DTM, 7. + 8. Rennen Norisring 2026 #11 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Schubert Motorsport: Marco Wittmann - picture by Gruppe C Photography
BMW M Motorsport endured a demanding DTM weekend at the Norisring, where the traditional street circuit in Nuremberg delivered frustration, setbacks and concern for Team Schubert Motorsport. The BMW M4 GT3 EVOs struggled to find the required pace across the event, while Kelvin van der Linde was forced out of Sunday’s race after a heavy accident on Saturday.
The weekend started uphill for BMW, with both Marco Wittmann and Kelvin van der Linde unable to match the front-running pace during practice and qualifying. The narrow and unforgiving Norisring layout left little room to recover, making track position and performance especially decisive.
Saturday’s race quickly became complicated for Team Schubert Motorsport. Wittmann, driving the #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO, suffered a rear-left tyre failure shortly after the opening phase and was forced to retire. The situation worsened when van der Linde was involved in a major crash at turn one.
The South African driver was hit on the driver’s side after Maximilian Paul lost control of his Lamborghini. Both drivers were taken to hospital for medical checks. Van der Linde was later given the all-clear, having suffered bruising, but BMW and the team decided not to let him start Sunday’s race. Paul sustained a fracture, with BMW M Motorsport sending its wishes for a full and quick recovery.
Sunday offered only limited consolation for BMW. Wittmann qualified 18th, but produced a determined race performance in changing conditions. After a rain shower briefly interrupted the race, the German driver fought his way through the field and crossed the line in tenth place, securing valuable points on a weekend where performance was difficult to find.
The result leaves Wittmann fifth in the DTM drivers’ standings, while van der Linde sits twelfth after another unfortunate retirement. Schubert Motorsport has dropped to fourth in the team standings, highlighting the impact of a difficult run of races for the BMW squad.
Despite the disappointment in DTM, BMW enjoyed another strong showing in the BMW M2 Cup. Michael Schrey continued his perfect start to the new one-make series, taking pole position and converting it into victory in both races. Driving the #2 BMW M2 Racing for Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, Schrey once again proved the benchmark of the field.
Mika König and Christopher Holst completed the podium positions across the two races, while BMW works driver Jens Klingmann was present at the Norisring to support the young drivers as a coach.
For BMW M Motorsport, the Norisring weekend was defined by two very different stories: concern and frustration in the DTM paddock, but continued momentum in the BMW M2 Cup. The priority now is to regroup ahead of Oschersleben, where Team Schubert Motorsport will aim to return to stronger form and recover ground in both championships.
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