ABT Sportsline Announces New Driver Line-Up for 2026 DTM Season
ABT Sportsline has officially signed Lamborghini factory drivers Marco Mapelli and Luca Engstler for the 2026 DTM season, fielding two Temerario GT3s. This strategic move comes on the heels of a challenging 2025 campaign, where the team secured only one podium finish, ultimately placing seventh in the standings after transitioning from Audi to Lamborghini.
Mapelli, a veteran in the Lamborghini fold and instrumental in the development of the Temerario GT3, will make his DTM debut. He expressed enthusiasm about joining ABT, stating, “Becoming a DTM driver for ABT feels like a dream come true… the team’s history speaks for itself. ABT is always racing for wins.”
Engstler, a multi-time DTM race winner, transitions to ABT from Grasser Racing, marking his fourth season in the series. Reflecting on his new role, Engstler emphasized, “I’m really looking forward to working with ABT… the first year will be a learning phase, but we have the ambition to be successful and to improve consistently throughout the season.”
The duo replaces Mirko Bortolotti, who has moved to Grasser Racing, and Nicki Thiim, now with Aston Martin’s Comtoyou Racing. Team CEO Thomas Biermaier remarked, “We are very happy to have Luca and Marco in our team… together, we have a clear goal: to be successful again.”
The 2026 season kicks off from April 24-26 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, setting the stage for ABT Sportsline’s return to competitive form in the DTM.
