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ABT Sportsline has secured what it calls its "dream duo" for its Formula E return, with Robin Frijns set to join from Envision Racing with Nico Mueller alongside.
Both can call ABT home, with each having hugely successful spells in the German Touring Car Championship - DTM - while the pair has significant experience in Formula E, with 91 races under their belt between them.
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“Robin and Nico were our absolute dream team right from the start, because they have everything we need for our Formula E comeback: speed, experience and the right spirit,” says Hans-Juergen Abt, Managing Partner of ABT. “If we want to hold our own against the big factory teams in the new season, we need a small and powerful team. And that’s where Robin and Nico fit in perfectly.”
“We know from our years together in the DTM that they are fast, true team players and share ABT’s passion," adds ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier. "The fact that they both chose us, despite other tempting offers, shows how important the ABT family is to them and makes us a bit proud.”
Mueller raced for ABT in DTM between 2016 and 2021, scoring 31 podiums, 10 wins and he twice finished runner-up in the championship standings. He raced 17 times for DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT in Seasons 6 and 7 and supported the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team with testing and simulator work - he says he's got a score to settle in Formula E.
“After our great years together in the DTM, I’m really looking forward to this new chapter with ABT and to my return to Formula E,” says the Swiss driver.
“I’m also racing together with Robin, with whom I simply had a great time on and off the track – I think there are some good ingredients coming together that will put us in a good position for this new challenge. Personally, I still have a score to settle with Formula E after my difficult year and a half anyway, and I’m happy to have the chance to settle it together with this team.”
Frijns is a triple race-winner for ABT in DTM, with 18 podiums also to his name. The Dutchman joins from Envision Racing, having previously raced for Andretti in Formula E over a six-season career in the series with two wins to his name. “I know the ABT team and Nico from the DTM, where we had a great atmosphere in the team and were very successful,” says the Dutchman. “That’s exactly how we want to continue in Formula E."
"Of course, it is a big step for all of us and we will have to learn a lot and quickly but I have full confidence in the ABT team, which has caused a stir in every racing series in its history. It’s great to be a part of it again."
ABT x Mahindra
Back in July, ABT announced that it had reached a deal with Mahindra Racing which will see it will compete with the Anglo-Indian outfit's powertrain in Gen3. Lucas di Grassi, who competed for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler for seven years, joins Mahindra for Gen3 and he's highlighted the value in the forthcoming partnership.
“The long cooperation with ABT, during which we won the world championship together, is a good basis for the start to the new Formula E era,” says the Brazilian. “We’re using the same drivetrain – all the data we’ve collected and my close connection with all the engineers will definitely benefit all of us.”