Abt Sportsline lines up with the DTM title holder and a world champion

• Defending champion Mirko Bortolotti joins the Allgäu-based Lamborghini team
• Second car to be driven by sports car ace Nicki Thiim
• Abt Motorsport Director, Tomczyk: "We want to challenge for race wins and the title"

Munich. New manufacturer and new drivers: Abt Sportsline has announced its drivers for the coming DTM season and, in doing so, has made quite a statement. Champion Mirko Bortolotti (I) has joined the team from Kempten as he embarks on his mission to defend the title he won last year. The second cockpit will be occupied by two-time world endurance champion Nicki Thiim (DK). The new line-up heralds the start of an exciting new chapter for Abt Sportsline. After 25 years, the team will start with works assistance from Lamborghini in the DTM for the first time and will run two Huracán GT3 Evo2 in the colours of Red Bull. In line with Bortolotti and Thiim's lofty ambitions, the first outing in the Lamborghini definitely hit new highs: the two Abt Sportsline racers drove the Huracán up the Timmelsjoch mountain pass in the Alps, where they familiarised themselves with their new Lamborghini with some spectacular drifts at one of the highest heliports in Europe.

Lamborghini works driver Bortolotti was crowned champion last year, as the DTM trophy returned to Italy after 31 years and to Lamborghini in Sant'Agata Bolognese for the first time. "I have known Abt to be extremely strong opponents in recent years, and I believe we have all the ingredients to be successful together," says the Vienna resident. Bortolotti has been one of the top drivers in the DTM for the past three years, racking up four race wins and a total of 18 podiums. The Lamborghini spearhead's impressive record reads one fourth and one second place in the championship, as well as last season's title.

Thiim brings some "Danish Dynamite" to Abt Sportsline. The son of long-term DTM driver Kurt Thiim (the 1986 champion) is a two-time GTE-Pro champion in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC and enjoyed a real highlight with his maiden victory at the Norisring in his first full DTM season last year. "I was practically born into the DTM. Even as a child, I dreamed of becoming a DTM driver. Signing for Abt in the DTM is like signing to play football for Bayern Munich. I am very proud to represent this brand and this family," says Thiim.

"With our new cars and drivers, we want to challenge for race wins from the word go, and to challenge for the title," says Abt Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk. "Mirko Bortolotti will have the number 1 on his car. That is motivation to defend that position this year and beyond. He hardly makes any mistakes on the track and fits into Abt Sportsline very well as a person. Nicki Thiim showed his potential in his first full DTM season, and not just with his victory at the Norisring. They both get on really well, which is very important to me. I am sure they will give us and our many fans a lot of joy."

"This is the start of a totally new era in the DTM for Abt Sportsline," stresses Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO of the Abt group. "I am very proud that, with Red Bull and Lamborghini, we are bringing two iconic brands together in the DTM - and that we will have two of the best GT drivers in the world racing for us. I am already extremely excited about the first race." Abt Sportsline begins its pursuit of an eleventh DTM title at the season-opener at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (25th to 27th April).