Engel: Porsche drivers raced me "very hard" in DTM title decider
Winward Mercedes driver Maro Engel prevailed against all three Porsches in the Hockenheim title decider. It still was not enough for the title: in the end he was 12 points short, because new champion Thomas Preining finished third. But especially in the early stages of the race, Preining's fellow Porsche drivers gave the Mercedes-AMG lone fighter a hard time. "Looking ahead and looking in the ...…
Maro Engel secured a win in the final race of the 2026 DTM season, but Thomas Preining claimed the championship title for Manthey Porsche. The Austrian finished third, securing his second DTM championship title. The race was challenging, with a three-hour delay, but Preining expressed pride in his team's performance. Engel acknowledged his effort but stated he focused solely on the final race, grateful for his team's support.
Preining had to work hard to secure the lead, overtaking Engel in a risky move, and was able to hold on to his position despite the wet conditions. Ben Dorr and Matteo Cairoli rounded out the top five. The team championship went to Manthey Porsche, followed by Winward and Schubert, with Mercedes-AMG claiming the manufacturers' title. The 2027 DTM season will begin at the Red-Bull-Ring in Austria from April 23 to 25, 2027.
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- DTM Hockenheim: Engel wins, but Preining takes 2026 title motorsport.com
