Ford youngster Finn Wiebelhaus on his rapid rise in the DTM

Two podium finishes, strong performances and the lead in the rookie standings: having earned his place in the DTM as the ‘Road to DTM’ winner, Finn Wiebelhaus has already made quite an impression in his first DTM season. Ahead of the race weekend at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (24 to 26 July), the 20-year-old Ford driver talks about his unusual career path, a key moment in the DTM and his anticipation ahead of the two upcoming championship races in the Magdeburger Börde.

Finn, the DTM heads to Oschersleben this weekend. What makes the circuit special?

“For me, Oschersleben is a proper old-school circuit. There’s hardly any debate about track limits because there’s grass or gravel right next to the track. You push right to the limit and realise straight away if you’ve gone too far. The circuit is narrow, technical and has a great rhythm. We’ll see whether it suits our Ford Mustang GT3. Nevertheless, I’m really looking forward to the weekend because I really like the circuit.”

What’s your assessment so far after the first half of the season?

“I wouldn’t have expected the first half of the season to go so well before it started. At the start, all the commitments – like press sessions and autograph signings – really took it out of me at the weekends. I’ve settled in well now, though. If I were to give myself a school mark, I’d give myself a ‘B’. There’s always room for improvement, but I think I’ve made very few mistakes so far.”

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Was there a moment when you realised: ‘Now I’ve finally made my mark in the DTM’?

“The podium at the Lausitzring was extremely important for me. Before that, I’d retired twice through no fault of my own and hadn’t really been able to show what I’m capable of. At some point, you do start to wonder why things just aren’t working out. But on Sunday at the Lausitzring, everything clicked. That result gave me a lot of confidence, especially for the following weekend at the Norisring. There, you have to drive very close to the barriers and need complete confidence in the car. After the podium and all the congratulations, I felt I’d finally made my mark.”

What particularly impressed you during your first few months in the DTM?

“Above all, the huge number of fans! There was an incredible atmosphere at the Norisring. At times I could barely get through the paddock because I kept being stopped for a photo or an autograph. Even a short walk can take quite a long time. If you’re in a rush to get to an appointment, it can obviously get a bit stressful. Nevertheless, I try to make as much time as possible. The fans are hugely important to our sport.”

In nur sechs Jahren schaffte es Finn Wiebelhaus vom Kart in die DTM

Foto: DTM//Gruppe C Photography

You only started out in motorsport in 2020. How did this late start come about?

“As a child, I used to watch a lot of Formula 1 with my dad and was a huge Sebastian Vettel fan. Apart from that, though, motorsport didn’t play a big part in my family. I did my first virtual laps using the 2016 Formula 1 game and a steering wheel that cost 40 euros. In 2020, we drove to the karting fair in Offenbach and spontaneously bought a second-hand kart there. My mum wasn’t too keen on the idea at first. After that, things really took off quite quickly and, six years later, I’m racing in the DTM. Sometimes it still feels a bit surreal.”

What role has the ADAC played in your career?

“A very important one, especially thanks to the ADAC Sport Foundation. With the ‘Road to DTM’, the ADAC has created a youth development programme that leads from karting right through to the DTM. In my room, I have the trophies from the ADAC Kart Masters, the ADAC GT Masters and from my first DTM podium. You can really see my journey reflected in them. After my success in the ADAC Kart Masters, I was given the chance to move into formula racing. Later, I opted for GT racing and was able to prove myself for the DTM by winning the ADAC GT Masters title and as the ‘Road to DTM’ winner. I’m proud to be able to show the young drivers on the kart tracks where the path can lead.”

Which drivers were your role models when you were a child?

“Sebastian Vettel was my big idol during his time at Red Bull. In the DTM, I mainly followed René Rast. Back then, he used to upload lots of on-board footage to YouTube and explain what he was doing in the car. I found that extremely interesting. Competing against drivers like Timo Glock myself today is, of course, something special. We get on well and he’s always got a funny quip up his sleeve. When Timo was racing in Formula 1, I wasn’t even driving a kart yet.”

What are your goals for the remaining races?

“My main goal is to win the Rookie Championship. One or two more podium finishes would obviously be nice too. But the DTM is a tough competition. There might well be two or three difficult weekends here and there. That’s all part of it. Above all, I’m looking forward to the Nürburgring. It’s a home race for my team, HRT. I like the circuit and have usually been quick there in the past. I’m also looking forward to the Sachsenring because I’ve never driven there before.”