ABT Sportsline lines up with two impressive young drivers in the 2023 DTM season. Kelvin van der Linde (26) from South Africa and Switzerland’s Ricardo Feller (22) start in the two Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II for the successful team from the Allgäu region of Germany. The two youngsters were team-mates at ABT Sportsline last season and form one of the youngest duos in the 2023 DTM. The opening weekend of the much-anticipated season takes place from 26th to 28th May at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
The established team, led by ABT Sportsline CEO Thomas Biermaier, will be contesting its 24th season in the DTM. The Kempten-based outfit goes into the first DTM season under the umbrella of the ADAC with two familiar faces at the wheel. “Kelvin and Ricardo are among the fastest GT3 drivers in the world. They both settled in very well here from day one. They are also cool guys, who fit in very well at ABT Sportsline. And they have a lot of experience with the DTM’s new tyre partner, which is not to be underestimated. I am confident that we can continue our success story in the DTM with Kelvin and Ricardo,” says Biermaier. With 73 race wins and five titles in the Drivers’ Championship, ABT Sportsline is one of the most successful teams in DTM history.
The careers of both ABT drivers have been nothing short of impressive. 2023 sees Van der Linde enter his tenth season with the Audi R8, during which time he has won the ADAC GT Masters twice and tasted victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. “I am really looking forward to my third season with ABT in the DTM, and to working with Ricardo as team-mates. With the new crew around me, I believe we can really push hard this year and look forward to some good results,” says van der Linde.
Feller, who switched to the DTM after his ADAC GT Masters title in 2021, claimed his maiden DTM victory in his rookie season, winning the 2022 race in Imola, Italy. “I hope we can repeat the kind of success we had at the start of last year. I am certainly really looking forward to starting my second season in the DTM with Scherer Sport and ABT Sportsline. I am ready for the new challenge and, together with my team-mate Kelvin, believe we are very well positioned to do well,” says Feller.
Source. ADAC
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