The Motorsport Arena Oschersleben will open the 2025 DTM season next weekend (April 25-27).

Nine manufacturers and a top-class field of drivers, including defending champion Mirko Bortolotti (Italy), three-time champion René Rast (Bregenz), and former Formula 1 star Timo Glock (Kreuzlingen), will battle for the first two victories of the year.

The field of favorites is huge the starting position ahead of the first of a total of eight tour stops promises an unpredictable season. For the drivers in the top-class field, this means that every mistake could be decisive in the battle for the DTM title.

A total of 24 drivers will compete in the 2025 DTM. The focus is primarily on Lamborghini works driver Bortolotti. The 35-year-old is launching his title defense project with his new team, Abt Sportsline, in Oschersleben. Bortolotti is entering his fourth DTM season and has developed into an absolute qualifying expert over the years.

The Viennese-based driver secured one of his eight DTM pole positions to date at Oschersleben last year and this year he aims to secure his first victory at the Börde circuit. Im happy that things are finally getting started again and Im full of energy. Defending the title will be a huge challenge, but we have all the ingredients to be successful together, says Bortolotti.

Bortolottis biggest rivals include a BMW double-team: Rast, born in Minden, and two-time title winner Marco Wittmann (Fürth) will be competing in two new BMW M4 GT3 Evos.

The duo will be competing for the Schubert Motorsport team, which is based in Oschersleben and has a home race.

Last year we won the team title. This season we also want to be at the top of the drivers standings. The new Evo package will hopefully bring a bit more performance and make the car even easier to handle, says Rast.

Last years Oschersleben winner Jack Aitken (GB) in the Ferrari 296 GT3 of Emil Frey Racing, Porsche works driver Thomas Preining (A/Manthey EMA) and Maro Engel (Monaco) of the Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing will also be looking to make their first mark in the title fight in the Magdeburg Börde region.

Timo Glock is looking forward to his first DTM race since a guest appearance in 2022. The former Formula 1 driver is celebrating his comeback and will compete in a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo fielded by Dörr Motorsport. Oschersleben will also be the stage for the DTM debut of the Ford Mustang GT3.

The powerful vehicle boasts a 5.4-liter V8 engine Indian Arjun Maini and Swiss Fabio Scherer will drive the two US racing cars from the HRT Ford Performance team. Comtoyou Racing, a Belgian racing team, will also make its DTM debut at Oschersleben.

The team will rely on two fellow countrymen, Nicolas Baert and Gilles Magnus, in the cockpit of the two Aston Martin Vantage GT3s.

Starting this season, the teams will battle for every tenth of a second in the Sunday race during two mandatory pit stops. The Saturday race will still be pitted once. All 16 championship races will be 55 minutes plus one lap. When the Cupra Safety Car is deployed, the race distance can be extended by a maximum of two laps thanks to an overtime rule. In addition, the DTM is looking for the Rookie of the Year this season this classification is for young drivers in their first or second DTM season.