Aston Martin Racing factory driver Nicki Thiim has joined Comtoyou Racing for the team’s sophomore DTM campaign.
The 36-year-old will feature in a two-car Vantage AMR GT3 Evo effort from the Belgian squad, alongside the returning Nicolas Baert.
Two-time FIA WEC champion Thiim made his DTM debut in 2022, running four races with Lamborghini squad T3 Motorsport. The Dane then returned in 2024, spending one season at SSR Performance, during which he scored his only DTM victory to date, before joining Abt Sportsline last year.
2026 will be the first year that Thiim races an Aston Martin in the DTM.
Thiim is familiar with Comtoyou Racing, having raced for the Belgian outfit in GT World Challenge Europe since 2024, winning that year’s 24 Hours of Spa. Thiim will combine the DTM with a full-season GT World Challenge Europe programme with Comtoyou in 2026.
“It’s no secret that I have wanted to race in DTM all my life, because when I was a kid, it was the centre of my universe when my father raced in it,” said Thiim.
“I’ve already achieved that ambition, but when the DTM moved to an all GT3 platform, I’ve wanted to represent Aston Martin in the series. So, this is another dream come true for me.
“Carrying the famous wings on my chest in the DTM is very special and personal to me. DTM is one of the hardest and most fiercely-contested championships in the world, and its intensity is similar to Formula 1 in this regard. I’ve won with Vantage in so many different arenas, I can hardly wait to try and do it again with Aston Martin in the DTM.”
Thiim replaces Gilles Magnus in Comtoyou Racing’s line-up, as the Aston Martin outfit looks to build on a challenging maiden campaign in the Germany-based series.
It took until the fourth round of the season for Comtoyou Racing to score its first points, but its form picked up in the second half of the year, with three top 10 finishes and pole position at the Hockenheimring season finale for Magnus.
“We made huge progress in 2025,” Baert said. “DTM is a tough arena to race in, but this year we go in with the advantage of knowing the car, the circuits, the tyres and the championship. This, combined with Nicki’s experience, which I’m sure I can learn from, gives us all the elements to make big steps forward in 2026.”
Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s head of endurance motorsport, commented: “The DTM is a very prestigious and hugely competitive GT championship, and we are proud to see our valued partner Comtoyou Racing choose to race the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 within it. Equally, we are delighted to be able to contribute Nicki Thiim’s outstanding talent and undoubted experience to this programme. Aston Martin Racing wishes Comtoyou Racing, Nicki and Nicolas Baert every success in this venture.”
Images courtesy of Aston Martin Racing
