When it comes to touring car racing, few championships carry the prestige, intensity and manufacturer rivalry of DTM. Today, DTM stands as one of the premier series where production-based cars go wheel-to-wheel at the highest level.
What makes DTM especially unique is the perspective it offers motorsport fans: the chance to see cars closely related to road-going models battling for victory. In few other championships can you watch a car similar to one you could buy from a dealership fighting door-to-door, roaring through the pit lane and battling directly against rival brands.
But there is far more to DTM than close racing. Here are five fun and fascinating facts about the iconic German championship.
1. DTM Has Been Around Since 1984
Although some newer fans may view DTM as a modern championship, its roots stretch back more than four decades.
DTM — short for Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft (German Touring Car Championship) — held its first race on 11 March 1984. The inaugural race was won by Harald Grohs driving a BMW, marking the beginning of one of Europe’s most celebrated touring car series.
Interest in the championship grew rapidly. While 24 cars lined up for the first DTM race, grid sizes expanded to around 40 cars by the end of the inaugural season, underlining the category’s immediate popularity.
2. DTM’s First Female Driver Was Lella Lombardi
Lella Lombardi holds a unique place in motorsport history.
She remains the highest-scoring female driver in Formula 1 history after finishing sixth in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, still one of the sport’s most remarkable achievements.
Lombardi also made history in DTM. During the championship’s inaugural 1984 season, she raced in the series and became the first woman to score points in DTM, adding another milestone to her groundbreaking career.
Her presence helped establish early DTM as a championship open to bold competitors willing to challenge the status quo.
3. Alfa Romeo Once Shocked the German Giants
DTM is often associated with German automotive powerhouses such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
However, one Italian manufacturer proved it could challenge that dominance.
Alfa Romeo became one of the championship’s biggest surprises, establishing itself as a genuine force despite competing in a German-led series. Since joining DTM in its early years, Alfa Romeo went on to secure 42 race victories, consistently challenging the established manufacturers.
Its success remains one of DTM’s most memorable manufacturer stories.
4. Mercedes Is DTM’s Most Successful Manufacturer
DTM’s history is deeply tied to some of Germany’s most iconic automotive brands.
Three cities tell much of the story: Munich, Ingolstadt and Stuttgart.
BMW secured its first DTM victory in 1984 and has since earned more than 100 race wins, making it the third most successful manufacturer in series history.
Audi, which officially joined DTM in 1990, raised the bar even further with more than 140 victories, becoming one of the championship’s defining forces.
But no manufacturer comes close to Mercedes-Benz.
With more than 210 race victories, Mercedes stands as the most successful marque in DTM history by a significant margin, cementing its legacy as the benchmark of the championship.
5. The Latest DTM Champion Is Turkish: Ayhancan Güven
One of the most exciting recent chapters in DTM history belongs to Türkiye.
As DTM transitioned into its GT3 era, the championship opened the door for new manufacturers and rising talent. That shift created the perfect opportunity for Porsche to reassert itself at the front.
Ayhancan Güven seized that moment.
Already a familiar name to fans of GT and closed-wheel racing, Güven made history by becoming the first Turkish driver to win the DTM championship. In doing so, he not only achieved a landmark personal milestone but also delivered Porsche its long-awaited return to DTM championship glory.
For Turkish motorsport fans, it marked one of the biggest achievements in the country’s racing history.
DTM has always been about more than lap times and trophies. It is a championship built on manufacturer pride, legendary rivalries and unforgettable drivers. DTM continues to offer one of the most compelling spectacles in global motorsport.
