Gary Paffett (left) won his second Drivers' Championship while 2017 DTM champion René Rast (right) finished second in the championship.

The 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the thirty-second season of premier German touring car championship and also nineteenth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. 2018 would be the final season for the traditional 4.0-litre V8 naturally-aspirated engine package that debuted in the inaugural reborn season; as the brand new engine package has been introduced for the following season as part of the "Class One Project" prospect with Japanese Super GT GT500 cars.^[1] 2018 also marked the final season for Mercedes-Benz in DTM due to Mercedes-Benz departing to FIA Formula E from the 2019–20 season and thus ended its 19-year participation.^[2]

Gary Paffett won his second title at the final round of the season with a third-place finish, beating previous champion René Rast by four points despite a late charge to six consecutive wins by Rast, a new series record.^[3] Paffett became the second non-German driver to have won more than one DTM driver title, and thus repeating Swedish driver Mattias Ekström's feat in 2004 and 2007 seasons.

Mercedes-Benz won the manufacturer's championship for the first time since 2010.

Rule changes

• Aerodynamic downforce aids, such as side winglets and side fences, has been enforced to all cars, in order to improve competition.^[4] As a result, the minimum weight of all cars has been reduced from 2,480 lb (1,125 kg) to 2,458 lb (1,115 kg).^[5]
• The quantity of engine components a driver may use during the season has been increased from seven complete engines during the entire season, to a new system where each of the engine components are combined. Therefore, in 2018, each driver is permitted to use up to eight set engines.^[5]
• The additional wildcard entry is introduced for the first time ever, but ineligible for championship points even if they finish in top 10.

Calendar

The provisional ten event calendar was announced on 24 November 2017,^[6] and later finalized on 18 December 2017.^[7]

Round	Circuit	Race 1	Race 2
1	Hockenheimring, Germany	5 May	6 May
2	Lausitzring, Germany	19 May	20 May
3	Hungaroring, Hungary	2 June	3 June
4	Norisring, Germany	23 June	24 June
5	Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands	14 July	15 July
6	Brands Hatch, Great Britain	11 August	12 August
7	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy	25 August	26 August
8	Nürburgring, Germany	8 September	9 September
9	Red Bull Ring, Austria	22 September	23 September
10	Hockenheimring, Germany	13 October	14 October

Calendar changes

• The races in Great Britain and Italy are scheduled to return to the DTM schedule for the first time since 2013 and 2010 respectively. On 6 December 2017 it was confirmed that the British round would be held at Brands Hatch, on the circuit's GP layout as opposed to the Indy layout of previous DTM races.^[8] Moscow Raceway was dropped from the 2018 schedule.^[9] For the first time, Misano will host the round in Italy, as a night-time event.^[10] The Lausitzring round will revert to full road course layout after last used in 2004.^[11]

Teams and drivers

The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Hankook.

Make	Car	Team	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	2	Gary Paffett[12]	All
			94	Pascal Wehrlein[13]	All
		Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	3	Paul di Resta[12]	All
			17	Sébastien Ogier[14][15]	9
			23	Daniel Juncadella[16]	All
		Silberpfeil Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport	22	Lucas Auer[12]	All
			48	Edoardo Mortara[12]	All
Audi	Audi RS5 DTM	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	4	Robin Frijns[17]	All
			5	Mattias Ekström[18]	1
			51	Nico Müller[17]	All
		Audi Sport Team Phoenix	28	Loïc Duval[17]	All
			99	Mike Rockenfeller[17]	All
		Audi Sport Team Rosberg	33	René Rast[17]	All
			53	Jamie Green[17]	All
BMW	BMW M4 DTM	BMW Team RBM[19]	7	Bruno Spengler[19]	All
			47	Joel Eriksson[19]	All
		BMW Team RMG[19]	11	Marco Wittmann[19]	All
			15	Augusto Farfus[19]	All
		BMW Team RMR	12	Alex Zanardi[20]	7
			16	Timo Glock[19]	All
			25	Philipp Eng[19]	All

