Spa 24 winner Nicki Thiim joins Aston Martin team ...

Manufacturing facility Aston Martin driver Nicki Thiim will be part of Comtoyou Racing for his third full season within the DTM in 2026.

The Dane will race one of many two Aston Martin Vantage GT3s fielded by Cometoyou within the ADAC-run championship, with Nicolas Baert remaining within the sister automotive after his debut marketing campaign in 2025.

The announcement means Thiim will characterize his long-time employer Aston Martin for the primary time within the DTM, having beforehand raced the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 within the collection with particular dispensation from the British luxurious automotive producer.

The 36-year-old has at all times had a comfortable spot for the DTM, along with his father Kurt Thiim having taken a Rover Vitesse to the title in 1986 throughout a earlier period of the season.

“It’s no secret that I’ve wished to race in DTM all my life, as a result of after I was a child, it was the centre of my universe when my father raced in it,” mentioned Thiim, who scored his maiden DTM win at Norisring in 2024. 

“I’ve already achieved that ambition, however when the DTM moved to an-all GT3 platform, I’ve wished to characterize Aston Martin within the collection. So, that is one other dream come true for me.

“Carrying the well-known wings on my chest within the DTM could be very particular, and private, to me. DTM is among the hardest and most fiercely-contested championships on the planet, and its depth is just like System 1 on this regard. I’ve gained with Vantage in so many alternative arenas, I can hardly wait to try to do it once more with Aston Martin within the DTM.”

Comtoyou Racing joined the DTM final yr with rookies Baert and Gilles Magnus, placing Aston Martin on the grid for the primary time since R-Motorsport’s Class 1 effort in 2019.

The Belgian squad scored a pole place at Hockenheim and three high 10 finishes over the course of the yr, however ended the season final among the many 12 groups.

Thiim has labored with Comtoyou earlier than, having been part of its race-winning line-up on the Spa 24 Hours in 2024.

In 2026, the workforce’s DTM programme shall be led by Mario Schuhbauer, who beforehand headed the title-winning SSR Efficiency workforce within the DTM.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin head of endurance motorsport, mentioned: “The DTM is a really prestigious and vastly aggressive GT championship and we’re proud to see our valued companion Comtoyou Racing select to race the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 inside it. 

“Equally, we’re delighted to have the ability to contribute Nicki Thiim’s excellent expertise and undoubted expertise to this programme. Aston Martin Racing needs Comtoyou Racing, Nicki and Nicolas Baert each success on this enterprise.”

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– The Motorsport.com Staff