DTM Returns at Oschersleben as Teams Begin Crucial Practice Sessions

Posted : 24 July 2026

The 2026 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) resumes this weekend at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, with Friday marking the opening day of Round 5 as teams prepare for races nine and ten of the championship.

Day 1 is dedicated to practice, giving drivers and engineers valuable time to fine-tune their cars before qualifying and the weekend's two races. The schedule features a 55-minute Free Practice 1 session in the morning, followed by a 45-minute Free Practice 2 in the afternoon.

The combined results from both practice sessions will determine the qualifying groups for Saturday. Drivers finishing in odd-numbered positions will compete in Group A, while those in even-numbered positions will be placed in Group B, a format designed to reduce traffic during qualifying on the tight German circuit.

Championship leader Nicki Thiim arrives in Oschersleben with momentum after a dominant performance at the Norisring, where the Danish Aston Martin driver collected the maximum 56 points to take the lead in the standings for the first time in his DTM career. Thiim will be eager to maintain his advantage at a circuit located just a few hours from his home in Denmark.

Mercedes-AMG drivers Maro Engel and Lucas Auer remain Thiim's closest challengers. Engel sits nine points behind the championship leader after another consistent campaign, while Auer trails by 11 points and has already claimed four podium finishes this season. Auer also won at Oschersleben in 2025 and believes the circuit suits both his driving style and the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The battle behind the leading trio is equally competitive. Ferrari driver Matteo Cairoli, the only multiple race winner besides Thiim this season, hopes to reduce the gap to the championship leaders. Meanwhile, Ford youngster Finn Wiebelhaus arrives full of confidence after finishing second at the Norisring, where he challenged Thiim in one of the season's most exciting races.

Home team Schubert Motorsport will also attract plenty of attention. Based just minutes from the circuit, the BMW squad fields two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann alongside South African Kelvin van der Linde as they aim to make home advantage count on one of Germany's most technical race tracks.

The 3.667-kilometre Oschersleben circuit features 14 corners, split evenly between left and right turns, with overtaking opportunities mainly at the end of the 700-metre start-finish straight. Its arena-style layout also provides spectators with excellent views of almost the entire circuit.

Following Friday's practice sessions, Qualifying 1 takes place on Saturday morning before Race 1 in the afternoon. Sunday's schedule concludes the weekend with Qualifying 2 and Race 2 as the battle for the 2026 DTM championship continues.

DTM Returns at Oschersleben as Teams Begin Crucial Practice Sessions

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