ABT Sportsline will bring an end to a 25-year DTM relationship with Audi, announcing a switch to Lamborghini machinery as part of a “long-term factory supported deal.” The German squad announced on Saturday that it will field a pair of Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s, with the driver lineup to be confirmed at a later date.

The move to Lamborghini brings an end to one of DTM’s most recognizable and enduring partnerships. ABT has raced Audi machinery in the championship for every single season since DTM was revived in 2000. The roots of the alliance between team and manufacturer date back even further, with the two parties racing together in the Super Tourenwagen Cup before the current DTM was established.

It won five drivers’ championship titles with Laurent Aïello, Mattias Ekstroem and Timo Scheider, while it won additional races and teams’ title with the likes of Kelvin Van der Linde, Ricardo Feller, Nico Mueller, Robin Frijns, Edoardo Mortara, Miguel Molina, Mike Rockenfeller, Tom Kristensen and current motorsport director Martin Tomcyzk. ABT already has an existing relationship with Lamborghini through its efforts at the Nürburgring 24, where it finished fifth overall with Van der Linde, Jordan Pepper and Marco Mapelli earlier this year.

ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier on the Partnership

“We got to know and love each other during the 24-hour project,” said ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier. “ABT Sportsline and Lamborghini are two brands that fit together perfectly; we are passionate about motorsport. This passion can also be felt in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Our motto ‘from the racetrack to the road’ fits Lamborghini just as well. The fact that we were able to agree on a long-term cooperation and that Lamborghini will support us at the factory level in the DTM in the future is an important moment for ABT Sportsline.”

Lamborghini’s Existing Relationship with DTM

Lamborghini, meanwhile, is currently represented in DTM by SSR Performance and GRT Grasser Racing Team. The existing relationship at the Nürburgring is also set to continue, with Lamborghini stating it will “remain a key fixture” as part of the new deal.

Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr on the Partnership

“Motorsport is part of Lamborghini’s DNA,” said Lamborghini chief technical officer Rouven Mohr. “Success on the racetrack is extremely valuable for us as a sports car manufacturer. The DTM has a special meaning because it has many fans, not only in Germany. To be able to work with the most successful team in this racing series in the future makes us very proud. We will support ABT Sportsline to the maximum and we are convinced that it will be a very strong combination.”

ABT’s Long-Term Partnership with Audi Comes to an End

Abt’s decision to leave Audi for another manufacturer from the Volkswagen Group has left the fabled Ingolstadt-based marque without a team in the DTM. Audi had curtailed its long-running GT3 programme at the end of last year, reducing its involvement to a mere supply of spare parts and basic technical support. This meant the end of factory-backing and financial support, but Abt was able to remain with Audi in the DTM for 2024 after signing a new sponsorship agreement with energy drinks giant Red Bull.

However, with Audi no longer manufacturing the R8 LMS GT3 and disbanding its factory pool of drivers, it was always expected that its existing teams - including Abt - would eventually switch to other brands. The news about Abt forging new links with Lamborghini marks the end of the team’s long-standing relationship with Audi that stretches back to the revival of the DTM in 2000. Mattias Ekstrom, who also announced his split from Audi this week, won both of his DTM titles while driving factory cars for Abt.

A New Chapter for ABT

The move to Lamborghini marks a new chapter for ABT Sportsline, a team that has achieved great success in the DTM with Audi. The new partnership with Lamborghini is a testament to the team’s commitment to motorsport and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The future looks bright for ABT in the DTM with Lamborghini, and it will be interesting to see how the team performs with its new machinery. The driver lineup for the 2025 DTM season is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be announced soon. Fans of the DTM will be eager to see who will be driving the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s for ABT in the coming season.