René Rast to Depart DTM After 2025 Season
René Rast, a three-time champion of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), has confirmed he will not return to the series for the 2026 season. This announcement marks the conclusion of Rast’s tenure in the championship, which first began in 2017.
Rast, who dominated the DTM from 2017 to 2020 with Audi Sport Team Rosberg—securing three titles and 24 race victories—had a competitive yet challenging return to the series since its transition to GT3 regulations. Although he captured an additional seven wins, he did not replicate his earlier success, consistently finishing within the top six of the drivers’ standings.
In the 2025 season finale at Hockenheimring, Rast entered as a potential title contender but faced an unfortunate retirement on the opening lap due to contact with Emil Frey Racing’s Ben Green. This left him unable to add a fourth championship title.
“I would have loved to battle for the title out on the track,” Rast commented after the race. “Instead, my race unfortunately came to a premature end. I had planned to thank the fans and enjoy a farewell lap.”
Reflecting on his career, Rast cited his 2017 championship victory as the standout moment, recalling the surprise and emotion of discovering he had secured the title without prior team communication.
Looking ahead, Rast expressed a desire to spend more time with his family, acknowledging he has no immediate plans to pursue a new racing challenge. However, he remains open to the possibility of one final race to fulfill his wish of bidding farewell to fans, who flocked to the series, totaling over 500,000 spectators this season.
Rast concluded, “I am very happy with the situation at the moment. Despite this, I would like to do that final lap in front of the fans sometime—that is missing from my CV.”
As the DTM heads into its next era, Rast’s departure leaves a significant mark on the series, highlighting his impact over eight seasons of competition.
