Mirko Bortolotti begins a new chapter with the team Grasser after a complicated year with Abt. Lamborghini’s decision to move the driver highlights its intention to consolidate a leading team in the DTM competition.
Bortolotti, 2024 DTM champion, was loaned to the Abt team last year when it left Audi to compete with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Unfortunately, his season was marked by disappointing results, with a best finish of sixth place and a 14th position in the overall standings. The Abt team experienced its worst year in DTM history.
The return to Grasser is well-received, as the team was Lamborghini’s main representative last year, competing for the title until the last round with Jordan Pepper. The brand has explained that it wants to ensure closer collaboration between the driver and the team, reflecting in both championships: DTM and GT World Challenge Europe.
According to a Lamborghini spokesperson, “the decision to assign Bortolotti to Grasser stems from a shared commitment to work with the same team, ensuring continuity and effective collaboration between the competition programs.”
In addition to competing in DTM, Bortolotti will participate in the endurance edition of the GT World Challenge Europe, sharing the car with his new teammate Maximilian Paul and the other factory driver Franck Perera.
This move may also respond to other factors. After the end of the 2025 DTM season, rumors circulated about Grasser’s possible departure from Lamborghini, fueled by changes in the team, such as Pepper’s move to BMW. However, Lamborghini has denied any link between Bortolotti’s return and these rumors, reaffirming the current agreement with Grasser.
Grasser’s contract with Lamborghini has been renewed for several years, emphasizing the team’s commitment to the new Temerario GT3 project and Lamborghini’s long-term support.
Bortolotti’s return, who has been part of 19 of Grasser’s 27 victories, is a good precedent for the team as it seeks to replicate success in upcoming competitions.
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