Driver changes

• Mattias Ekström left the series after eighteen years, but remains with Audi via its FIA World Rallycross Championship programme.^[21] 2017 Blancpain GT Series driver Robin Frijns will make his DTM début with Audi Sport.^[17] In addition, the two-time champion made a one-off appearance in the 2018 season opener in Hockenheim with an additional Audi RS 5 to mark his retirement from the series.^[18]
• Philipp Eng and Joel Eriksson – both members of BMW's junior team – joined BMW Team RBM, to partner Canadian Bruno Spengler.^[22] After five years with BMW Motorsport, Maxime Martin left the marque, and its DTM programme after four years to join Aston Martin Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2018–19 season.^[23] Tom Blomqvist will also leave the series after three years, but remains with BMW Motorsport via its Formula E and GT programmes.
• After spending two years in Formula One with Manor and Sauber, Pascal Wehrlein returned to the DTM with Mercedes-AMG's HWA Team. After a one-year sabbatical, Daniel Juncadella also returned to the DTM with HWA.^[16] Robert Wickens left the series after six years to join Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the IndyCar Series for the 2018 season.^[24] Maro Engel left the series after one season to focus solely on Formula E.^[25]
• Former Williams Formula One driver, two-time CART champion and four-time Paralympic gold medallist Alex Zanardi made his DTM début with BMW Motorsport at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli as a guest driver.
• Five-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier made his DTM début with HWA Team as a guest driver at the Red Bull Ring.

Results

Round		Circuit	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team	Winning manufacturer	Report
1	R1	Hockenheimring	Gary Paffett	Daniel Juncadella	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Timo Glock	Gary Paffett	Timo Glock	BMW Team RMR	BMW
2	R1	Lausitzring	Lucas Auer	Daniel Juncadella	Edoardo Mortara	Silberpfeil Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Philipp Eng	Marco Wittmann	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	Mercedes-Benz
3	R1	Hungaroring	Paul di Resta	Lucas Auer	Paul di Resta	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Lucas Auer	Daniel Juncadella	Marco Wittmann	BMW Team RMG	BMW
4	R1	Norisring	Edoardo Mortara	Daniel Juncadella	Edoardo Mortara	Silberpfeil Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Daniel Juncadella	Jamie Green	Marco Wittmann	BMW Team RMG	BMW
5	R1	Circuit Zandvoort	Gary Paffett	Gary Paffett	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Gary Paffett	Mike Rockenfeller	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
6	R1	Brands Hatch	Daniel Juncadella	Marco Wittmann	Daniel Juncadella	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Gary Paffett	Paul di Resta	Paul di Resta	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz
7	R1	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli	Paul di Resta	Augusto Farfus	Paul di Resta	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Loïc Duval	Edoardo Mortara	Joel Eriksson	BMW Team RBM	BMW
8	R1	Nürburgring	René Rast	René Rast	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		René Rast	Gary Paffett	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
9	R1	Red Bull Ring	Daniel Juncadella	Lucas Auer	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		Gary Paffett	Gary Paffett	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
10	R1	Hockenheimring	Lucas Auer	Timo Glock	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		Marco Wittmann	Robin Frijns	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top ten classified finishers as follows:

Additionally, the top three placed drivers in qualifying also received points:

Drivers' championship

Pos. Driver HOC LAU HUN NOR ZAN BRH MIS NÜR RBR HOC Points 1 Gary Paffett 11 3 9 13 6 15 2 132 11 21 6 21 Ret 14 32 52 10 31 42 33 255 2 René Rast 9 72 Ret DNS 4 10 16 14 17 13 43 3 Ret3 3 11 11 1 1 1 12 251 3 Paul di Resta 7 9 6 4 11 53 4 6 23 3 16 12 11 6 18 2 4 43 8 14 233 4 Marco Wittmann 112 11 7 2 16 1 33 1 7 17 9 5 9 13 5 3 7 13 Ret 21 164 5 Timo Glock 33 11 2 5 14 2 10 10 6 10 13 11 7 15 4 16 Ret2 7 33 10 144 6 Edoardo Mortara 4 Ret 1 11 5 DSQ 11 2 13 8 8 17 32 22 13 11 16 10 10 13 140 7 Lucas Auer 2 15 41 14 23 DSQ1 7 53 3 9 32 8 Ret Ret 11 18† 6 Ret Ret1 DSQ 121 8 Pascal Wehrlein 5 6 8 32 13 122 13 9 42 6 7 43 6 12 7 9 13 6 11 DSQ 108 9 Philipp Eng 16 14 32 71 18 3 52 11 14 42 5 7 8 16 16 83 8 9 12 8 102 10 Nico Müller 13 13 Ret 17 32 14 18 7 Ret 7 15 10 5 10 10 14 3 22 7 4 96 11 Mike Rockenfeller 14 2 11 8 11 4 15 16 15 16 10 6 10 9 6 13 23 8 6 11 87 12 Bruno Spengler 6 8 53 15 12 DSQ 6 4 12 13 17 14 Ret 11 23 4 Ret 14 9 6 85 13 Robin Frijns 18 12 13 10 7 8 12 8 5 Ret 12 12 2 4 17 10 11 DSQ 2 5 84 14 Joel Eriksson 12 43 12 9 17 6 9 12 9 11 14 13 12 1 12 6 15 5 15 9 72 15 Daniel Juncadella 8 18 14 12 10 11 8 31 16 12 11 9 14† 173 15 17† 141 11 14 15 61 16 Augusto Farfus 15 10 10 16 15 7 14 17 8 5 2 Ret 11 Ret 9 7 9 Ret Ret 7 56 17 Loïc Duval 10 5 Ret 13 8 9 17 18 11 15 Ret 16 4 71 8 12 Ret 15 5 12 54 18 Jamie Green 19 17 Ret 6 9 13 11 15 10 14 11 15 Ret 8 14 15 5 12 13 16 27 Guest drivers ineligible for points Alex Zanardi 13 5 Sébastien Ogier 12 16 Mattias Ekström 17 16 Pos. Driver HOC LAU HUN NOR ZAN BRH MIS NÜR RBR HOC Points

Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap 1 – 3 Points for Pole 2 – 2 Points for P2 3 – 1 Point for P3

• † — Driver retired, but was classified as he completed 75% of the winner's race distance.

Teams' championship

Pos.	Team	Car	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points
1	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	2	11	3	9	13	6	15	2	132	11	21	6	21	Ret	14	32	52	10	31	42	33	363
		94	5	6	8	32	13	122	13	9	42	6	7	43	6	12	7	9	13	6	11	DSQ
2	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	3	7	9	6	4	11	53	4	6	23	3	16	12	11	6	18	2	4	43	8	14	294
		23	8	18	14	12	10	11	8	31	16	12	11	9	14†	173	15	17†	141	11	14	15
3	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	33	9	72	Ret	DNS	4	10	16	14	17	13	43	3	Ret3	3	11	11	1	1	1	12	278
		53	19	17	Ret	6	9	13	11	15	10	14	11	15	Ret	8	14	15	5	12	13	16
4	Silberpfeil Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport	22	2	15	41	14	23	DSQ1	7	53	3	9	32	8	Ret	Ret	11	18†	6	Ret	Ret1	DSQ	261
		48	4	Ret	1	11	5	DSQ	11	2	13	8	8	17	32	22	13	11	16	10	10	13
5	BMW Team RMR	16	33	11	2	5	14	2	10	10	6	10	13	11	7	15	4	16	Ret2	7	33	10	246
		25	16	14	32	71	18	3	52	11	14	42	5	7	8	16	16	83	8	9	12	8
6	BMW Team RMG	11	112	11	7	2	16	1	33	1	7	17	9	5	9	13	5	3	7	13	Ret	21	220
		15	15	10	10	16	15	7	14	17	8	5	2	Ret	11	Ret	9	7	9	Ret	Ret	7
7	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	4	18	12	13	10	7	8	12	8	5	Ret	12	12	2	4	17	10	11	DSQ	2	5	180
		51	13	13	Ret	17	32	14	18	7	Ret	7	15	10	5	10	10	14	3	22	7	4
8	BMW Team RBM	7	6	8	53	15	12	DSQ	6	4	12	13	17	14	Ret	11	23	4	Ret	14	9	6	157
		47	12	43	12	9	17	6	9	12	9	11	14	13	12	1	12	6	15	5	15	9
9	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	28	10	5	Ret	13	8	9	17	18	11	15	Ret	16	4	71	8	12	Ret	15	5	12	141
		99	14	2	11	8	11	4	15	16	15	16	10	6	10	9	6	13	23	8	6	11
Pos.	Team	Car	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points

Manufacturers' championship

Pos.	Manufacturer	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points
1	Mercedes-Benz	78	25	54	55	66	16	68	59	76	50	63	67	53	31	8	32	24	40	23	16	903
2	BMW	26	46	53	39	0	72	39	38	20	25	30	16	12	26	43	46	14	18	18	42	623
3	Audi	3	36	0	13	41	19	0	10	11	32	14	24	42	50	41	29	69	49	67	49	599
Pos.	Manufacturer	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points