ABT Sportsline has outlined its plans for the 2025 DTM season, in which it will compete with a pair of Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s for reigning series champion Mirko Bortolotti and former FIA WEC GTE Pro champion Nicki Thiim.
The former Audi stalwart presented its cars with a James Bond-themed launch in the Swiss Alps along with its backer Red Bull. The presentation included a film shoot at the snowcapped Timmelsjoch mountain with both its cars and drivers.
“After 25 years with Audi, we are now also competing in the DTM with the factory support of Lamborghini,” says ABT Motorsport director Martin Tomczyk. “We want to fight for victories and the title with our new cars and drivers right from the start.
“Mirko Bortolotti has the number 1 on his car, which is an incentive to defend it during the year and beyond. Everyone knows how strong Mirko is. He hardly ever makes a mistake on the track and is also a good fit for ABT Sportsline as a person. Nicki more than just showed his potential in his first full DTM season with his victory at the Norisring.
“The two of them also get on very well personally, which is very important to me. And the way they threw themselves into the Red Bull film shoot in the Alps from early in the morning until late at night with full passion showed me that they both have exactly the right attitude. I am sure that they will give us and our fans plenty of reason to cheer.”
Lamborghini factory driver Mirko Bortolotti has been competing in the DTM since 2022. He will look to go back-to-back as champion with this programme, which sees him switch teams after racing with SSR Performance last year.
“The last three years have been very intense,” says the Italian, who was born on Lake Garda and lives in Vienna. “I have come to know ABT as an extremely strong opponent during these years. We have been fighting for the title every year until the end.
“That says it all, really. I think we have all the ingredients to be successful together. My first visit to ABT Sportsline in Kempten made a big impression on me. The company has a lot more to offer than just motorsport and I received a very warm welcome from everyone. Discussions with ABT started right after last season’s finale. They made me feel like they really wanted me to join the team.
“Seeing the number 1 on my car is very special. The same can be said for my return to the Red Bull family. I became part of the Red Bull Junior squad in 2009 and I owe a lot to Red Bull in my career.”
Nicki Thiim, who follows in the footsteps of his DTM title-winning father Kurt by racing in DTM, is delighted to continue his journey in the series.
“I practically grew up with the DTM and even as a child, my dream was to become a DTM driver myself,” says the Dane, who moved from Salzburg to Dubai three years ago.
“This dream came true last season. Being able to continue living this dream with ABT Sportsline is something very special for me. To sign with ABT for the DTM is like signing with FC Bayern as a footballer. ABT is simply the team in the DTM. To be able to represent this brand and this family makes me very proud. It’s also great that I can continue to form a team with Mirko.
“I was able to support him on his way to winning the title in my first full DTM season. With all his experience and what I have learned myself over the past year, we can achieve a lot with our new team.”
Nicki Thiim will be supported by an engineer who already has a lot of experience with a fast Dane: Franco Chiocchetti, was the race engineer for Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen at ABT Sportsline in the DTM.
Mirko Bortolotti’s race engineer will be Leon Wippersteg, who steered Kelvin van der Linde to a total of four DTM victories and the runner-up spot in the 2024 championship over the past two years.
“A new era is dawning for ABT Sportsline in the DTM,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO of the ABT Group. “I am very proud that we are bringing together two iconic brands in the DTM, Red Bull and Lamborghini, and that two of the world’s best GT drivers will be competing for us. I am already extremely excited about the first race.”
The new DTM season starts on 26/27 April at Oschersleben, near Magdeburg.
Images courtesy of ABT
