Schaeffler strengthens DTM partnership for 2026 season

Schaeffler will continue its involvement in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) for the 2026 season, which begins on April 24 in Spielberg. The company maintains its partnership with BMW M Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport, supporting driver Marco Wittmann in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, known as the “Green Machine.”

Context of the cooperation
The collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership between Schaeffler, BMW M Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport, entering its eighth season. The cooperation reflects a joint approach to performance development in motorsport, combining vehicle engineering, component integration and race operations.

Following a previous season with multiple podium finishes and a top-five overall ranking, the partners aim to further improve competitiveness in the 2026 championship.

Technical solution and system integration
Schaeffler contributes a range of drivetrain and engine-related components to the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. These include a clutch actuator, a variable valve train with camshaft phasing, a high-pressure pump drive for the injection system, a throttle valve and a belt drive tensioner.

The vehicle is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with turbocharging, delivering up to 590 hp. The integration of these components supports performance, reliability and system efficiency under racing conditions.

Motorsport as a development environment
Motorsport serves as a validation platform for Schaeffler’s technologies, enabling testing under high-load and dynamic operating conditions. Insights gained from racetrack applications are transferred to series production, supporting the development of automotive components and systems.

This approach allows the company to evaluate performance, durability and system behavior in real-world extreme scenarios.

Partnerships and collaboration model
In addition to its collaboration with BMW M Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport, Schaeffler maintains a long-term partnership with ABT Sportsline, which continues in the 2026 season with the deployment of a Lamborghini Temerario GT3.

These partnerships enable cross-team collaboration and the exchange of technical expertise across different vehicle platforms and racing environments.

Applications and innovation initiatives
Beyond race participation, Schaeffler contributes to the DTM as an innovation partner in cooperation with ADAC. One example is the Schaeffler Innovation Taxi, based on an Audi R8 LMS GT2, which serves as a demonstration platform for automotive technologies.

The vehicle integrates systems such as rear-wheel steering, providing a platform to showcase and evaluate advanced vehicle dynamics solutions. The initiative supports technology demonstration and user engagement while enabling further development under operational conditions.

Operational impact
The integration of advanced components and system-level expertise contributes to vehicle performance, reliability and continuous improvement across race events. At the same time, the transfer of knowledge from motorsport to production supports innovation in automotive engineering.

Through its involvement in the DTM, Schaeffler reinforces its role in developing and validating motion technologies in high-performance environments.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.schaeffler.com