Test dates and location
The DTM has fixed the official pre-season test for 2026 at the Red-Bull-Ring in Spielberg. The ADAC has booked the circuit from 14 to 16 April, exactly a week before the season opener takes place there (24-26 April).
On Monday 13 April, a separate day is reserved for TV teams and photographers. This should provide content for the 2026 DTM campaign. Since the teams will already be in Spielberg, it makes sense that the first day of testing should start immediately afterwards.
The DTM will share the test days at Red-Bull-Ring with the ADAC GT Masters and GT4 Germany. It is not yet final whether each series will get a full day or whether the three days will be split.
New DTM tyre and testing approach
Important note: in 2026, the DTM will run on a special Pirelli tyre used exclusively in the DTM. Previously, the GT3 cars ran on the PZero DHF (2023-2024) and later on its successor DHG (2025). The ADAC GT Masters will stay with the DHG tyre.
The new tyre is expected to be softer than the DHG. Teams must therefore use the limited testing opportunities smartly to build up experience quickly. This is extra relevant because tyre heating is still not allowed in the DTM, which affects usage and warm-up.
The ADAC wants to centrally organise test planning in 2026. After the 2025 test activities - with an official test at Oschersleben and additional sessions at Lausitzring and Sachsenring - the organisation now wants to coordinate all tests itself. This is likely to make testing cheaper and more uniform for teams.
- Booked test dates Red-Bull-Ring: 14-16 April (content day 13 April)
- New Pirelli tyres: exclusive to DTM in 2026
- Tyre warming remains banned
The central organisation also allows the ADAC to monitor tyre consumption and the number of allocated sets. In addition, they can collect data for the Balance of Performance (BoP) during testing.
Follow-up test sites and rules
There are reports that the ADAC wants to offer test days at several DTM circuits next season. Among others, the following venues are on the list according to those plans:
- Spielberg (Red-Bull-Ring)
- Lausitzring
- Oschersleben
- Nürburgring
- Sachsenring
- Hockenheim
From the beginning of November, tests on DTM circuits will be fully permitted for teams for the time being. The new testing regulations are still being worked out. As the special Pirelli tyre will only be available through the series managers and is not yet readily available, early winter tests may be limited in their useful insights.
In summary, the official DTM test will take place in Spielberg just before the start of the season. With the introduction of a DTM-specific tyre and the centralisation of test planning, the ADAC aims to give more control over costs, tyre consumption and BoP data. For teams, this means that every test day in 2026 will have extra value.
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