“For me as a driver, the track is the absolute highlight of the DTM in terms of fun,” says Nicki Thiim. “In this respect, it even beats Zandvoort. The track is beautiful to drive and challenging. It offers a bit of everything and is usually good for our car. I’m also looking forward to the fantastic spectators. Everyone knows what goes on there in MotoGP. But the DTM is also very popular there. It’s great that we are present in this part of Germany with the DTM and can put on a good show.”
The Dubai-based Dane has many fond memories of the Sachsenring, where he celebrated several victories in the ADAC GT Masters and the Porsche Carrera Cup. His teammate Mirko Bortolotti won the Sunday race in 2023 when the DTM returned to the Sachsenring after a 20-year break. “I have many fond memories of the Sachsenring,” says the Italian, who lives in Vienna. “I drove my very first GT3 race there in the ADAC GT Masters in 2012 on the spur of the moment and finished third straight away. The DTM victory in 2023 will also remain unforgettable for me. The track itself is very demanding, every element has to be just right.”
ABT Sportsline has also celebrated many successes at the Sachsenring in its 75-year motorsport history. In 1999, the team from Kempten achieved the first victory for a private team in the former German Super Touring Car Championship with the Audi A4 quattro. It laid the foundation for the team’s subsequent championship title. Laurent Aiello’s victory with the Abt-Audi TT-R on the way to the first DTM title in the 2002 DTM is also fondly remembered in Kempten. In addition, there have been several victories with the Audi R8 in the GT Masters. Since 2023, the team has also held the DTM lap record for GT3 cars (1m 19.072s) at the Sachsenring.
“Overtaking is extremely difficult on this track, so a good qualifying performance is the key to success.”, says ABT Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk.
“Since the DTM returned to the Sachsenring, we’ve always had great events there in front of a fantastic crowd,” says ABT Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk. “Overtaking is extremely difficult on this track, so a good qualifying performance is the key to success.”
The team also worked on this last Sunday during the official DTM test day at the Sachsenring. “Overall, it was a good test,” said Tomczyk. “After the Nürburgring, we thought long and hard about how to approach the test in order to address some fundamental issues. That’s easier to do during a test than on a race weekend. We took a good step forward, and both drivers were in a positive mood after the test. But of course, we also know that test results in the DTM are not necessarily conclusive.”
The two races will start at the usual time of 1:30 PM CEST on Saturday and Sunday. 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 football referee Felix Brych will be a guest of ABT Sportsline and Schaeffler at the Sachsenring?
... Felix Brych has been voted Referee of the Year six times, twice named World Referee, and holds two records with 359 Bundesliga matches and 69 Champions League games?
... ABT Sports Marketing Director Harry Unflath is delighted that almost all of the team’s partners will also be at the Sachsenring?
... ABT partners ARBURG, Bihler, Keuk, MAHA,MR Group, Schaeffler, SG Sportwagen and SONAX will be coming to the Sachsenring, some of them with customers and guests?
... ABT Sportsline is the official vehicle partner of the 52 Super Series from 18 to 23 August in Puerto Portals, Mallorca?
... Harry Unflath will be hosting a customer event in Puerto Portals on Thursday evening together with ABT CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt before heading straight from the world championship sailing race to the Sachsenring?
... after testing at the Sachsenring, the team returned to Kempten to prepare the cars for the race weekend?
... historic DTM cars, including an Abt Audi TT-R from the 2000 season, will be doing demo laps at the Sachsenring on all three days?
