Abt Sportsline will conclude a two decade-long relationship with Audi to accomplice with Lamborghini from the 2025 DTM season.
Having already joined forces with the Italian producer for the Nurburgring 24 Hours final yr, Abt will lengthen that partnership to discipline two examples of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 within the DTM subsequent tear as a part of a long-term contract.
The deal will see Abt be a part of Lamborghini’s roster of factory-supported groups from 2025, however an announcement concerning the driving force line-up shall be made at a later date.
“We received to know and love one another through the 24-hour venture. ABT Sportsline and Lamborghini are two manufacturers that match collectively completely; we’re obsessed with motorsport,” stated ABT Sportsline CEO Thomas Biermaier.
“This ardour can be felt in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Our motto ‘from the racetrack to the street’ matches Lamborghini simply as properly.
“The truth that we have been in a position to agree on a long-term cooperation and that Lamborghini will help us on the manufacturing unit degree within the DTM sooner or later is a vital second for ABT Sportsline.”
Lamborghini already has the largest presence of any automotive producer within the DTM, supplying a complete of 5 automobiles between SSR Efficiency, Grasser and Paul Motorsport groups.
Its manufacturing unit driver Mirko Bortolotti, driving for SSR, is within the thick of the title combat with present Abt Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde forward of this weekend’s penultimate spherical on the Pink Bull Ring.
In the meantime, Lamborghini sits second within the producers’ championship behind rival German marque Mercedes.
“Motorsport is a part of Lamborghini’s DNA,” Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr stated.
“Success on the racetrack is extraordinarily priceless for us as a sports activities automotive producer. The DTM has a particular that means as a result of it has many followers, not solely in Germany.
“To have the ability to work with probably the most profitable group on this racing collection sooner or later makes us very proud. We’ll help ABT Sportsline to the utmost and we’re satisfied that it will likely be a really robust mixture.”
Ricardo Feller, Group ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
Abt’s resolution to go away Audi for an additional producer from the Volkswagen Group has left the fabled Ingolstadt-based marque with out a group within the DTM.
Audi had curtailed its long-running GT3 programme on the finish of final yr, decreasing its involvement to a mere provide of spare components and primary technical help.
This meant the top of factory-backing and monetary help, however Abt was in a position to stay with Audi within the DTM for 2024 after signing a brand new sponsorship settlement with power drinks big Pink Bull.
Nevertheless, with Audi not manufacturing the R8 LMS GT3 and disbanding its manufacturing unit pool of drivers, it was all the time anticipated that its present groups – together with Abt – would finally swap to different manufacturers.
The information about Abt forging new hyperlinks with Lamborghini marks the top of the group’s long-standing relationship with Audi that stretches again to the revival of the DTM in 2000.
Mattias Ekstrom, who additionally introduced his cut up from Audi this week, gained each of his DTM titles whereas driving manufacturing unit automobiles for Abt.
