DTM champion Tomcyzk joins Abt as motorsport director

In his new function, Tomczyk shall be answerable for the complete Abt motorsport portfolio and can report on to managing director Hans-Jurgen Abt  and crew boss Thomas Biermaier.

The German will initially deal with Abt’s GT3 racing actions with Audi within the DTM and its newly-announced Lamborghini programme within the Nurburgring Nordschleife-based NLS Collection, earlier than increasing to its electrical racing tasks with CUPRA in Formulation E and Excessive E.

Tomczyk is a well-known determine at Abt having raced for the long-time Audi manufacturing unit squad for a decade from 2001-10, though it was following his change to Phoenix Racing in ‘11 that he received the DTM title.

His stint with Abt yielded 4 race victories and a greatest end of third within the championship in 2007, when he helped the squad to clinch the groups’ title.

“Martin Tomczyk gained lots of respect as a collection supervisor of the DTM final 12 months and did a superb job from our standpoint,” stated Thomas Biermaier, CEO of ABT Sportsline. 

“After the sale of the DTM model to the ADAC, we began speaking and rapidly realised that we might complement one another completely. 

“I’m more than happy that we got here to an settlement rapidly and that Martin Tomczyk shall be strengthening our crew as a supervisor with fast impact.”

Rene Rast, Workforce ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3

Picture by: Alexander Trienitz

Tomczyk hung up his helmet after 2021 to hitch DTM’s guardian physique ITR and was the second-in-command below firm proprietor Gerhard Berger, taking part in a vital function in growing the collection throughout its second 12 months as a GT3 class.

Nonetheless, the ITR was dissolved on the finish of the 2022 DTM season and the rights of the DTM subsequently offered to the ADAC, with Tomczyk not being transferred to the brand new administration construction.

Explaining his resolution to hitch Abt, the 41-year-old stated: “After the realignment of the DTM, I began to look elsewhere. ABT Sportsline is likely one of the most profitable racing groups on the earth and my motorsport dwelling. The contact has by no means damaged off in any case of those years. 

“I nonetheless know most of the individuals concerned, so the familiarisation interval shouldn’t take lengthy. I’m very a lot trying ahead to my new job. 

“I’ve been at dwelling in GT3 racing for a few years, so I can add my expertise in on this space immediately. However I’m additionally already very enthusiastic about Formulation E and Excessive E. The portfolio at ABT Sportsline is fascinating.”