Marco Wittmann Bio
Marco Wittmann, born on 24 November 1989, is a German professional racing driver and BMW Motorsport works driver. He currently resides in Markt Erlbach, Germany, and is best known for being the 2014 and 2016 DTM champion. Wittmann has built a versatile career spanning open-wheel racing, the DTM, and GT3 machinery, and he currently drives the No. 11 BMW for Schubert Motorsport.
Early Life and Background
Marco Wittmann was born on 24 November 1989 in Fürth, West Germany. Growing up in the Franconia region of Bavaria, he developed an early interest in motorsport and began karting at the age of six. He sharpened his skills through years of grassroots competition, and in 2004 he claimed the German Junior Karting Championship, establishing himself as one of the country’s most promising young talents.
After his karting success, Wittmann made the natural step into single-seater car racing in 2007. That transition gave him a platform to test his race craft against drivers from across Europe, and it set the foundation for a career that would later take him to the top of German touring car racing.
Path to NASCAR
Marco Wittmann is a German racing driver whose career has been built primarily in the DTM, Formula 3, and GT3 series, rather than through the traditional NASCAR ladder. The path section above summarizes his early years, which led directly to his DTM breakthrough with BMW beginning in 2013.
Marco Wittmann Career
Early Career (2007–2010)
Wittmann made his car racing debut in 2007 with Josef Kaufmann Racing in the Formula BMW ADAC series. He enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, winning two races on his way to fifth place in the championship standings. The following year, in the newly formed Formula BMW Europe, he remained with the same team and scored 11 podiums, including one victory, although he was beaten to the title by teammate Esteban Gutiérrez.
Promoted to Formula 3 in 2009, Wittmann joined Mücke Motorsport in the Formula 3 Euro Series. After a difficult year, he moved to Signature-Plus for the 2010 season. He won the opening race at Hockenheim and added further podiums to finish second overall in the standings, confirming his reputation as one of the strongest German prospects of his generation.
DTM Breakthrough (2013–2014)
Wittmann tested a BMW M3 DTM at the end of 2011 and was signed as BMW’s official test driver for 2012. He made his full DTM debut in 2013 with Team MTEK, scoring points in his first two races and finishing second at the Red Bull Ring. A pole position at Zandvoort helped him end the year eighth overall, the highest of all rookies.
Switching to Team RMG for 2014, Wittmann opened the season with a win at Hockenheim and never looked back. He added dominant victories at the Hungaroring, the Red Bull Ring, and the Nürburgring, and he clinched his first DTM title at the third-to-last event of the year. He finished the campaign 50 points clear of runner-up Mattias Ekström.
Second DTM Title and Continued Success (2015–2019)
In 2015, Wittmann remained with Team RMG alongside Maxime Martin, taking wins at Zandvoort and adding podiums at Moscow and Oschersleben to finish sixth overall. During the summer he also tested a Toro Rosso Formula One car at the Red Bull Ring, where his technical feedback drew praise from the engineering staff.
The 2016 season brought Wittmann his second DTM crown. He won from pole at Spielberg, added controlling victories in Moscow and at the Nürburgring, and reclaimed the championship at Hockenheim despite a technical disqualification in Hungary earlier in the year. He continued as a regular front-runner in 2017, 2018, and 2019, taking a win in Hungary in 2018 and a hat-trick of victories at Misano, Assen, and Brands Hatch in 2019, ending that year third in points.
Schubert Motorsport Era (2024–Present)
For 2024, Wittmann joined Schubert Motorsport in the DTM, teaming up with fellow champions René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde. He was also named one of BMW M Team WRT’s six Hypercar drivers in the FIA World Endurance Championship, partnering Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor aboard the No. 15 entry. The season expanded his program into the world endurance stage while keeping him in a competitive DTM seat.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wittmann is widely respected for his smooth, technically precise driving style and his ability to manage tires and fuel over long runs. His calm approach under pressure, combined with strong race-craft in traffic, has made him a trusted BMW works driver in both touring car and GT3 machinery.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature moments are his first DTM win at Hockenheim in 2014, his dominant run to the 2016 title at the same venue, and his three-win sequence at Misano, Assen, and Brands Hatch in 2019. In endurance racing, he finished second at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and won the 24 Hours of Spa with ROWE Racing in 2023.
Marco Wittmann Career Wins
Marco Wittmann’s career is defined above all by his two DTM titles in 2014 and 2016, along with multiple race victories across touring cars and GT racing. His win tally also includes a 24 Hours of Spa victory in 2023 and a 24 Hours of Nürburgring podium the year before.
DTM Highlights
Wittmann has been a consistent DTM race winner since 2013, with notable victories at Hockenheim, the Hungaroring, the Nürburgring, Zandvoort, Misano, Assen, and Brands Hatch. His most recent DTM title challenge in 2019 ended third overall, and he returned to the championship with Schubert Motorsport in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the DTM, Wittmann won the 2004 German Junior Karting Championship and took victories in Formula BMW ADAC and Formula BMW Europe. In GT racing, he won the 2023 24 Hours of Spa with ROWE Racing and finished second at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2021, while also taking a class podium at the 2023 Spa 24 Hours and contributing to BMW’s GTP program in IMSA endurance events.
Marco Wittmann Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed public information about Marco Wittmann’s parents and extended family is limited, and he has not publicly emphasized a multi-generational racing lineage.
Personal Life
Wittmann resides in Markt Erlbach, Germany, and is active on social media under the handle @wittmannracing, where he shares updates about his racing career and partnerships. Further verified personal details are not available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Marco Wittmann’s 2025 campaign is built around Schubert Motorsport in the DTM and BMW M Team WRT in the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar category. The dual program keeps him in contention for both touring car and endurance success, building on the form that produced his 2023 Spa 24 Hours victory.
Within the DTM, he remains a benchmark BMW driver alongside teammates René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde, and his experience across multiple eras of the championship should help him fight for podiums on a regular basis. In WEC, his role in the No. 15 Hypercar places him in one of the most competitive endurance line-ups on the grid.
Outlook: a realistic target is regular top-five finishes in the DTM and strong points-paying results in WEC rounds, with the ultimate goals of adding another DTM crown or a major endurance crown jewel such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
