Emil Frey Racing fights for Top-3 finish in the championship at DTM Season Finale in Hockenheim

Fast Facts – The Press Bulletin
Emil Frey Racing heads to the DTM season finale in Hockenheim with three race victories under its belt and the prospect of more to come. Matteo Cairoli, who has won more races than any other driver in the field this year, sits fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 150 points. Third place is within reach, just 23 points behind Marco Wittmann. In the Teams' Championship, Emil Frey Racing lies fourth with 236 points, only 13 points behind third-placed Schubert Motorsport. Two races remain – and everything is still to play for

Press Release
The Hockenheimring has traditionally provided the grand finale to the DTM season, and in 2026 the series once again returns to the Kurpfalz region for its finale. Emil Frey Racing arrives in Hockenheim in high spirits with the #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Matteo Cairoli and the #69 Ferrari of Thierry Vermeulen, as both the Drivers' and Teams' Championships remain wide open ahead of the final race weekend of the season.

Matteo Cairoli has claimed three race victories this season, more than any other driver in the field. Despite this, the Italian sits only fifth in the championship with 150 points. Third place is however just 23 points away, and with 56 points still available, anything is possible. Thierry Vermeulen will also be on the attack, helping the team in the Teams' Championship where just 13 points separate Emil Frey Racing from Schubert Motorsport in third.

In preparation for the finale, Emil Frey Racing made use of the last official test at Hockenheim to fine-tune the cars for qualifying and the races. The 4.574-kilometre circuit with its 17 corners, long straights and famous Spitzkehre hairpin places particular demands on both drivers and machinery: after the fast first right-hander, which can be taken at nearly 190 km/h, comes a sprint to the second corner where drivers must brake from 240 km/h down to 80 km/h. The long Parabolika leads to the famous Spitzkehre, before the tight corners of the Motodrom section and the Jim Clark Chicane await. A well-balanced car across the entire speed range, strong braking stability and pronounced acceleration capability are the keys to success on this storied circuit.

Weekend Highlights:

- Series: DTM 2026 Season Finale at the Hockenheimring

- Date: 9th – 11th October 2026

- Highlight: Traditional DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring

- Goals: Podium finishes in both races and a top three result in the Teams' and Drivers' Championships

Drivers & Cars:

- #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo – Matteo Cairoli (ITA)

- #69 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo – Thierry Vermeulen (NED)

TEAM QUOTES – Emil Frey Racing

Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal
"The season finale in Hockenheim is a very special weekend for us. Matteo has won more races than any other driver in the field this season – that impressively demonstrates what this team is capable of. Nevertheless, we could have achieved more in the championship; unfortunate circumstances cost us valuable points in several races. Both the Drivers' and Teams' Championships are still wide open, however, and we will give everything right to the final lap in Hockenheim."

Jürg Flach, Technical Director
"We made use of the final official test in Hockenheim to prepare well for the season finale. The task was to transfer our broad experience from the past to the Evo and optimise the cars for qualifying and the races. The circuit demands a good balance in the low-, medium- and high-speed sections, as well as strong braking stability and a powerful ability to accelerate. Our goal is to close out the DTM season with a convincing performance."

DRIVER QUOTES – Emil Frey Racing

Matteo Cairoli (Italy)
"When you look at the championship standings, the overall title is no longer within reach, but a top three finish would still be a fantastic way to end the season. I am feeling optimistic, because experience has shown that Emil Frey Racing has always been strong at the Hockenheimring, and the Ferrari already felt good during the test days. I also have my sights set on a fourth race victory, because that would mean I close out the season with more wins than any other driver in the field. A strong result to conclude my first DTM season would be a wonderful reward for the entire team."

Thierry Vermeulen (Netherlands)
"The year has really passed by so quickly. It has been an interesting season with many highs and lows, from which I have learned an enormous amount. I am very much looking forward to the Hockenheimring, a circuit where we are traditionally strong and where I am finally aiming to score my first DTM podium. There will be many fans and team guests on site, and I want to give them and the entire team a weekend we can all be proud of."

ABOUT EMIL FREY RACING

Emil Frey Racing is a storied Swiss motorsport team based in Safenwil. Founded in the 1960s on the foundations of the Emil Frey Group, the team can look back on decades of motorsport experience, ranging from single-seater and rally racing to long-distance GT series. Today, Emil Frey Racing competes internationally, currently in both the DTM and the GT World Challenge with the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.