12. February 2025

Drag Racing in Germany

This post is also available in: Deutsch (German) English Nederlands (Dutch)

Drag racing has many names in Germany. Quarter-mile races and acceleration races are some of them. And yet they are all called the same thing. But there are still big differences. To help you understand the difference, here is a description of what is behind the terms and the different events.

In Germany, drag racing is regulated as a motorsport under association law. A motorsport event requires an organiser, a timing crew and a club. We therefore always speak of drag racing in the sense of a motorsport event. The advantage of a motorsport event is

  • Officially registered event
  • Rules and regulations for a fair competition
  • High safety standards through the rules and regulations (lower risk of injury)
  • Inter-club competitions
  • Championships, trophies and prizes via the sponsoring clubs/associations
  • Championship celebrations in the clubs and umbrella organisations
  • Insurance cover and legal certainty in the event of accidents

But then there are also events that are called quarter-mile races or acceleration races. These events only have an organiser and a purchased timing crew, but no club at their side. This is due to the fact that the organiser is only geared towards making a profit. Therefore, these events do not offer the advantages of a motorsport event. There are often even various disadvantages:

  • Although competitions are also held here, they are legally in the ‘grey area’ in Germany.
  • Due to the lack of regulations in most cases, vehicles do not offer the necessary safety standards, even though they are authorised for use on the roads, for example, including all registrations.
  • There is also insurance cover for the event, but this often does not apply if a driver physically injures spectators, for example.
  • In the event of a claim, a lawyer or judge will always look at the regulations applicable in Germany. These can only be found at an officially authorised motorsport event. As independent events often do not adhere to these regulations and the event has not been officially registered, participants are automatically jointly liable in the event of damage

The association law and structure is relatively difficult for an outsider to understand at first. The following diagram shows how drag racing is organised in Germany under association law:

TrägerverbändeInternational übergeordnet:

National:
Trägervereine
Drag Racing VereineDrag Racing Germany e.V.
Timing Crew
VeranstalterJade-Race UG
Hockenheim-Ring GmbH
DHRA
Drag Racing Germany e.V.
Drag Racing Association Germany e.V.
MSTO
1on1 Motorsports Silke Beer
1. AMC Dessau e.V.
Maik Hinkel Veranstaltungen und Gastronomie

As you can see from the list, some clubs are so well positioned that they can organise the services of the timing crew and also the organiser business completely on their own. But many clubs also work together with another timing crew or organiser.

Ultimately, in Germany the drag racing clubs and the sponsoring clubs are the only officially approved organisations that are allowed to carry out motorsport in drag racing and offer the right setting for motorsport enthusiasts.

What can I do as a driver to be part of the big picture?

  • Registration with a club, e.g. Drag Racing Germany e.V. or the H.A.R.A. Hanau Auto Racing Association e.V.
  • This automatically makes you a member of the DMV Motorsport e.V. and you will, for example, receive a discount on racing licences and be included in the DMV points classification
  • Participate in the competitions of the DMV and DMSB-organised events
  • Add up your points at the end of the season and attend the DMSB and DMV championship ceremony in Suhl at the end of the season to collect trophies and prizes