DTM Hockenheimring Preview: Nine Drivers in Title Contention for Season Finale

The 2025 DTM season will come to an end this weekend with two decisive races at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. The championship battle is still wide open, with several drivers and teams in contention for the crown.

At the top of the standings is Lucas Auer from #22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf. The Austrian driver has shown great consistency all season and is the only one to score points in every race. At his home event at the Red Bull Ring, he stood on the podium only for the fourth time this season, proving his strength under pressure. With his calm and focused approach, Auer enters the final round as a serious title favorite.

Right behind him is Jordan Pepper from #33 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT. The South African is only seven points behind Auer and has impressed in his first full DTM season. Pepper has always stayed among the front runners, even after setbacks, and is hoping to pull off a big surprise at Hockenheim.

In third place is René Rast aboard the #33 Schubert Motorsport. The experienced BMW driver is already a three-time DTM champion and knows exactly what it takes to win a title. Rast had a strong comeback in the second half of the season and has already led the standings once. With five previous victories at Hockenheim, the 38-year-old could add another title and achieve the rare feat of becoming champion with two different brands.

Fourth in the standings is Maro Engel from #24 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing. Thanks to clever strategy and quick pit stops, the veteran is still within reach of the title. Engel is looking for his first race win of the season to close the 16-point gap to the leader.

Just behind him sits Ayhancan Güven, who has already taken four victories in his #90 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Manthey EMA. Jack Aitken with #14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 and Marco Wittmann with #11 Schubert BMW M4 GT3 follow in sixth and seventh place. Last year’s champion, Thomas Preining, and Mercedes-AMG driver Jules Gounon complete the list of nine title contenders. Gounon is 29 points behind Auer, but with 56 points still available in the final two races, he also has a mathematical chance to fight for the championship.

The fight is not only between drivers but also teams and manufacturers. In the team standings, Manthey EMA leads with 316 points, followed by Schubert Motorsport on 300. Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing (290 points) and Emil Frey Racing (282 points) are also still in the battle.

In the manufacturers’ standings, Mercedes-AMG arrives at Hockenheim as the leader. Porsche is in second place, 41 points behind, while BMW and Ferrari are also still in with a chance to take the title.

With so many drivers, teams, and brands still fighting for the championship, the Hockenheim finale promises to be one of the most exciting weekends of the DTM season. Fans can expect close racing, high tension, and plenty of drama as the 2025 champions are finally decided.