ABT: Audi partner on the road and race track

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09/27/2017
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The family business ABT Sportsline and the brand with the four rings have known and valued each other for many decades. Backed by Audi as a strong partner, ABT pursues the maxim of being better than the competition – both on the road and the race track.

Founded in 1896 as a smithy, the company in the German Allgäu region, now being run in the fourth generation by Hans-Jürgen Abt, has evolved into the world market leader for tuned automobiles from the Volkswagen Group and is represented in more than 60 countries. The founder’s grandson, Johann Abt, a very successful race driver with more than 300 victories under his belt, brought motorsport into the company about seven decades ago. Since then, the know-how from the race track has been inspiring vehicle tuning as well. A few years ago, a third pillar was added: electric mobility.

As early as at the end of the 1990s, ABT Sportsline relied primarily on Audi in motorsport. The first major success achieved under the banner of the four rings was the German Super Touring Car Championship win with the Audi A4 quattro. From 2000 to 2003, the family-owned business ABT based in Kempten in the Allgäu competed in the DTM as a privateer team and in 2002 even clinched the title. In 2004, ABT Sportsline became an Audi factory team and has since taken four further drivers’ titles. From 2014 to 2017, ABT, as the privateer Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport, was active in Formula E and in 2017 celebrated the drivers’ title with Lucas di Grassi.

Major motorsport successes of ABT Sportsline

1st Formula E drivers’ classification: 2016/2017
1st Formula E teams’ classification: 2017/2018 (Audi)
2nd Formula E teams’ classification: 2016/2017
2nd Formula E drivers’ and teams’ classification: 2015/2016
3rd Formula E drivers’ and teams’ classification: 2014/2015
1st DTM drivers’ classification: 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016 (all Audi)
1st DTM teams’ classification: 2004, 2007, 2011 (all Audi)
1st German Supertouring Championship: 1999 (Audi)
1st ADAC GT Masters: 2009 drivers’, 2010 teams’ classification (both Audi)
1st ADAC Formula Masters: 2009
1st ADAC Formula Junior: 1991, 1992, 1996