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DTM Esports 2026: €75K Prize Pool, Public Ranked Splits, and a New Era for RaceRoom

Written by Antonino Fabio

The DTM’s sim racing championship is back — and this time, everyone can race.

The DTM Esports Championship returns for 2026 with a completely reworked format. Gone is the invite-only structure. In its place: RaceRoom’s native Ranked Multiplayer system with public splits, meaning any driver can build their rating and qualify for the championship rounds.

The total prize pool sits at €75,000.

What Changed

  • Format shift: The competition now uses RaceRoom’s Ranked Multiplayer with multiple splits per round — no more closed qualifiers
  • Five online rounds: One-hour races starting May 30, 2026, leading to a live on-site finale later in the year
  • New content pack: KW Studios released the 2026 DTM Esports Pack — 6 GT3 cars and all championship tracks included
  • Open entry: Any driver can jump into ranked sessions, build their rating, and aim for the highest splits during race events
  • Pre-Show already happened: The Pre-Show Event kicked off May 2 to warm up the community

Who It Affects

If you race GT3 in RaceRoom, this is your championship now. The ranked multiplayer approach means you don’t need an invitation or a team — you need a good rating. Start grinding ranked sessions today and you’ll be seeded into the appropriate split when Round 1 fires on May 30.

For league organizers: this competes directly with your Wednesday night GT3 series. The DTM brand and €75K pot will pull drivers.

For the broader community: this is how esports should work in sim racing — accessible at the bottom, elite at the top. No gatekeeping, no application forms. RaceRoom already has one of the best-matched multiplayer systems in the genre, and layering a championship structure on top of it is a smart move.

What to Watch

Round 1 drops May 30. If you want to be competitive, you need rated laps in the DTM Esports content pack now. RaceRoom is free-to-play — the DTM Esports Pack is the only purchase required to enter.

Keep an eye on the live finale announcement. Last year’s Hockenheimring event set the standard for on-site sim racing competition in Europe.

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