ABT Sportsline has confirmed Luca Engstler and Marco Mapelli as its driver line-up for the 2026 DTM season, with the pair set to represent the team in the upcoming campaign.
The announcement completes ABT’s driver pairing for the new season, bringing together two drivers with strong experience in GT3 machinery and international GT competition. As one of the most successful and established teams in the championship, ABT will once again aim to compete for race victories and strong results throughout the season.
Both Engstler and Mapelli arrive with experience of racing at the top level of GT competition, forming a balanced line-up as the team prepares for another year in the highly competitive GT3-based championship.
Engstler continues to build momentum in DTM
Engstler made his DTM debut in 2023 with Liqui Moly Team Engstler, gaining his first full season of experience in the series. The campaign allowed him to familiarise himself with the demands of the championship while competing against an experienced grid of GT drivers. He remained in DTM in the following seasons with Lamborghini machinery run by Grasser Racing Team. During the 2024 campaign, Engstler delivered some of his strongest performances in the series, securing two race victories and multiple podium finishes across the season.
A move to ABT Sportsline now represents both a professional milestone and a personal one, given his long-standing connection to the team. Having grown up around the ABT environment, the opportunity to race for the outfit carries particular significance. While acknowledging that the transition will bring new challenges and a period of adaptation, Engstler approaches the season with a clear focus on steady progress, consistent points finishes, and building a foundation for long-term success.
“I am really looking forward to working with Abt. The team has been a part of my life since I was a child. Back then, I used to pass the workshop every day on the way to school. It is a great honour to now be starting for Abt. It goes without saying that there is a lot that is new for us. With this in mind, the first year will be something of a learning phase. However, our goal is to be successful and to consistently improve over the course of the whole season. The key will be to pick up points, even on difficult weekends.”
Mapelli brings GT3 and endurance experience to ABT
Mapelli joins ABT Sportsline with a wealth of experience as a Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory driver and a proven track record across international GT and endurance racing. The Italian has competed at the very highest level of GT3 competition, including the GT World Challenge Europe and ADAC GT Masters, where he has firmly established himself as one of the category’s most accomplished and consistent performers.
Alongside his GT programmes, Mapelli brings extensive top-tier endurance racing experience, further strengthening ABT Sportsline’s 2026 line-up. Joining the team represents a significant milestone in his career, with the move to DTM with ABT described as a long-held ambition. He immediately felt at home within the team environment and highlighted the squad’s commitment and passion as key motivators, aligning them closely with his own determination to perform at the highest level. With ABT’s winning pedigree setting the standard, Mapelli arrives with a clear, shared objective: to compete at the front and fight for victories.
“To be a DTM driver for Abt feels like a dream come true. I am very much looking forward to spending the whole season working with an absolutely top team. Right from the first moment, I have felt at home in the team. You can feel the commitment and passion of every single person, which is a great motivation for me to do my very best. Abt’s history speaks for itself. This team races to win, and that is precisely our approach.”
A strong line-up for ABT Sportsline
With Engstler and Mapelli confirmed as its driver pairing, ABT Sportsline heads into the 2026 DTM season with a strong blend of experience and pace.
Thomas Biermaier emphasised the team’s long-standing success in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, underlining its position as one of the most competitive outfits on the grid, while targeting consistent front-running performances and strong momentum throughout the season.
He also noted that both drivers have already integrated seamlessly into the team, proving to be an excellent fit both on track and within the team dynamic. With a shared ambition to return to winning ways, he emphasised that the combination of Engstler and Mapelli puts ABT in a strong position to achieve that objective in the 2026 DTM season.
“We are delighted to have Luca and Marco in our team. Even in the first few weeks, we have already noticed that they are both a perfect fit for us – not only from a sporting perspective, but also as people. Together, we have a clear goal: to be successful again. With Luca and Marco, we are well on our way to achieving that goal.”
