130 Years of ABT: Two Lamborghinis, One Goal on the Nordschleife

For ABT, it marks the 13th appearance at the 24-hour classic. Following two years of growing success alongside Lamborghini, the team led by Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk is determined to take the decisive step forward this year. "We still have unfinished business with the Nürburgring. We want to win this race, and with this team and these cars we have the best possible foundation to do so. But we know the competition is fierce and the Nordschleife has its own rules," says Tomczyk.

In 2026, ABT will be celebrating a very special anniversary: the company from Kempten can look back on 130 years of history and will mark this milestone on Germany’s biggest motorsport stage.

One of the Lamborghinis will therefore compete in the livery of the Schaeffler Group with starting number 130. Schaeffler, a globally leading motion technology company, has been a close partner of ABT for many years – including in the DTM – and will be involved in the 24-hour race for the first time this year. The second car will run in Red Bull colours with starting number 84, a nod to Red Bull’s founding year of 1984.The Schaeffler Lamborghini with starting number 130 will be driven by Marco Mapelli (Italy), Nicky Catsburg (Netherlands) and Nick Yelloly (Great Britain).

Behind the wheel of the Red Bull Lamborghini with starting number 84 will be Mirko Bortolotti (Italy), Luca Engstler (Germany) and Patric Niederhauser (Switzerland). The fact that Mapelli, Bortolotti, Engstler and Niederhauser are all Lamborghini factory drivers is a further testament to the close and growing partnership between ABT and the Italian manufacturer.

"We are delighted to have put together such a formidable lineup once again," says Martin Tomczyk. "The continuity with our returning drivers gives us strength, and the new additions bring fresh momentum and additional experience. They all want the same thing: to win this race."

"We are incredibly proud of all the partners who are once again by our side this year," says ABT Head of Sports Marketing Harry Unflath. "Red Bull and Schaeffler represent not just strong brands, but genuine, long-standing partnerships that go far beyond the racetrack. Together with all our partners, we want to write an unforgettable chapter in ABT's history at the 24-hour race."

Preparations for the season highlight begin as early as this coming weekend: at NLS 1 (13–14 March), NLS 2 (20–21 March) and the Qualifiers (18–19 April), a single car will take to the track in each case – as was already the case last year. At the NLS rounds, the Lamborghini will compete in the Schaeffler livery, while the Qualifiers will see the car run in the Red Bull design.