René Rast (; born 26 October 1986) is a German professional racing driver.
A sports car racing specialist, Rast won the Porsche Supercup three years in a row (2010–2012) before forging a career with Audi. He won the 24 Hours of Spa in 2012 and 2014, the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2014 and the ADAC GT Masters in 2014. Rast later competed for Audi in LMP1, DTM and Formula E. He was DTM champion in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Rast was a confirmed driver for Audi's LMDh project at the time of its cancellation.
Rast then joined BMW in the FIA World Endurance Championship and DTM. Rast also made a one-year return to Formula E with McLaren in 2022–23. Rast retired from DTM in 2025 with 31 victories, the third most in the series' history behind Bernd Schneider (43) and Klaus Ludwig (37).
Career
After competing in karting and Formula BMW, Rast won the 2005 ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup and was runner-up at the 2006 Seat León Supercopa Germany.
In 2007, Rast switched to sports car racing, where he won Porsche Carrera Cup Germany in 2008 and 2012, and Porsche Supercup and claimed three championships from 2010 to 2012. Rast also competed at the ADAC GT Masters from 2010 to 2014, winning the title in his last year.
Rast ran the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring with a Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Rast won the 2012 24 Hours of Daytona GT class, driving a Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with co-drivers Andy Lally, Richard Lietz and team owner John Potter.
Rast won the 2012 and 2014 24 Hours of Spa with a factory-supported Audi R8 LMS with teams Phoenix and WRT respectively.
In the 2013 FIA GT Series, Rast claimed a win and five podiums with an WRT Audi R8. In the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series, he claimed a win and three podiums. In 2016, he got three podiums.
Rast debuted at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Sébastien Loeb Racing Oreca-Nissan, finishing fourth in the LMP2 class. In 2015, he competed at two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship with a factory Audi R18 e-tron quattro, finishing fourth overall at the 6 Hours of Spa and seventh at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2016, he raced full-time for G-Drive with an Oreca-Nissan LMP2, claiming a win at Bahrain and a second place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and two third-place finishes at Silverstone and Austin.
Rast competed in two rounds of the 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with an Audi RS5, finishing sixth at Hockenheim II race 1.
Rast won the 2017 DTM title in his first full year driving an Audi RS5 for Team Rosberg. After taking a record-breaking six consecutive race victories the following year, he missed out on a repeat title by only four points. Rast won the 2019 DTM Championship and scored his third series title the following season.
Formula E
Rast debuted in Formula E at the 2016 Berlin ePrix replacing António Félix da Costa (who had a DTM commitment) at Team Aguri.
Rast returned to Formula E for the final six races of the 2019-20 season in Berlin, replacing the sacked Daniel Abt at Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. He managed to score a podium finish in the fifth race where he crossed the line in third place. Rast drove for Audi as a permanent driver for the 2020-21 Formula E Championship, partnering Lucas di Grassi.
Rast did not compete in the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship.
Rast made his return to the series in the 2022–23 season driving for the McLaren Formula E Team. He scored one podium throughout the season, and ended 13th in the standings. Rast announced his departure from McLaren following the season.
Racing record
Career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 2003 Formula BMW ADAC KUG/Dewalt Racing 20 0 0 0 0 14 18th 2004 Formula BMW ADAC KUG/Dewalt Racing 2 0 0 0 0 1 22nd Team Lauderbach Motorsport 11 0 0 0 0 2005 ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup Volkswagen Motorsport 10 6 4 3 7 395 1st 2006 SEAT León Supercopa Germany GAG Racing Team 15 3 3 2 8 185 2nd 2007 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany MRS-Team 9 0 0 0 1 54 10th Porsche Supercup 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC† 2008 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany MRS-Team 9 1 3 1 6 139 1st Porsche Supercup Veltins MRS Racing 11 0 4 1 1 95 6th 2009 Porsche Supercup Veltins MRS Racing 13 6 5 6 10 207 2nd 2010 Porsche Supercup Al Faisal Lechner Racing 10 4 4 1 7 152 1st ADAC GT Masters Mühlner Motorsport 4 1 0 1 1 20 17th Pole Promotion 2 0 0 0 0 Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup Volkswagen Motorsport 2 2 1 1 2 0 NC† Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Farnbacher Racing 2 0 1 0 0 0 NC† 2011 Porsche Supercup Veltins Lechner Racing 11 5 3 3 8 181 1st Porsche Carrera World Cup 1 1 0 1 1 N/A 1st ADAC GT Masters Phoenix Racing Pole Promotion 12 1 0 0 3 69 15th Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Förch Racing 8 1 0 1 5 93 5th American Le Mans Series - GT Paul Miller Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8T Volkswagen Motorsport10000N/ADNF 2012 Porsche Supercup Lechner Racing 8 5 4 4 7 142 1st Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Team Deutsche Post by tolimit 17 6 5 7 12 242 1st ADAC GT Masters Mamerow Racing 7 1 0 0 2 50 16th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Audi Sport Team Phoenix 2 1 0 0 1 46 9th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP910000N/A5th Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Magnus Racing 1 1 0 0 1 35 49th 2013 FIA GT Series Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 10 2 3 2 5 80 6th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro 5 0 0 0 1 24 14th ADAC GT Masters Prosperia C. Abt Racing 16 2 1 2 5 146 6th Dacia Logan Cup Germany Pronghorn-Racing 6 5 3 4 6 5067 1st Rolex Sports Car Series - GT APR Motorsport LTD.UK 1 0 0 0 1 32 49th Pirelli World Challenge - GT Swisher Racing 1 0 0 0 0 85 24th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Prosperia-C. Abt Team Mamerow10000N/A? 2014 ADAC GT Masters Prosperia C. Abt Racing 16 3 4 3 9 214 1st Blancpain Sprint Series - Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 14 1 0 4 3 71 5th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro 1 1 0 0 1 43 10th United SportsCar Championship - GTD Paul Miller Racing 1 0 1 0 0 18 87th FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Sébastien Loeb Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC† 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Phoenix Racing11001N/A1st 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC FIA GT World Cup 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd FIA World Endurance Championship Audi Sport Team Joest 2 0 0 0 0 24 12th 24 Hours of Le Mans 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th Audi Sport TT Cup Audi Sport 2 1 1 0 1 0 NC† United SportsCar Championship - GTD Paul Miller Racing 1 0 0 0 0 27 38th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix10000N/ADNF 2015–16 Formula E Team Aguri 1 0 0 0 0 0 23rd 2016 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 8 0 0 0 3 39 9th Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 2 0 1 1 1 18 24th FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 G-Drive Racing 7 1 4 3 4 111 5th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Rosberg 1 0 0 0 0 8 23rd Audi Sport Team Phoenix 2 0 0 0 0 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Magnus Racing 1 1 0 0 1 36 35th Intercontinental GT Challenge Melbourne Performance Centre 1 0 0 0 0 44 2nd Audi Sport Team WRT10111 Audi Sport Team Phoenix10011 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Twin Busch Motorsport10000N/A10th 2017 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Rosberg 18 3 3 4 5 179 1st Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Audi Sport Team WRT 2 0 0 0 1 29 10th Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 8 12th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP910001N/A3rd IMSA SportsCar Championship - Prototype VisitFlorida Racing 2 0 0 0 1 55 23rd 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Rosberg 19 7 2 1 9 251 2nd IMSA SportsCar Championship - Prototype Mazda Team Joest 3 0 0 1 0 55 35th World Touring Car Cup Audi Sport Team WRT 2 0 0 0 0 10 28th Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 1 0 0 0 0 8 39th Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 1 0 0 12 18th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land10000N/A5th 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Rosberg 18 7 8 2 13 322 1st Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Audi Sport Team WRT 1 0 0 0 0 3 32nd Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC IMSA SportsCar Championship - DPi Mazda Team Joest 1 0 1 0 0 20 35th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Car Collection10001N/A3rd 2019–20 Formula E Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler 6 0 0 0 1 29 15th 2020 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Rosberg 18 7 7 7 13 353 1st 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land10000N/A6th 2020–21 Formula E Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler 15 0 0 2 1 78 13th 2021 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land10000N/ADNF 2022 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Abt 16 1 3 0 6 1493rd FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 WRT 5 2 1 1 3 91 6th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP210100N/ADNF IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 G-Drive Racing with APR 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC† 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Car Collection10000N/A4th 2022–23 Formula E Neom McLaren Formula E Team 16 0 0 1 1 40 13th 2023 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Schubert Motorsport 14 1 2 1 4 140 5th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 Tower Motorsports10000N/ADNF2024 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Schubert Motorsport 16 2 0 0 4 172 4th FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar BMW M Team WRT 8 0 0 0 0 10 27th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP BMW M Team RLL 1 0 0 0 0 268 29th 2025 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Schubert Motorsport 16 3 1 2 5 169 6th FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar BMW M Team WRT 8 0 0 0 1 47 9th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP BMW M Team RLL 1 0 0 1 0 269 36thGT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupTeam WRT 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 2026FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar BMW M Team WRT 6 1 0 0 2 75 3rd* IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP 1 0 0 0 1 323 29th † As Rast was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points. * Season still in progress.
Complete Porsche Supercup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 DC Points 2007 Veltins MRS Racing BHR BHR CAT MON MAG SIL NÜR HUN IST SPA MNZ NC‡ 0‡ 2008 Veltins MRS Racing BHR BHR CAT IST MON MAG SIL HOC HUN VAL SPA MNZ 6th 95 2009 Veltins MRS Racing BHR BHR CAT MON IST SIL NÜR HUN VAL SPA MNZ YMC YMC 2nd 207 2010 Al Faisal Lechner Racing BHR BHR CAT MON VAL SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ 1st 152 2011 Veltins Lechner Racing IST CAT MON NÜR SIL NÜR HUN SPA MNZ YMC YMC 1st 181 2012 Lechner Racing BHR BHR MON VAL SIL HOC HUN HUN SPA MNZ 1st 142 † Did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance. ‡ As Rast was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
Complete 24 Hours of Spa results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2012 Audi Sport Performance Team Frank Stippler Andrea Piccini Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3Pro 509 1st 1st 2013 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Stéphane Ortelli Laurens Vanthoor Audi R8 LMS ultra Pro 79 DNF DNF 2014 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Laurens Vanthoor Markus Winkelhock Audi R8 LMS ultra Pro 527 1st 1st 2015 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Laurens Vanthoor Markus Winkelhock Audi R8 LMS ultra Pro 508 21st 11th 2016 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Nico Müller Laurens Vanthoor Audi R8 LMS Pro 531 3rd 3rd 2017 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Antonio Garcia Nico Müller Audi R8 LMS Pro 546 6th 6th 2018 Audi Sport Team WRT Robin Frijns Nico Müller Audi R8 LMS Pro 509 8th 8th 2019 Audi Sport Team WRT Robin Frijns Nico Müller Audi R8 LMS Pro 358 23rd 20th 2025 Team WRT Valentino Rossi Kevin Magnussen BMW M4 GT3 Evo Pro 548 11th 10th
Complete FIA GT Series results Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points 2013 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra Pro NOGQR NOGCR ZOLQR ZOLCR ZANQR ZANCR SVKQR SVKCR NAVQR NAVCR BAKQR BAKCR 6th 80
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results