DTM Sachsenring — Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Touring Cars on Historic Asphalt

The Sachsenring near Hohenstein-Ernstthal is one of Germany's most traditional race tracks. Opened in 1927 as an 8.7 km long street circuit, it has served as a 3.67 km permanent track since 1996 — today the venue for international competitions such as MotoGP, ADAC GT Masters, and, regularly since 2003, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). The track is notorious for its tight, technically demanding corners, the rapidly changing weather in the West Saxon hills, and the spectacular track design with the "Sachsenkurve" and "Omega-Kurve" — traditions from the street racing days.

DTM 2026 — GT3, Factory Drivers, Three Race Days

Since the 2021 reform, the DTM has been a pure GT3 series: instead of the previous special touring car vehicles, high-performance near-production sports cars now compete — Mercedes-AMG GT3, BMW M4 GT3, Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Ferrari 296 GT3, Lamborghini Huracán GT3. Factory drivers from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche compete against the international stars of the GT3 scene. At Sachsenring in 2026, as always, two main races will be held — a sprint race of about an hour on Saturday and Sunday, preceded by qualifying. Friday serves as a preparation day with free practice and the arrival of the paddock.

Support Series and Paddock

Several support series run within the DTM weekend: the DTM Trophy for young GT4 talents, the Porsche Carrera Cup with GT3 Cup race cars, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and depending on the season, other ADAC brand cups. The Sachsenring paddock is accessible to fans (with the appropriate pass): a direct view of the mechanics at work, autograph sessions with the factory drivers, the official pit walks on Saturday afternoon, where spectators can stroll along the pit lane and chat with the teams.

West Saxony and Hohenstein-Ernstthal

Hohenstein-Ernstthal is located in the Erzgebirgskreis district between Chemnitz and Zwickau, in a region that has been shaped by motorsport for decades. The race track is the town's landmark and its most important economic factor — the DTM, MotoGP, and other racing events bring tens of thousands of overnight stays annually. Those who come to the DTM can ideally combine the weekend with a day trip to the nearby Erzgebirge region (Augustusburg Castle, Ore Mountain Mining Museum Annaberg-Buchholz) or to Chemnitz (European Capital of Culture 2025).