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By signing Mapelli and Engstler, ABT Sportsline is deliberately relying on strong GT3 expertise from the Lamborghini environment. While Engstler already brings several years of DTM experience, Mapelli will make his debut in the prestigious series in 2026.
Marco Mapelli also plays a special role within the project: the Italian was heavily involved in the development of the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3 and brings valuable technical insight
into the team.
“We are very happy to have Luca and Marco in our team. Already in the first few weeks, we could see that both of them fit perfectly into the team, not only in terms of performance but also on a personal level,” says Thomas Biermaier, CEO of ABT Sportsline. “Together, we have a clear goal: to be successful again. With Luca and Marco, we believe we are on a very good path to achieve that.”
For Marco Mapelli, joining the DTM marks an important milestone: “Becoming a DTM driver for ABT feels like a dream come true. I’m really looking forward to working with such a top team throughout the entire season. From the very beginning, I felt at home with everyone in the team. You can clearly see the commitment and dedication of every single person, and that’s a huge motivation for me to push even further. The team’s history speaks for itself. ABT is always racing for wins, so it’s clear what our target is.”
Luca Engstler is also looking ahead with great anticipation: “I’m really looking forward to working with ABT. It’s a team I’ve known since I was a kid. I used to pass their workshop every day on my way to school. Now racing for ABT in the DTM is a big honour. Of course, a lot is new for all of us, so the first year will be a learning phase. But we have the ambition to be successful and to improve consistently throughout the season. The key will be to score points even on difficult weekends.”
ABT Sportsline will compete in the 2026 DTM season with the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3. Further details regarding the car and its design will be announced at a later stage.