Porsche factory driver Thomas Preining wins the DTM drivers' championship

Thomas Preining started the final race of the 2026 season as the favorite in front of 112,000 spectators at the Hockenheimring (Friday through Sunday). The Austrian held a 20-point lead going into the finale. Starting from seventh place, the 28-year-old worked his way up to fourth position during an eventful first lap. The Manthey team then executed two quick pit stops, allowing Preining to even move up to second place. On the last lap, the former Porsche Junior thanked his teammate Ricardo Feller for his support and let the Swiss driver take second place.

“This success cannot be overstated. The DTM is extremely close-fought; the competition is more intense than anywhere else,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. As DTM Drivers’ Champion, Preining succeeds Turkish Porsche factory driver Ayhancan Güven. “Our former Porsche Juniors have won three titles in four years. That’s absolutely impressive. My heartfelt congratulations go out to the Manthey team. It’s an extraordinary achievement, by Ricardo Feller as well. Team Land Motorsport also did a great job with Bastian Buus. Bastian’s first pole position in the DTM is proof enough. In their first year, the team was immediately right in the thick of things. They can build on that.”

“It was a picture-perfect, heart-stopping finale,” says Maximilian Müller, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “All of our nine-eleven were right up front in the race. Thomas, Ricardo, and Bastian kept their cool at all times. Getting through the race cleanly, crossing the finish line, and winning the championship: that was the goal. We achieved all of that. Now a grueling year in the DTM is coming to an end with two titles for Thomas Preining and Manthey. We’re looking forward to a small, nice celebration.”

Ricardo Feller acted as a “wingman” for his teammate Thomas Preining throughout the entire race. The Swiss driver covered the Austrian’s back for lap after lap, allowing the new DTM champion to drive safely toward the podium and, consequently, the title. Feller finished the race in second place, marking his best result of the 2026 season. Danish driver Bastian Buus initially led the final race from pole position but ultimately had to settle for fourth place. For the rookie from Team Land Motorsport, it was also his best result of the year.

“I’m proud of the entire team,” says Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director Manthey Racing GmbH. “We’ve won the title three times in four years. What an achievement! Our track record makes it clear that these successes are no fluke. In motorsports, a bit of luck is always involved, but first and foremost, it takes a perfect team effort. That’s exactly what we’ve clearly demonstrated.”

Driver quotes after the race weekend

Thomas Preining (Porsche 911 GT3 R #91): “This weekend was particularly grueling, especially mentally. We had a very long wait today between qualifying and the race. A lot of thoughts were running through my head. Fortunately, everything went perfectly in the race, so I’m now a two-time DTM champion. It’ll take a while for me to fully grasp it. I’ve made one resolution: I want to savor this success more intensely than I did when I won my first title. These moments just rush right past you when people are shaking your hand and patting you on the back from all sides. I’m well on my way to enjoying and soaking it all in much more this time.”

Ricardo Feller (Porsche 911 GT3 R #90): “Finishing the season on the podium is really nice. Especially when both Manthey drivers get to climb onto the podium. We’ve managed to do that for the second time this year. Thomas clinched the drivers’ title, and together we won the team championship. We’ve had worse days. I really enjoyed the duel with Bastian Buus today. We’re friends and compete hard but fairly against each other. That was great.”

Bastian Buus (Porsche 911 GT3 R #29): “Overall, it was a great weekend. I secured pole position on Sunday. It was my first personally and my team’s first. It was really nice afterward to finally be able to compete at the very front of the grid again. I think that’s where we belong. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite make it onto the podium. Still, I’m satisfied. Congratulations to Porsche, to Thomas, and to his Manthey team on winning the championship titles.”

Further information

Full results and standings: DTM website
A 30-year tradition: Manthey
A private team with ambitions: Land Motorsport
Reference guide: DTM Media Guide 2026
Background: DTM season preview 2026
The Porsche 911 GT3 R The GT3 racing car in detail