DTM 2025: Schaeffler and Marco Wittmann start their seventh season in Schubert Motorsport's BMW M4 GT3 Evo

2025-03-18 | Bühl

• “Green Machine” with Schaeffler technology: Marco Wittmann wants to return to the top in Schubert Motorsport's BMW M4 GT3 Evo
• Innovation partner of the DTM: Schaeffler extends cooperation with ADAC to further develop the racing series
• Innovation taxi: Schaeffler, Markus Winkelhock and ABT Sportsline ensure unforgettable taxi rides on the racetrack in the Audi R8 LMS GT2

On April 25, 2025, the new season of the DTM begins at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The first of eight race weekends is a home race for Schaeffler brand ambassador Marco Wittmann and his team, Schubert Motorsport. The headquarter of BMW customer team Schubert Motorsport is located in the immediate vicinity of the racetrack. Moreover, it is the cradle of the new “Green Machine”, a BMW M4 GT3 Evo. On board: high-performance technology from Schaeffler. The Motion Technology Company supplies a clutch actuator, the valve train system with camshaft phaser and high-pressure pump train for injection, as well as a throttle valve and tensioner pulley in the belt drive. “We are proud to be competing in the DTM again with the Green Machine and Marco Wittmann together with our partners from BMW M Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport. After a mixed 2024 season, we all want to get back to the top,” says Matthias Zink, CEO Powertrain & Chassis at Schaeffler. “With our motorsport know-how and our technical solutions, which are designed for the highest loads in the powertrain, we want to be an integral part in a hopefully successful season.”

Long-term partnerships as a success factor
Motorsport has been part of Schaeffler's DNA for many years. The DTM is one of the most important development platforms for new technologies and serves as the stage for Schaeffler brand ambassador Marco Wittmann. Schaeffler and Wittmann are entering their seventh season together with BMW M Motorsport. The 35-year-old wants to return to the top of the DTM after last year's debut season in the cockpit of Schubert Motorsport. “Last year's victory at Zandvoort showed what we – Schaeffler, BMW and Schubert Motorsport – can achieve together. I want to build on this and give Schaeffler fans plenty of reason to celebrate throughout the season,” says Marco Wittmann. The Franconian-born driver has already won the DTM drivers' title twice and is currently one of the most successful and experienced drivers in the field.

Schaeffler also has a long-standing partnership with ABT Sportsline which dates back to 2014. Since 2021, the cooperation in motorsports has also included the DTM. For this DTM season, Schaeffler will once again be a team partner of ABT Sportsline, who will be competing with a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2.

Schaeffler brings innovations in motorsport to life
As an official innovation partner, Schaeffler will continue to play an important role in the DTM in 2025. The corresponding cooperation with the ADAC for the development of the racing series has already been extended at the end of 2024. One example of this is Schaeffler’s innovation taxi, an Audi R8 LMS GT3, which serves as a carrier vehicle for technical innovations in cooperation with ABT Sportsline. As a race taxi, it creates enthusiasm among Schaeffler employees and guests with driving experiences during all race weekends. Behind the wheel is Markus Winkelhock, a former Formula 1 and DTM driver who is contributing his expertise and experience to the ongoing development of the innovation taxi.

One of these developments, which is used both in the Audi R8 LMS GT2 and in series production vehicles, is the Schaeffler rear wheel steering system. Thanks to this steering system, vehicles gain agility in city traffic, stability when changing lanes and maneuverability during parking. On the racetrack, the system improves the vehicle's agility at low speeds, such as accelerating out of tight corners. “With the successful integration of our rear wheel steering system into the innovation taxi, we have proven that our chassis systems increase safety, ride comfort, and agility even under extreme conditions,” explains Clément Feltz, Head of Business Division Chassis Systems at Schaeffler. “Rear wheel steering is an important part of our growing chassis portfolio. And chassis technologies are playing an increasingly important role in our journey at Schaeffler to become the leading Motion Technology Company.”