– The Sachsenring proved to be an absolute Porsche track last year: Back then, Manthey driver Thomas Preining lost two possible wins due to collisions – and both times teammate Ayhancan Güven took the victory. Can Preining, who is now just one point behind Winward-Mercedes driver Maro Engel in the overall standings, already make a decisive move in the title fight at the penultimate race weekend (all info on TV times, stream, etc.)?
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“After last year, we have an open account there – and basically it is also a track that suits the Porsche,” said Preining on ran.de. The new Evo package, which is even more focused on downforce for the 911 GT3 R, should actually make the Sachsenring even more of a Porsche track. But does the Balance of Performance (BoP) allow that?
Already at the Sachsenring test day in August, when a test BoP was mandatory, Preining and teammate Ricardo Feller were clearly at the top of the standings. Compared to that, the Porsche is five kilograms heavier. And the minimally allowed rear wing angle is increased from 7.3 degrees to nine degrees.
Porsche must run maximum downforce at Sachsenring
This means: The 911 must be used with maximum downforce – at least on the rear wing – because the car only offers three adjustment options in this regard: 7.3, 8.3, and 9.3. Maximum downforce is definitely not a disadvantage on the Sachsenring, which features fast corners but no long straights.
Compared to last year’s final BoP, the Porsche is 15 kilograms heavier, and the restrictor is two millimeters smaller. However, in 2025 the Porsche was also very strong – and the Evo package was not yet in use. For that, the rear-engine car is five kilograms lighter than in the initial 2025 classification, with which Preining and Güven only reached starting positions nine and ten. Interesting: Compared to Nürburgring 2026, the restrictor is also two millimeters smaller.
Would heat have been better for Mercedes-AMG?
But how was main competitor Mercedes-AMG classified? Compared to the test, when title contender Engel was fourth as the best AMG driver with over half a second deficit, there are no changes. Compared to last year’s final Sachsenring BoP, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is ten kilograms lighter and receives a restrictor 0.5 millimeters larger.
This is probably explained by the less favorable engine mapping prescribed for the car in 2026. A look into history shows that the Sachsenring and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 can harmonize well, as Luca Stolz won the DTM there in 2023 and 2024.
“Normally, this is a good track for us,” also knows Lucas Auer. At the brand with the star, they probably would have wished that the high summer lasted a few days longer. Because especially the right front tire is extremely stressed on the Sachsenring, which consists almost entirely of left corners – and the tire-friendly Mercedes-AMG GT3 handles this better than many rivals.
Ferrari should be strong, Aston Martin a wildcard
But can Nicki Thiim strike back after two difficult weekends? The Dane was on par with Engel at the test. His Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo is ten kilograms lighter in comparison and receives 0.01 to 0.02 bar more boost pressure in the low to mid RPM range.
In 2025, the car was classified significantly better, but this trend is not new. It is explainable by the fact that Comtoyou as a team and also in driver selection is much better positioned in 2026 than last year.
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The Ferrari 296 GT3 with its excellent aerodynamics should also run well on the Sachsenring, as Jack Aitken proved last year with his dominant Sunday pole. Compared to that, the car is 15 kilograms heavier in 2026, and the boost pressure is also about 0.3 bar lower over almost the entire RPM range.
Photo gallery: Special features of all DTM tracks of the 2027 season
At the test, they had over a second deficit, but afterwards the ride height was reduced by two millimeters at the front and rear, which helps the aerodynamics. In return, five kilograms of ballast were added. “I am convinced that with our preparation and the insights from the test drives, we are well positioned,” said team boss Lorenz Frey-Hilti confidently.
BMW driver Wittmann on test: “A lot was still missing to the front”
How does it look for Sachsenring struggler BMW? Things have never really gone as desired for the M4 GT3 on the rollercoaster track with many corners. Marco Wittmann, who is 25 points behind in fifth place in the overall standings, has to make up ground.
At the test, Wittmann and Kelvin van der Linde finished seventh and eleventh. “The test was basically quite good – and also important for us, as we have struggled a lot with the BMW package at the Sachsenring in the past,” said Wittmann. But “a lot was certainly still missing to the front,” he said.
For that, the boost pressure on the BMW was increased by up to 0.07 bar in the mid-range compared to the test. For the Munich team, it will depend on whether they can get the tires into the optimal range already in qualifying, because overtaking is difficult on the Sachsenring.
McLaren not to be underestimated, Audi like 2025
The Ford team HRT probably also faces no easy weekend, although the Mustang GT3 with the Evo package is at least somewhat more versatile this year than in 2025. The classification is the same as on the test day, except for a rear wing one degree steeper, on which Arjun Maini was 16th.
One should not expect miracles from the Lamborghini Temerario, which finished mid-field at the test and receives 0.02 bar more boost pressure in the low range compared to that. “We still struggle with the car in qualifying,” said team boss Gottfried Grasser.
For that, the McLaren, which suits the fast corners and tire load, could be strong. The BoP was hardly changed after the test, where Ben Dörr was a strong third. And already last year, the McLaren youngster finished third before being disqualified for a rules violation.
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And how does the BoP look for the Audi guest start? The same as last year, when the Land team ran the R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. Feller experienced a weekend to forget back then, but drove sixth in the first qualifying with 15 kilograms more weight.
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