What was being rumored a few weeks ago has become a reality. ABT, one of the founding teams of Formula E, is returning to street circuits for the third generation (Gen3) era.
According to official information from the electric single-seater series, the German brand has already secured a powertrain supplier for 2023, which it will announce soon. They point out that talks are well underway, as the private investor aims to sign a couple of “smart” drivers to take every possible advantage at the start of the new stage.
ABT will enter as a customer team and returns to Formula E after being a fixture for the first seven seasons of the championship. Despite a break in Season 8, the squad can still be counted among the most successful in the history of the competition, with 47 podiums and 1,380 points scored.
Related content: Monaco Left Tension within Venturi after Incident between Mortara and di Grassi
The Germans won the first Formula E race in Beijing in 2014, while Lucas di Grassi clinched the drivers’ title in 2017. ABT sealed the teams’ crown a season later and partnered with Audi between 2017 and 2021.
Formula E Applauds Their Return
Within the tournament, organizers welcome ABT’s return. Formula E CEO Jamie Reigle noted that the category is among the elite of all-electric motorsport, so it’s only natural that teams and manufacturers leading the electric mobility revolution would want to be part of the championship.
“In season 9, we will introduce two revolutionary developments designed to enhance the appeal of racing in the ABB FIA Formula E FIA World Championship. First, we are introducing the Gen3 race car that will set the standard in performance, efficiency and sustainability. Second, we introduced new financial regulations to support the competitive balance and financial sustainability of our teams. We look forward to seeing ABT take advantage of these opportunities when they return to Formula E in Gen3,” he added.
For his part, FIA Director of Formula E and Innovative Sporting Activities, Frédéric Bertrand expressed his satisfaction that one of the iconic teams is back. “ABT has strong references in the series and, more broadly, in motorsport in general, and their commitment underlines the appeal of both Formula E and the new Gen3 car recently launched in Monaco.”
For Formula E Co-Founder and Championship Director Alberto Longo, “ABT is a proven success story setting points and podiums, so its return after a season away to be part of the Gen3 era is positive for the fans and the sport.”
Team Ready
“Formula E has always held an important place in our hearts and we have never hidden the fact that we want to return,” said Hans-Juergen Abt, Managing Partner at ABT.
He assured that the team’s goal is to put together a perfect package together with sports marketing director Harry Unflath and managing director Thomas Biermaier. “After the internal launch, 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 the track,” said Hans-Juergen .
About the drivers, Biermaier stated that they have very clear ideas. “It is important that we have fast and intelligent drivers in the cockpit, who fit well with us. The first talks are exciting and very positive, so I’m sure we will soon have our team together.”
Written by I Jhonattan González
