Rene Rast has introduced he’ll depart DTM on the finish of the 2025 season, on the eve of the ultimate spherical as he prepares to battle for a fourth title within the sequence.
The three-time DTM champion heads into the Hockenheim finale third within the drivers’ standings, 11 factors behind chief Lucas Auer and 4 factors off runner-up Jordan Pepper.
“After so many unforgettable years within the DTM, I wish to share with you that I cannot be on the DTM grid subsequent yr,” stated Rast on social media.
“Nevertheless, this isn’t a closing farewell – the DTM will at all times stay an essential a part of my profession and my id as a driver. However in 2026 my path leads me in one other route…
“My nice thanks go to all of the groups I’ve raced for, the mechanics who gave every part within the pits, and the engineers who tirelessly strived for perfection. With out your ardour and laborious work, my successes wouldn’t have been doable.
“I’m equally grateful for the reminiscences, the victories, the challenges – and particularly for the followers who’ve accompanied and supported me each step of the way in which. Although I cannot be on the DTM grid subsequent yr, I look ahead to the alternatives forward – and who is aware of what the long run holds. Thanks for being a part of this journey.”
Rast is ready to stay a part of BMW’s Hypercar programme and is anticipated to proceed racing within the World Endurance Championship and on the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2026.
Rene Rast, Schubert Motorsport
Picture by: ADAC Motorsport
BMW motorsport boss Andreas Roos stated: “We wish to ensure that as few drivers as doable give attention to our solely works programme. That doesn’t imply Rene is gone from the DTM perpetually, however for 2026 we will say he gained’t race there. After which we’ll see for the long run how we proceed.”
In Rast, the DTM loses maybe its most well-known driver on the present grid, who dominated throughout the Class 1 period as a daily driver for Audi Crew Rosberg from 2017 to 2020.
Rast has achieved 31 wins – 24 of them throughout the producer period as much as 2020 – together with 59 podiums and 26 pole positions.
This places him within the all-time sequence rating with three titles in 2017, 2019, and 2020, behind Bernd Schneider with 5 championships, and tied with Klaus Ludwig in second place.
In 2016, he made an sudden DTM debut at Zandvoort after Adrien Tambay was injured in a crash throughout the Saturday race. His first full season adopted in 2017 with Audi Crew Rosberg, by which Rast unexpectedly gained the title.
Rast proved that his success was no fluke and rapidly grew to become Audi’s spearhead within the DTM. With the top of the producer period and the change to GT3, Rast took a break from the DTM in 2021. His makes an attempt to determine himself in System E have been unsuccessful.
In 2022, he returned to the DTM with Abt in Audi, earlier than becoming a member of BMW Crew Schubert in 2023.
If Rast can clinch the 2025 DTM title with BMW, he would change into the second driver after Ludwig (Ford and Mercedes) to win DTM titles with completely different manufacturers.
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