Schaeffler Wet Lamella Brake Debuts in DTM Innovation Taxi

Schaeffler Wet Lamella Brake Enters Motorsport Testing

Schaeffler AG has announced that its new Schaeffler wet lamella brake will be featured on the rear wheels of the DTM Innovation Taxi, an Audi R8 LMS GT2, during its Nürburgring appearance in Germany from August 14 to 16, 2026. The demonstration marks the first use of the technology in this application and positions the project as a pre-development program for future braking solutions. Schaeffler is targeting a brake concept designed to eliminate brake dust, reduce operating noise and minimize maintenance requirements, while using motorsport testing to evaluate the technology under demanding real-world conditions.

Integrated Braking System Targets Electric Axles

The development project is focused on applications for future electric vehicle architectures, particularly battery-electric vehicles. Schaeffler AG's goal is to combine the brake, actuator and oil or cooling circuit into a single integrated system for electric axles that could ultimately be adapted for series-production vehicles. Testing at the Nürburgring is intended to assess the system's functionality and service-life behavior under extreme operating conditions. By using a motorsport environment, the company can examine the technology under high loads and demanding thermal conditions while gathering development experience relevant to sustainable mobility and future electrified vehicle platforms.

Technology Designed for Future Brake-by-Wire Architectures

The wet lamella brake is also being developed with future brake-by-wire architectures in mind. Its integration potential could make the technology an enabler for more consolidated braking systems, particularly as vehicle manufacturers develop autonomous driving concepts and increasingly software-controlled vehicle architectures. The concept therefore extends beyond reducing brake dust and maintenance: it addresses how braking hardware, actuation and thermal management could be packaged as an integrated electric-axle solution. The Nürburgring demonstration provides an important development step for evaluating whether this approach can deliver the durability and functional performance required for future series-production applications.

Motorsport as a Development Platform for Sustainable Mobility

The Nürburgring test also illustrates the role Audi AG and Germany have in the demonstration environment surrounding advanced vehicle technologies. Rather than treating the racing environment only as a performance showcase, the project uses extreme operating conditions to investigate a braking concept intended for future road vehicles. If development targets are achieved, the integrated wet brake architecture could support cleaner and quieter vehicle operation while reducing maintenance requirements. Its compatibility with brake-by-wire concepts may also provide additional design flexibility for electric and autonomous vehicle platforms, although series-production deployment would depend on further development and validation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Schaeffler developing with its new wet lamella brake?
Schaeffler is developing a wet lamella braking system designed to reduce brake dust, operating noise and maintenance requirements while supporting future electric vehicle architectures. The concept is intended to integrate the brake, actuator and oil or cooling circuit into one system for electric axles. The technology will be tested on the DTM Innovation Taxi, an Audi R8 LMS GT2, at the Nürburgring from August 14 to 16, 2026. The testing will examine functionality and service-life behavior under extreme conditions and support further development toward potential series-production applications.