The 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the thirty-second season of premier German touring car championship and also nineteenth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. 2018 would be the final season for the traditional 4.0-litre V8 naturally-aspirated engine package that debuted in the inaugural reborn season; as the brand new engine package has been introduced for the following season as part of the "Class 1 Project" prospect with Japanese Super GT GT500 cars.[1] 2018 also marked the final season for Mercedes-Benz in DTM due to Mercedes-Benz departing to FIA Formula E from the 2019–20 season and thus ended its 19-year participation.[2]
Gary Paffett won his second title at the final round of the season with a third-place finish, beating previous champion René Rast by four points despite a late charge to six consecutive wins by Rast, a new series record.[3] Paffett became the second non-German driver to have won more than one DTM driver title, and thus repeating Swedish driver Mattias Ekström's feat in 2004 and 2007 seasons.
Mercedes-Benz won the manufacturer's championship for the first time since 2010.
- ^ Adam, Mitchell (20 January 2016). "DTM delays new engines and Class One rules to 2019". Autosport.com. Autosport. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (25 July 2017). "Mercedes to quit DTM after 2018, confirms Formula E entry". Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ "Hockenheim DTM: Paffett crowned champion as Rast wins finale". motorsport.com. motorsport.com. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.