTM season fields 21 cars from 11 teams. Eight manufacturers compete: Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche.

Confirmed Entries

Comtoyou Racing campaigns Aston Martin machinery with Nicki Thiim and rookie Nicolas Baert. Schubert Motorsport fields BMW entries for Kelvin van der Linde, who returns to DTM, and Marco Wittmann. Emil Frey Racing runs Ferrari cars for Matteo Cairoli and Thierry Vermeulen.

HRT Ford Racing enters Arjun Maini and rookie Finn Wiebelhaus in Ford Mustangs. Lamborghini has two teams: Red Bull Team Abt with Marco Mapelli and Luca Engstler, and TGI Team by GRT with Mirko Bortolotti and Maximilian Paul.

Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf fields Lucas Auer and rookie Tom Kalender, who at 18 years old is the youngest driver on the grid. Winward Racing enters Maro Engel and Jules Gounon in Mercedes-AMG machinery. Dörr Motorsport runs McLaren cars for Timo Glock, the oldest driver at 44, and Ben Dörr.

Manthey operates Porsche entries for Ricardo Feller and Thomas Preining, the 2023 DTM champion. Land-Motorsport fields Bastian Buus in a Porsche.

The 2026 season sees some notable absences. Reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Güven opted for Formula E instead of defending his title. Three-time champion Rene Rast takes a sabbatical to compete in prototype categories.

Technical Regulations

DTM continues to operate under Group GT3 regulations for its sixth season. All cars conform to GT3 specifications, which allows multiple manufacturers to compete on equal terms through Balance of Performance adjustments.

Balance of Performance

As is standard in GT3 racing, organizers apply a Balance of Performance system. This involves adjustments to weight, engine power, or wing angles to equalize theoretical on-track performance across different manufacturers.

Tire Regulations

Pirelli serves as the exclusive tire supplier for DTM. New regulations for the 2026 season introduce a two-pool system for tire distribution. Four sets of new tires are allocated for race days at demanding circuits like Spielberg. Tires for testing and free practice sessions are managed through a "current account" system, requiring strategic usage by teams. Pre-heating of tires remains prohibited.

A new regulation, known as the "Rene Rast Rule," prohibits teams from reintroducing discarded tires into the pool. This aims to prevent improper advantages during events.

Circuit History

The Red Bull Ring has evolved through several iterations over its motorsport history. The site originally opened as the Österreichring in 1969 and hosted the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix for 18 consecutive years from 1970 to 1987.

The circuit was shortened, rebuilt, and renamed the A1-Ring in the mid-1990s. F1 returned from 1997 to 2003, and DTM raced there from 2001 to 2003. After a period of disuse and partial demolition, Dietrich Mateschitz of Red Bull acquired and rebuilt the track.

The facility reopened as the Red Bull Ring in 2011. DTM returned to the circuit that same year and has been a regular fixture on the calendar since.

What Makes This Event Notable

The 2026 DTM season represents the fortieth season of the premier German touring car championship. It is the twenty-seventh under the "Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters" moniker since its revival in 2000. This season marks the first time Austria hosts the championship's opening races.

Despite the "T" in DTM standing for "Touring Cars," the series uses high-performance GT3 machinery. DTM maintains a unique focus on sprint racing with single drivers per car, unlike most other GT championships that feature driver changes and longer races.

The Red Bull Ring provides first-class facilities for teams, drivers, and spectators. Its location in the Styrian mountains offers a scenic setting and creates challenging racing due to the undulating terrain. The DTM weekend at the Red Bull Ring functions as a comprehensive motorsport festival suitable for families.

All qualifying sessions and races, as well as Friday free practice sessions, are streamed live in German and English on DTM's official YouTube channel. This provides accessibility for fans worldwide who want to follow the action from Austria.