Floersch moves to DTM in Abt's third Audi R8 LMS
Abt will expand to three Audi Sports R8 LMS GT3 cars in the DTM this season after signing former FIA Formula 3 driver Sophia Floersch.
As reported by Autosport last weekend, Floersch will join renowned Audi-affiliated squad Abt for the DTM’s first season under GT3 regulations, partnering 2013 champion Mike Rockenfeller and factory Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde.
With this announcement she becomes the third woman to compete for Abt in the German championship after Katherine Legge (2009) and Rahel Frey (2012).
The 20-year-old will make her first appearance with Abt during the first pre-season test at Hockenheim next month, before making her race debut in the category at Monza in June.
Floersch will be supported by female race engineer Laura Muller and female team manager Maike Frik, both a first for the Abt team.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in the DTM,” said Floersch.
“The partnership with Schaeffler and Abt Sportsline is great and makes me confident for my first season. I’m very proud to be given the chance to prove myself against such a strong field of drivers.”
Abt said it was able to add a third DTM entry thanks to the support of the Schaeffler Group, where Floersch serves as a brand ambassador.
#50 Richard Mille Racing Team Oreca 07 - Gibson: Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch, Beitske Visser
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
She was present at last year’s season finale in Hockenheim, driving the DTM Electric prototype car that the series is jointly developing with Schaeffler.
"We are very much looking forward to this joint adventure also in the DTM, working with Sophia and the cooperation with Schaeffler,” said Managing Partner Hans-Jürgen Abt.
“We now have a DTM veteran, a rookie and a lady in the team, that’s really something motorsport fans can already look forward to.”
Floersch’s DTM programme will run concurrently to her FIA World Endurance Championship duties with the Richard Mille Racing team.
At present, the rescheduled Le Mans 24 Hours round in August clashes with the DTM’s visit to the Nurburgring, but the DTM calendar could undergo further changes due to the fluid nature of the coronavirus pandemic.
Floersch had hoped to run another parallel LMP2 and Formula 3 campaign in 2021 having last year told Autosport it was "too early" for her to give up on single-seaters.
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