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ottobre 05, 2021 - ABT Sportline

Advantage ABT? Thrilling DTM title fight at the Norisring

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With a 14-point deficit, Kelvin van der Linde is second in the standings going into the eagerly awaited #dtm finale at the #norisring (both races from 1 PM CEST on Saturday and Sunday, live on SAT.1 and on ran.de). Nevertheless, the South African, who lives near Kempten, perhaps has a decisive advantage in the title fight: of the four teams fighting for the prestigious drivers’ title, ABT Sportsline has the most experience at the #norisring

The 2.3-kilometre short city street circuit between Dutzendteich and Max Morlock Stadium only has four corners. Nevertheless, the track is considered as one of the most difficult on the #dtm calendar. Traction is just as important as maximum braking performance, good top speed as well as optimum handling in the chicane. The bumps, which change every year, also play a decisive role. And no other #dtm race track puts so much strain on the components over the race distance. 

Technical Director Florian Modlinger and his crew know exactly what is important at the #norisring and which adjustments they have to make, even though the Audi R8 LMS is competing on the street circuit for the first time and has completely different requirements to the #racing cars that ABT Sportsline has previously used in the #dtm at the #norisring.

The team has contested 25 #dtm races at the #norisring since 2000, scoring twelve podium finishes and winning the DTM’s most prestigious race three times so far – on track even four times. 

The first #norisring victory in 2002 is particularly unforgettable: Throughout the race, Laurent Aiello, in the Abt-Audi TT-R developed by ABT Sportsline, fought a gripping duel with “Mister DTM” Bernd Schneider in the factory Mercedes. In the last corner, Aiello managed the decisive overtaking manoeuvre to the cheer of the fans. 

It was to be 14 long years before an Audi won another home race at the #norisring. Once again, the winning team was ABT Sportsline, and twice: Edoardo Mortara won on Saturday in 2016, Nico Müller on Sunday. 

In 2013, Mattias Ekström had crossed the finish line as the winner and had the many Audi fans in the stands cheering. However, the Swede was retrospectively taken out of the classification due to the famous “water bottle gate” and there was – for only the second time in the history of the #dtm – a race without a winner. 

Ekström was always extremely strong at the #norisring, stood on the podium eight times for ABT Sportsline, but was never able to fulfil his big dream of winning at the Norisring

For Kelvin van der Linde, this weekend is about a different dream: he wants to secure the drivers’ title at the first attempt in his first #dtm season.

Further information in the press release to download