A championship decided at Hockenheim
Thomas Preining has secured the 2026 DTM drivers' championship in the Porsche 911 GT3 R following the season-ending race at the Hockenheimring. Porsche's report dated 11 October confirms that the Austrian earned his second DTM title, adding to his win in 2023.
Preining entered the finale with a twenty-point lead and finished third, a result sufficient to claim the championship. The race was held in front of a weekend crowd that Porsche put at 112,000 spectators.
Race strategy protects the points advantage
Starting from seventh, Preining moved rapidly through the field and reached fourth on the opening lap. Quick pit stops by Manthey then moved him into a stronger position as competitors navigated a demanding final race.
Teammate Ricardo Feller played a supporting role during the closing stages, taking second place with Preining third. The result underlined how team strategy and avoiding a costly incident can decide a championship even when outright victory is not necessary.
Manthey adds a team championship
Manthey's performance also earned the team title, which Porsche says is its third such success in four years. The team's pairing of Preining and Feller demonstrates the value of consistent performance across an entire season rather than one standout result.
Fellow Porsche racer Bastian Buus took his first DTM pole position during the finale weekend and eventually finished fourth. The combined results put several Porsche 911 GT3 R entrants at the front of a highly competitive field.
The significance of a second title
Preining's 2023 championship had already established him among DTM's leading drivers. A second success in 2026 adds weight to his record and highlights the continuing relevance of the 911 GT3 R in contemporary GT racing.
Porsche Motorsport management emphasised both the closeness of the competition and the achievement of its former junior drivers. The success is a verified race result, not a forecast of how the brand will perform in future seasons.
What collectors and owners can take from racing
Motorsport programmes often influence a performance brand's reputation, but a racing car's specification and operating requirements differ significantly from those of a road-going 911. A DTM result should not be treated as evidence of the performance of an individual road vehicle.
For enthusiasts following Porsche's racing heritage, the Hockenheim finale adds another chapter to the company's GT history. The drivers' and teams' championships are now confirmed outcomes of the completed 2026 season.
