NXT Gen Cup prepares for epic title showdown at Sachsenring
(Photo: Alexander Treinitz)
The 100% electric NXT Gen Cup heads to the iconic Sachsenring on 22–24 August for its season finale alongside the DTM, where the battle for the championship will finally be decided.
With 7 wins and a 100% podium record from the 10 races so far, Lukas Stiefelhagen carries a commanding lead into the last four sprint races of the year. However, with a maximum of 134 points still up for grabs, three other drivers remain in contention for the crown.
Stiefelhagen made history at the Nürburgring by winning all three races of the weekend, extending his streak of consecutive victories to six – a first in the three-year history of NXT Gen Cup. With four sprint races left to run, the Dutchman looks in prime position.
– Of course it feels great to have such a big lead in the championship, said Stiefelhagen. But it won’t change the way I drive. I don’t need to take any unnecessary risks now, but I’m still going to fight for every win as hard as I can and give it everything I’ve got.
Maxim Dacher, currently second in the standings and 94 points adrift of Stiefelhagen, has delivered an impressive campaign with one victory and four additional podiums to his name.
– Sachsenring is my home track, even though I’ve never raced there before, which is why I’m extremely looking forward to it! As always, I’ll give my best to score as many points as possible for the championship. I’m more than 100% ready for the big finale, said Dacher.
In third place sits Austrian Philipp Dietrich, another seven points further back, with the same tally of wins and podiums as Dacher. Dietrich bounced back strongly at the Nürburgring round after a difficult spell earlier in the season.
– My approach will be the same as every weekend – go out, enjoy it, and race fair, said Dietrich ahead of the season finale. The Sachsenring will be tight, with plenty of slipstream battles, and qualifying will once again be crucial. My goal is a top-three finish in the championship. Of course, I’d love to fight for second, but the main focus is to give it everything, have fun, and put on a great race.
The fourth driver still in with a chance is Swedish rising star Alex Gustafsson. Although trailing Stiefelhagen by 126 points, Gustafsson kept his title hopes mathematically alive at the Nürburgring, where he finally broke through with a long-awaited first podium in Race 2 before immediately following it up with P2 in Race 3. Could Sachsenring bring another step forward?
A returning NXT Gen Cup veteran and a newcomer join the grid
The Sachsenring finale will feature a grid of 18 drivers. Czech NXT Gen Cup veteran Filip Bartoš returns after missing the two most recent race weekends. The grid will also welcome a new face: 19-year-old German talent Finn Mache, who has spent this season competing in endurance racing in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and now makes his NXT Gen Cup debut.
The NXT Gen Cup race car is based on the MINI Cooper SE model, equipped with a 30kWh battery, 230hp, and push-to-pass functionality. The cars run on Hankook Ventus TD tyres and are recharged between sessions by ABB E-mobility, the official charging partner of NXT Gen Cup.
Four sprint races promise a packed weekend of action
The Sachsenring finale kicks off with two test sessions on Friday, followed by qualifying and two races on Saturday. Sunday will feature a second qualifying session and two final races that will ultimately decide the 2025 champion.
Fans can watch all the action LIVE on YouTube, complete with expert commentary and behind-the-scenes insights.
Schedule - NXT Gen Cup, Sachsenring
Times in CEST
Friday 22 August
12:55 – Free Practice 1 (20 min)
17:15 – Free Practice 2 (20 min)
Saturday 23 August
08:35 – Qualification 1 (20 min)
12:15 – Race 1 (20 min)
17:40 – Race 2 (20 min)
Sunday 24 August
08:45 – Qualification 2 (20 min)
12:10 – Race 3 (20 min)
15:00 – Autograph Session
16:30 – Race 4 (20 min)
Championship standings
NXT Gen Cup after 10 races
1. Lukas Stiefelhagen (NED), 287 pts
2. Maxim Dacher (DEU), 193 pts
3. Philipp Dietrich (AUT), 186 pts
4. Alex Gustafsson (SWE), 161 pts
5. Lennart Wolf (DEU), 131 pts
2025 NXT Gen Cup calendar
25-27 April – Oschersleben – Germany
04-06 July – Norisring – Germany
08-10 August – Nürburgring – Germany
22-24 August – Sachsenring – Germany
19-20 September – Swedish Junior Championship – Mantorp Park – Sweden
About NXT Gen Cup
The NXT Gen Cup is the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car cup where young female and male drivers race the LRT NXT1, a fully electric race car based on the MINI Cooper SE road car - engineered and built by Lestrup Racing Team. The series races together with DTM and is organised through an “arrive and drive” concept, enabling the junior drivers to focus on driving and creating the foundation for a professional racing career.
About DTM
DTM is Europe’s premier and best-known racing series and celebrated its 40th birthday in 2024. As one of the most competitive racing series, DTM features seven prestigious brands in its anniversary season. The DTM has a German core, but a strong international fan base. Races are broadcasted live in 150 territories. The series is also a leader in sustainable motorsport. For the second season, all cars are powered by a sustainable fuel made of 50% renewable components. Not only the cars racing in DTM are in the centre of sustainable projects. For the events itself the ADAC as promoter of the DTM offers innovations like an initiative to reduce plastic waste and a digital carpool solution, which has been recognised and awarded by the FIA.