Breach of testing ban: Heavy penalty for Haupt Racing Team

Following two breaches of the DTM’s testing regulations, the Haupt Racing Team has been handed several penalties ahead of its home race at the Nürburgring. This marks the most severe penalty since the testing ban was introduced in the DTM in 2024.

In Saturday’s DTM race, the two Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang GT3s driven by Arjun Maini and Finn Wiebelhaus will have to serve a drive-through penalty. This is due to a test held at the Nürburgring on 3 August.

The test was applied for in accordance with the testing regulations as a test without DTM drivers and without drivers with Platinum classification. Nevertheless, the test was carried out by Frank Stippler, who is classified as a Platinum driver. The test would not have been eligible for approval in the form in which it was carried out and was not approved by the Sports Committee. The test drive with a driver holding a ‘Platinum’ licence constitutes a breach of Articles 3.c. and 4.c. of the 2026 DTM Test Regulations – Part 2. Furthermore, the HRT team failed to meet the notification deadline of three days prior to the planned driving activity. The race commissioners heard the participant and the Technical Coordinator. The failure to meet the notification deadline is an administrative error; however, in the opinion of the race commissioners, conducting a test with a Platinum-licensed driver on DTM tyres constitutes a clear breach of the regulations.

Furthermore, the Ford racing team has been fined €500 for a further breach of the test regulations. It was reported that Haupt Racing Team carried out a test at the Hockenheimring on 5 August 2026 and 6 August 2026. The aforementioned team failed to comply with the three-day notice period prior to the planned driving activity. The race stewards have heard the participant and the technical coordinator. The race stewards for the event consider this to be a clear breach of the relevant regulations; however, it constitutes an administrative error.