Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: ABT Sportsline

  • ABT confirm line-up

    ABT Sportsline has secured what it calls its “dream duo” for its Formula E return, with Robin Frijns set to join from Envision Racing with Nico Mueller alongside.

    Both can call ABT home, with each driver having hugely successful spells in the German Touring Car Championship – DTM – whilst the pair has significant experience in Formula E, with 91 races under their belt between them.

    Robin and Nico were our absolute dream team right from the start, because they have everything we need for our Formula E comeback: speed, experience and the right spirit. If we want to hold our own against the big factory teams in the new season, we need a small and powerful team. And that’s where Robin and Nico fit in perfectly.

    Hans-Juergen Abt, Managing Partner of ABT.

    Mueller raced for ABT in DTM between 2016 and 2021, scoring 31 podiums, 10 wins and he twice finished runner-up in the championship standings. He raced 17 times for Dragon / Penske Autosport in Season 6 and 7 and supported the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team team with testing and simulator work.

    After our great years together in the DTM, I’m really looking forward to this new chapter with ABT and to my return to Formula E. I’m also racing together with Robin, with whom I simply had a great time on and off the track – I think there are some good ingredients coming together that will put us in a good position for this new challenge. Personally, I still have a score to settle with Formula E after my difficult year and a half anyway, and I’m happy to have the chance to settle it together with this team.

    Nico Mueller on his return.

    Frijns is a triple race-winner for ABT in DTM as well as 18 podiums also to his name. The Dutchman joins from Envision Racing, having previously raced for Andretti in Formula E over a six-season career in the series with two wins to his name.

    I know the ABT team and Nico from the DTM, where we had a great atmosphere in the team and were very successful. That’s exactly how we want to continue in Formula E. Of course, it is a big step for all of us and we will have to learn a lot and quickly but I have full confidence in the ABT team, which has caused a stir in every racing series in its history. It’s great to be a part of it again.

    Robin Frijns on his move.

  • ABT Sportsline returns to Formula E

    ABT Sportsline has confirmed it will return to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from the beginning of the Gen3 era, starting next year.

    The German outfit will enter as a customer team after having been a fixture throughout the championship’s first seven seasons. Despite a hiatus in Season 8, following the exit of Audi ABT can still count itself among the most successful teams in Formula E history, with 47 podiums and 1,380 points to its name.

    The team won the first ever Formula E race in Beijing in 2014, whilst Lucas di Grassi steered to the Drivers’ title in 2017, ABT then sealed the Teams’ crown a season later and partnered with Audi between 2017 and 2021.

    ABT has already secured a powertrain supplier for 2023, which they will announce shortly and discussions are already underway as the privateer aims to secure a pair of ‘clever’ drivers to leverage every possible advantage at the start of Formula E’s new era.

    Formula E has always had a big place in our hearts and we have never made a secret of the fact that we want to be back. After the internal kick-off, we are now talking to our current and potential partners. The goal is to bring a strong team to the championship, both on and off track.

    Hans- Juergen Abt, Managing Partner.

    We have always been in contact with Formula E, had many discussions and have received great support from the whole team around Alejandro (Agag), Alberto (Longo) and Jamie (Reigle). As far as our two drivers are concerned, we have very clear ideas. We will probably start the 2023 season as underdogs, unlike last time as a factory team. That’s why it’s all the more important that we have quick and clever drivers in the cockpit, who fit in well with us. The first talks are exciting and very positive, so I’m sure we’ll have our team together soon.

    Thomas Biermaie, CEO ABT.

    Formula E is the pinnacle of all-electric motorsport so it’s natural that teams and manufacturers leading the electric mobility revolution want to be part of the championship. In Season 9 we will introduce two game-changing developments designed to enhance the appeal of racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. First, we debut the Gen3 race car which will set the standard in performance, efficiency and sustainability. Second, we introduce new financial regulations to underpin competitive balance and financial sustainability for our teams. Together, they create an environment for competitive racing and long-term growth. We look forward to seeing ABT embrace these opportunities as they return to Formula E in Gen3.

    Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO.