Arjun Maini Joins HRT Ford Performance for DTM 2025 Season

Arjun Maini Set to Lead HRT Ford Performance in DTM 2025 with Mustang GT3

The countdown to the 2025 DTM season has officially begun, and it’s already shaping up to be a landmark year for the series. Ford Performance makes its long-awaited return to the championship after 36 years, partnering with Haupt Racing Team (HRT) in a high-profile comeback. At the heart of this bold new chapter is Arjun Maini, who will drive the #36 Ford Mustang GT3 for HRT Ford Performance in the upcoming season.

This isn’t just a routine return to the grid this is Ford reasserting its legacy in German touring car racing, and Arjun Maini stepping into a pivotal role at a time of transformation. For HRT, already a respected name in DTM circles with a championship title and multiple race wins, the 2025 season represents both a return to roots and a leap into the future.

Arjun Maini DTM 2025: More Than Just a Continuation

Maini’s inclusion in the HRT Ford Performance lineup is as much a reflection of talent as it is of trust. The 26-year-old Indian driver has been with HRT since 2022 and has steadily carved out a reputation as a driver who combines aggression with consistency. With 64 DTM races under his belt, including three podiums and a pole position, Maini is more than familiar with the demands of the sprint format.

For the 2025 season, he will pilot the #36 Ford Mustang GT3, a car steeped in American muscle tradition but now finely tuned for European circuit racing. The RAVENOL-backed blue-and-yellow livery isn’t just eye-catching it’s a visual symbol of the technical alliance between Ford and its factory-backed team.

“I am very excited about another year in the DTM with HRT and Ford Performance,” said Maini. “We are really looking forward to the season. It's a new challenge for me and a new challenge for the team, but fortunately, we've worked very well together over the past few seasons. So I am very happy to continue that relationship.”

The Return of Ford: Mustang GT3 Enters DTM Stage

Ford last fielded a works entry in DTM back in 1989, when the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 left its mark on the series. The return in 2025 is more than nostalgic it's strategic. The new Ford Mustang GT3, developed in close coordination with Multimatic and Ford Performance, is built to be competitive right out of the gate. While HRT acknowledges there will be a learning curve with a new chassis and engineering platform, expectations are high.

“First of all, we are obviously very proud that Ford Performance has entrusted us with the responsibility for their DTM comeback,” said Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director of HRT. “We will certainly need some patience with the new car. The focus is on the further development of the Ford Mustang GT3. But with regard to our two fast drivers and the experienced crew, I am confident that we can achieve good results over the course of the season.”

DTM 2025 Calendar: Oschersleben to Hockenheim

The official pre-season test for the 2025 DTM season is scheduled at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben on April 2. It’s here that Maini and teammate Fabio Scherer will get their first real-world feel for the Mustang GT3 in a competitive environment. Three weeks later, the same track will host the season opener (April 25–27), launching an eight-round calendar that spans Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

The season finale will take place at the historic Hockenheimring on October 4–5. For Maini, whose previous performances at tracks like Nürburgring and Lausitzring have been impressive, this could be the season where he cements his status as a genuine title contender.

Partnering with Scherer: Balance of Experience and Youth

Sharing the garage with Maini is Fabio Scherer, a Swiss driver with ample GT and DTM experience, and a fellow member of the Ford Performance GT3 Junior Program. Together, they bring 82 DTM race starts into the 2025 season. Scherer complements Maini with a driving style that’s aggressive in qualifying and strategic in race management a balance that HRT will be counting on as they field two factory-backed entries.

The duo not only represents Ford’s present but also its future in GT racing. With this pairing, HRT ensures a blend of experience, consistency, and potential. It’s also an endorsement of Ford’s growing involvement in motorsport talent development, a key part of its long-term commitment to the GT3 category globally.

Road to DTM: Building a Pipeline of Racing Talent

One of the more under-the-radar but significant developments from HRT this year is its expanded commitment to youth development. By partnering with the SIM-ON kart team, the team has established a structured feeder program aimed at grooming talent from karting to DTM. This "Road to DTM" initiative, supported by participation in the ADAC GT Masters, is designed to ensure continuity in driver development and create a sustainable talent pool.

This initiative reflects the forward-thinking nature of HRT Ford Performance, not just chasing wins in the present, but investing in the future fabric of touring car racing. With a driver like Maini, who himself transitioned from junior formulae to GT cars, the team now has a role model for the next generation.

Expectations for Arjun Maini and HRT in DTM 2025

With a solid foundation, an all-new car, and a well-prepared driver lineup, the ingredients are in place for a strong 2025 showing. Maini’s familiarity with HRT’s technical team, his experience in DTM racecraft, and the evolving performance of the Mustang GT3 make for a compelling combination.

Challenges will certainly arise. New machinery always brings teething problems, especially against established teams already dialed into their car setups. But Ford’s deep pockets and technical resources, combined with HRT’s championship pedigree, make them a serious contender.

The pressure will be on Maini to not just score points but help lead the car’s development curve data collection, race feedback, and consistency will all be key. But with a reliable teammate, a clear vision from the team, and a car that embodies decades of American performance engineering, the path is well lit.