Road to DTM programme integrated in the OK-N category in the future. Champion receives entry fee for BMW M2 Cup or ADAC GT4 Germany for the following year. Evolution of the ADAC’s youth development programme from karting to the DTM.

The “Road to DTM” youth development programme is to be realigned within the German Kart Championship (DKM) in 2026. In the future, the programme will be entirely incorporated in the OK-N category. The champion of this class will receive the entry fee for the BMW M2 Cup or ADAC GT4 Germany in the following season, giving them the opportunity to take the next step in professional motorsport.

The restructuring provides a direct development path for talented youngsters. Drivers as young as 15 years of age are eligible to race in the BMW M2 Cup. As part of the high-profile DTM environment, this series offers an ideal platform, on which to enter the world of touring car racing. The drivers are at the wheel of the newly developed BMW M2 Racing, which combines the latest technology and production-based performance. For drivers aged 16 and above, the youth development programme also opens the door to GT racing. In ADAC GT4 Germany, two drivers share one GT4 cockpit, as they line up against talented youngsters and ambitious gentlemen drivers at six race weekends within the DTM schedule. The champions in the BMW M2 Cup and ADAC GT4 Germany receive an exclusive support package as part of the “Road to DTM” for the following season.

Anchoring the programme in the OK-N category creates a clear development path: from DKM to the BMW M2 Cup and ADAC GT4 Germany, then step by step via the ADAC GT Masters to the DTM. A number of big names are proof that this method really works: DTM champions Thomas Preining, René Rast and Marco Wittmann all took their first steps in motorsport in the German Kart Championship – as did current DTM drivers Maximilian Paul and Ben Dörr.

New class structure and premiere in the Czech Republic for DKM in 2026

The introduction of the new OK-N and OK-N Junior categories mean the German Kart Championship now has a broader class structure. The FIA-approved engine concepts allow a cost-efficient and international environment for talented young drivers. Together with the established Mini and KZ2 classes, the championship now features five categories. The 2026 German Kart Championship consists of five race weekends, taking place at renowned circuits in Germany and one special highlight in the Czech Republic. The season kicks off from 1st to 3rd May at Arena E in Mülsen.