– The manufacturer test for the development of the exclusive DTM tire on March 2 and 3 in Vallelunga caused raised eyebrows: What is the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II doing on the track? Because after the Land team’s brand change to Porsche, the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer was actually not expected in the DTM starting field this year. Or is there a surprise after all, like in 2025?
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Not only the vehicle, but also Audi itself was on site in Italy on both test days – at short notice, as we hear. “At the request of HGL Racing, we provided an engineer as part of our regular extended customer support for technical assistance for the test,” explains Dirk Spohr, who acts as project manager in the customer racing department at Audi.
“To our current knowledge, no customer is registered with an Audi R8 LMS Evo II for the 2026 DTM season,” he adds. Nevertheless, there must be a reason for the unexpected deployment, as only active DTM manufacturers were actually intended for the test. And who is HGL Racing anyway?
What is an Audi doing at the DTM tire test?
Behind the entry of HGL Racing by a Polish investor is the Seyffarth team from near Leipzig, which will compete in the 2026 ADAC GT Masters together with 25-year-old Pole Robin Rogalski and a pilot yet to be confirmed. “Our GT3 project is not just designed for this year, but for the longer term,” clarifies team boss Tobias Seyffarth.
For the deployment, the team bought the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Verstappen Racing in January, which was driven at the Vallelunga test by 38-year-old former Abt driver Christer Jöns. But why is the team testing specifically for the development of the new DTM tire?
“That has a bit to do with Audi and the ADAC, because at the moment there is no other Audi in the ADAC paddock,” explains team boss Tobias Seyffarth. He also announces that his team will also be present at the next Pirelli test at the end of March, when the teams will be equipped with the new DTM special tire for the first time.
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Seyffarth does not deny: “Leaving a back door open”
But could it be that the squad will make guest starts with the Audi in the 2026 DTM alongside the already confirmed ADAC GT Masters season? “We are leaving this back door open,” Seyffarth does not rule out this scenario for the 2026 season.
The 49-year-old is no stranger to the DTM: Seyffarth, who comes from the Leipzig region, has worked for Maximilian Paul’s Lamborghini team in the DTM for the past two years, which is no longer competing in the DTM this year. In addition, he also acted as chief mechanic for the Dresden-based racing team’s ADAC GT Masters car.
In addition, Seyffarth Motorsport has an Audi past in the DTM: in 2019, they were responsible for the deployment of the cars in the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup as part of the DTM support program. Rogalski of all people became champion, receiving a test in Jerez in Rene Rast’s championship-winning Audi at the time as a reward, and also won the cup title in 2021.
Who the cockpit candidate is and which races are in question
Rogalski has been closely associated with the Seyffarth squad since starting in the Renault Clio Cup about ten years ago, is sitting in the Audi in the ADAC GT Masters this year, and would also be a possible candidate for a DTM guest start. Should it actually happen, three weekends would be suitable: Oschersleben (July 24 – 26), Nürburgring (August 14 – 16), and the Sachsenring (September 11 – 13).
Because apart from the Norisring, which would be a special challenge for a guest start and is therefore considered unrealistic, the team competes with the Audi in the ADAC GT Masters at all other DTM weekends. Apart from that, the team would still have enough time for preparation until the end of July.
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