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The 2022 DTM season enters the home stretch at the Hockenheimring and Schubert Motorsport is leading the pack with the BMW M4 GT3. The eighth race weekend, from 7th to 9th October, marks the final round in the high-profile championship and the omens could hardly be better for Torsten Schubert's team. Thanks to the strong results of BMW factory drivers Sheldon van der Linde and Philipp Eng, Schubert Motorsport leads the team standings before the title decider. The outfit has every chance of taking the overall victory in their first year in the fiercely contested racing series. Sheldon van der Linde is also on course for the title as the leader in the driver standings.

Three wins, two pole positions as well as a podium and a fastest race lap speak for themselves. Sheldon van der Linde so far has been absolutely on it in the seven race weekends of the 2022 season. Thanks to his speed and consistency, the South African is at the top of the standings ahead of the showdown at the Hockenheimring. Despite a recent difficult weekend in Austria, he maintained his place at the top with an eleven-point lead.

In races 15 and 16, the 23-year-old can write a piece of history with Schubert Motorsport and crown himself the next DTM champion from BMW M Motorsport. In the more than 30-year history of the racing series, five drivers - Volker Strycek, Eric van de Poele, Roberto Ravaglia, Bruno Spengler and Marco Wittmann - have taken their place in the history books as champions, driving the cars from the Bavarian manufacturer.

In the team standings, Schubert Motorsport has a lead of 43 points over the opposition before the finale. In Sunday's race at the Red Bull Ring, Philipp Eng took valuable points in fifth place. The 32-year-old Austrian captured the team's 16th points result in this year's DTM. By winning the title, Schubert Motorsport would give the BMW M4 GT3 its place in the BMW M Motorsport’s hall of fame right in its debut year. It would be the carmaker's fifth DTM championship winning machine after the BMW 635 Csi, BMW M3 Evo, BMW M3 DTM and BMW M4 DTM.

The championship will go down this weekend at the venue that more than any other stands for dramatic DTM-showdowns. Since 1988, the finale has always been held at the Hockenheimring, with three exceptions. In the version used since 2022, the iconic circuit in Baden-Württemberg has a total of 17 corners on a length of 4.574 km. The modern track layout favours hard battles and thus always ensures exciting racing. At the fastest point, speeds of over 260 km/h are reached on the approach to the hairpin.

In preparation of the weekend, there will be two 45-minute practice sessions on Friday, as usual. The races over a distance of 55 minutes plus one lap will start at 13:30 CET on both days. Fans can follow the live action on ProSieben on TV as well as via live streaming. In Austria, ServusTV will broadcast the DTM. Beyond that, the online service DTM Grid provides access to live timing, highlights and more in addition to the broadcasts.

Team manager Marcel Schmidt: "The last race weekend will be our biggest challenge for sure. We had a fantastic first season in the DTM and would never have dreamed of being in this position before the last event. The high level in this championship has driven us race after race and brought out the best in us. Every single team member has contributed to the success and the whole crew can be proud of what we have achieved so far. Now it's time to give it our all one last time this year to win the title. We have a mega crew, two incredible drivers and the best starting position. I have no doubt that we will win this championship."