This year, the ADAC GT Masters has established an attractive new competition for young drivers: the “Road to DTM”. This season, a total of 27 junior drivers born from 1999 onwards are battling it out for support for the 2025 DTM, in the form of the entry fee for the prestigious series. Tom Kalender (Hamm/Sieg) is the youngest starter in the field, and is impressed by the new concept: “The realignment of the ADAC GT Masters is a strong sign for the young talent in motorsport. I can develop superbly as a driver here, and have a great chance of a cockpit in the DTM.”

The first opportunity for the youngsters to gain points towards the “Road to DTM” comes in qualifying. The fastest driver picks up ten points, down to one point for the driver in tenth place. The race result then applies for both drivers: the winning duo receives 25 points. However, success is not the only thing that counts: the youngsters can also amass minus points by receiving warnings in the race and grid penalties. This is intended to encourage fair behaviour on the track. After Sunday's race, the driver with the most points in the ‘Road to DTM’ classification will be honoured on the podium. The driver with the highest points tally at the end of the year will be crowned the winner of the “Road to DTM” and receive financial support for the 2025 DTM season.

After the season-opener in Oschersleben, team-mates Kalender and Elias Seppänen (FIN) from Landgraf Motorsport top the table with 54 points, ahead of Maxime Oosten (NL/FK Performance) with 48 points in a BMW. His team-mate Leon Köhler (Erlenbach am Main) lies third with 41 points. The second leg of the “Road to DTM” takes place from 7th to 9th June at Circuit Zandvoort. The track in the Netherlands hosts races three and four of this season’s ADAC GT Masters.