Klaus Weber · DTM-Korrespondent
Heading into the DTM season finale at Hockenheim, Marco Wittmann sits just 24 points behind championship leader Thomas Preining in his bid for a third title.
Marco Wittmann travels to the DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring with Schubert Motorsport and his BMW M4 GT3 EVO as one of six remaining title contenders. According to the Hockenheimring, the two-time champion enters the final weekend 24 points behind leader Thomas Preining, but has fought his way back into striking distance with 76 points across the last four races. For Wittmann, heading into his 14th season in 2026 and having amassed more than two hundred race starts, a third title would be the natural continuation of a career that still shows no signs of slowing down.
The Numbers Heading into the Finale
24 points is the gap that matters this weekend. In a tightly packed field like the current DTM, that's not a gap that gets erased just with a good start, but rather through two complete races with solid points collection and minimal errors in the pit window. Over the last four races, Wittmann has scored 76 points, a streak that's elevated him from a driver outside the championship's front rank to one of Preining's most serious challengers.
This comeback is no accident from a few good weekends. Anyone consistently scoring at the front over four races needs a car that performs equally well in race trim and qualifying, plus a team that nails the BMW M4 GT3 EVO's balance of performance window in every setup scenario. That's exactly what Schubert Motorsport has delivered lately.
Experience as Currency in the Final Stretch
More than two hundred race starts and two titles represent a wealth of experience that pays dividends differently in a season's closing phase than at the start. Wittmann knows the pressure of a finale weekend from multiple earlier campaigns and understands how an overly aggressive opening lap or mistimed tire-change window can affect an entire race. This kind of race craft should prove more valuable in Hockenheim than any technical upgrade to the car itself.
For a driver in his 14th season, a title fight at this stage of his career is also about managing energy across an entire weekend. A driver who knows when to push to the limit in qualifying trim and when tire degradation demands restraint in the race wastes fewer tenths at the moments that ultimately decide championships.
A Six-Way Battle for the Final Crown
Six drivers head into the finale with mathematical chances at the title, led by Thomas Preining. A field this large at the championship's front means Wittmann has to focus not only on his own performance but also on how points distribute among the other contenders. A stumble by a direct rival could prove just as decisive as a strong showing of his own.
For Wittmann and Schubert Motorsport, this weekend should be less about raw speed and more about clean execution across both races. Pull that off, and the two-time champion has a genuine shot at his third title when the season concludes at Hockenheim.
