“After a rather mixed start to the season in Oschersleben, we had a lot of work to do,” says ABT Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk. “We analysed and evaluated the data from our first DTM outing with Lamborghini and set priorities. It was beneficial for us to have a test day at the Lausitzring, which went very well. We were able to work through test points that are difficult to simulate on a race weekend. Mirko Bortolotti setting the fastest time may not mean much, but we are optimistic that we can achieve our goal of being at the front of the grid at the Lausitzring.”
The defending DTM champion agrees. “The test went very well,” said Mirko Bortolotti. “We were able to complete a lot of laps and try a few things that we’ve wanted to test for a long time. The car felt very good.”
The Italian, who lives in Vienna, has fond memories of the Lausitzring, especially the Sunday race in 2023 when he won a thrilling duel against Ricardo Feller, who was driving for ABT at the time, in sweltering heat. “The victory in 2023 was incredibly satisfying, and the battle with Ricardo was one of my best races in the DTM,” he says. “We had less pace that day, so I had to defend myself for an hour using every trick in the book, finally securing victory.” Bortolotti describes the anti-clockwise circuit as ‘very special’, ‘old school’ and ‘very bumpy’. “The asphalt has little grip.”
“It was beneficial for us to have a test day at the Lausitzring.”, says ABT Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk.
His teammate Nicki Thiim is also eager to get back in his ABT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 at the Lausitzring. “The test there went incredibly well for us,” he says. “I think the season really kicks off for us at the Lausitzring. We definitely want to get off to a flying start.”
The Dubai-based Dane is a fan of the Lausitzring: “There’s always a lot going on there. I enjoyed racing there in the Porsche Carrera Cup in the past. It’s a great event with a big crowd. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Martin Tomczyk will only be able to experience the DTM weekend from afar this time. The ABT Motorsport Director is coordinating the team’s participation in the 24h Qualifiers at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife with Christian Engelhart, Daniel Juncadella, Marco Mapelli and Franck Perera. Thomas Biermaier, CEO of ABT Sportsline and long-standing team principal in the DTM and Formula E, will oversee the DTM outing at the Lausitzring.
To avoid clashing with the live broadcast of the Ice Hockey World Championship semi-finals, the Saturday race will start at 12:30 PM at the request of TV partner ProSieben. The Sunday race will start at the usual time of 1:30 PM. In German-speaking countries, the DTM will be broadcast live on Joyn, ran.de, ProSieben and Servus TV while the series can be watched live all around the world on TV and YouTube. All DTM races can also be viewed on Red Bull TV.
Did you know that ...
... former professional football player Jimmy Hartwig will be a guest at the Lausitzring at the invitation of ABT Sports Marketing Director Harry Unflath?
... guests of ABT partners ARBURG, Bihler, Feser-Graf, KEUK, MAHA, MR Group, Red Bull, Schaeffler and SONAX will also be cheering on the team at the Lausitzring?
… the new DTM merchandise collection from ABT Sportsline is popular not only with fans, but with the drivers too – they like to wear the hoodies and T-shirts in the style of their DTM overalls themselves?
… ABT Sportsline won the Saturday race at the Lausitzring last year and secured a double podium finish on Sunday?
... Nicki Thiim completed a roll-out with the two DTM cars and the Huracán for the 24h Qualifiers on Tuesday morning at the ADAC Driver Safety Centre in Kempten?
… Mirko Bortolotti and Nicki Thiim will be running around the Lausitzring with their fellow DTM drivers on Thursday evening for a good cause in the ‘Best Water Run’?
... Wings for Life has been a DTM charity partner since this year, and the Wings for Life World Run set a new participation record of 310,719 runners?
… A record-breaking donation of €8.6 million was raised in this context for spinal cord research?
... the uptrend special on the 2025 DTM and 75 years of ABT in motorsport is now also available as a free e-paper?