Aston Martin Racing partner team Comtoyou Racing has confirmed that works driver Nicki Thiim (DEN) will compete in the 2026 DTM, piloting one of the Belgian squad’s two Vantage GT3 cars. This marks a historic first: a works Aston Martin driver in Germany’s most prestigious GT-only series, driving the ultra-luxury British marque’s Vantage GT3.
Building on a promising debut season, Comtoyou Racing retains Nicolas Baert (BEL) in the sister car as the team aims for podiums in a championship known for its fierce, sprint-race intensity. The squad impressed in 2025 with a pole position at Hockenheim and three top-ten finishes, proving their competitiveness in the GT3-focused series.
The DTM is unique among GT championships, favouring hour-long double-header sprint races with a single driver per car, contrasting with the shared-driver format more common in GT racing. Rounds take place primarily in Germany, with highlights including Austria’s Red Bull Ring and the Netherlands’ Zandvoort circuit.
For Thiim, the announcement represents the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition. His father, Kurt Thiim, was a DTM champion in 1986 and a 19-time race winner, making the series central to Thiim’s early racing life. Already a two-time FIA World Endurance GT champion and class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Spa 24 Hours, and ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours, Thiim is no stranger to success at the wheel of a Vantage.
“It’s no secret that I have wanted to race in DTM all my life, because when I was a kid, it was the centre of my universe when my father raced in it,” said Thiim. “Carrying the famous wings on my chest in the DTM is very special, and personal, to me. I’ve won with Vantage in so many different arenas, and I can hardly wait to try and do it again with Aston Martin in the DTM.”
Baert, returning for a second season, sees an opportunity to build on his experience. “DTM is a tough arena to race in, but this year we go in with the advantage of knowing the car, the circuits, the tyres and the championship. Combined with Nicki’s experience, I’m confident we can make big steps forward in 2026,” said the 24-year-old Belgian.
The Vantage GT3 shares its mechanical DNA with the road-going Vantage, including Aston Martin’s bonded aluminium chassis and a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. The car boasts an impressive track record, winning the 24 Hours of Spa in 2024 and finishing runner-up in the GTD class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Comtoyou Racing has been a trusted Aston Martin partner since 2024, achieving the marque’s first GT3-era overall win at Spa, and claiming the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Silver Cup Drivers’ and Teams’ titles in 2025 with Aston Martin Racing Driver Academy graduates Jamie Day (GBR) and Kobe Pauwels (BEL).
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, commented: “The DTM is a very prestigious and hugely competitive GT championship, and we are proud to see our valued partner Comtoyou Racing choose to race the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 within it. We are delighted to contribute Nicki Thiim’s outstanding talent and experience to this programme and wish the team every success in 2026.”
With more than half a million fans attending races in 2025 and competition from six other major manufacturers, the DTM promises an intense and thrilling 2026 season for Aston Martin, Comtoyou Racing, and their two Vantage GT3s. For Thiim, racing in DTM is not just another challenge—it is the realisation of a lifelong dream.
