Month: February 2022

ABT Sportsline has signed another top driver for the DTM: Ricardo Feller (21/CH) will become the teammate of René Rast (35/D) and Kelvin van der Linde (25/ZA) in the 2022 season.

Feller is considered a super talent and a diamond in the rough. In the 2017 season, the Swiss driver, who was just 16 years old at the time, became the youngest driver ever to make the leap into the ADAC GT Masters – a racing series that Ricardo Feller won last season together with Christopher Mies at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS in a nail-biting finale.

“My dream from the beginning was to race in the DTM,” says the new ABT driver. “I have tried to realize the dream and made that intention clear. It’s cool that this dream is becoming a reality at ABT Sportsline. I am aware that 2022 will be a challenge. Regardless of my teammates, the competition in the DTM will probably be even stronger than last year. I want to compete with the best – and they are currently racing in the DTM. I think it’s nice to be able to make the step into the DTM after winning the GT Masters.”

Just like René Rast and Kelvin van der Linde, Ricardo Feller will be driving an ABT Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II. The entry has been made possible primarily by the Scherer Group and HYLO – the number one in Germany when it comes to dry eyes.

“It’s mega that we can again enter three cars in the DTM this year,” says ABT CEO and team director Thomas Biermaier. “With René, Kelvin and Ricardo, we have three drivers who can all fight for the title. Despite his young age, Ricardo already has several years of experience with the Audi R8 LMS and is one of the fastest drivers in this car. And I think his personality also fits in very well with us.”

“The crew of our third car has had a pretty frustrating 2021 DTM season,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt. “Now their eyes are shining again. I am sure that Ricardo has the necessary talent to establish himself in the DTM and can become a big player. All of us at ABT are looking forward to racing with him.”

The deal was set up by Christian Scherer, who, with his Scherer Group, is one of ABT Sportsline’s most important business partners. “Ricardo’s family has a car dealership in Switzerland,” says CEO Christian Scherer. “That’s how we met at the end of 2019. Since then, I have tried to support Ricardo as much as possible. I am very happy that we could attract him as an ambassador and driver for Scherer Sport.”

Ricardo Feller will make his DTM debut in Portimão (Portugal) at the end of April. A total of eight events with two races each are scheduled in the 2022 DTM.

Three questions for Ricardo Feller

How did you get into motorsport?
Ricardo Feller: “By chance: we moved near an indoor kart track. I went there with my dad and then wanted to do it more and more. I got my own go-kart – actually just for fun. But the attraction was there to race. Then came the Swiss championship and so it went up one step at a time to the world championship. We didn’t have the financial means to keep up with the factory teams there – it costs a fortune in a team like that. Thanks to sponsors and the family, I made the step into Formula 4, but after half a year we realized that for financial reasons that was not our league either.”

What happened next?
“I wanted to drive in the Audi Sport TT Cup for fun. We could have managed the budget. During pre-season testing for the TT Cup, Sepp Haider took notice of me and made sure that I was in a GT3 car as soon as possible. I then never drove in the TT Cup, but instead went directly to the GT Masters – a series that has a very high level.”

What are your expectations going into your first DTM season?
“I’m going to go full throttle and I’m looking forward to the challenge. The DTM has always been my dream. I’m very grateful to Christian Scherer for putting me in touch with ABT Sportsline and for helping me a lot already. The biggest difference to the GT Masters is that I will have a car to myself. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when I don’t have to make any more setup compromises. It worked well with Christopher Mies last year, but I’m still looking forward to it. I immediately felt at home at ABT Sportsline and I’m convinced I’m in the right team.”

For the fans of ABT Sportsline, the new motorsport year begins with great news: three-time DTM champion René Rast (35/D) will be the team mate of Kelvin van der Linde (25/ZA), who won four races in his first DTM season last year and only just missed out on the title in the end.

“We started putting out feelers towards René early on,” says ABT CEO and team principal Thomas Biermaier. “In terms of the DTM, we know his strengths as an opponent. In Formula E, we got to know and appreciate him even better last season. We are extremely grateful to his management with Dennis Rostek and Audi Sport that it worked out and that we can begin the title fight with a real dream team in 2022.”

“We’ve always narrowly missed out on the drivers’ title in the DTM in recent seasons,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt. “With this strong driver pairing, there can only be one goal: to finally bring the title back to Kempten.”

Shooting star in the DTM with three championship titles

René Rast came to the DTM late and literally overnight, but turned out to be a shooting star. In his first full DTM season, he won the championship as a rookie in 2017. In 2018, he was only four points short of successfully defending the title. Rast became the champion again in 2019 and 2020. With his three championship titles, 24 wins, 20 pole positions, 14 fastest laps and 1,113 points, the super talent advanced to become the most successful Audi DTM driver of all time in just four years. In the all-time DTM record book, he is on a par with racing legend Klaus Ludwig. Only Bernd Schneider has more DTM titles.

“I’m very happy to be returning to the DTM after a year’s break,” says the three-time champion, who lives with his wife and child in Bregenz, Austria – only about an hour’s drive from ABT Sportsline’s headquarters. “I never lost my desire for the DTM. Audi wanted me to concentrate fully on Formula E last season. I was on site at a few DTM races. I liked what I saw.”

For the record-breaking driver, ABT Sportsline was a logical choice: “I will have almost the same crew from Formula E in the DTM. My engineer will remain the same, as will my chief mechanic and some of the mechanics. We are a super well-coordinated team. It just made sense to continue together.”

Two friends as team mates

That was also an important factor for Kelvin van der Linde when it came to extending his contract with ABT Sportsline. “I really wanted the same guys in my crew that simply did a mega job in 2021,” says the South African, who lives near Kempten. “When I first heard about René becoming my team mate, I was a bit surprised, but in a positive way. I think a new dream team is emerging. René is one of my big role models in motorsport. We will push each other and do everything we can to win the DTM title for ABT Sportsline. I think it’s going to be really cool.”

Rast and van der Linde have known each other for many years. They won the ADAC GT Masters together in 2014 with Christian Abt’s team in an Audi R8 LMS. Both have the same manager since the start of their careers in Dennis Rostek and work closely together in his agency Pole Promotion. They are friends privately and support each other.

René Rast’s ABT Audi R8 LMS will be recognisable to fans at first glance: The red and white design is reminiscent of his championship-winning cars from the DTM Class 1 era. Kelvin van der Linde’s car has the same basic layout, but in black and white.

“I saw the new design for the first time just before Christmas at an ABT partner workshop,” says the South African. “I think it looks mega.”

Strong partners

With Hyla, Kuka, Porta and Würth, ABT Sportsline welcomes as many as four new strong partners to the DTM. Unchanged on board are H&R, Fujitsu, Ravenol, Schaeffler, the Scherer Group, Sonax and Südpack. “We hardly have any space left on the two cars,” says ABT Sport Marketing boss Harry Unflath proudly. “This clearly speaks for the unbroken charisma of the DTM. Gerhard Berger, ITR and ProSiebenSat.1 are doing a great job. I’m particularly pleased that we were also able to inspire partners for the DTM who were also with us in Formula E.”

A total of eight events with two races each are scheduled for the 2022 DTM calendar. The season starts off at the end of April in Portimão (Portugal).

Three questions for René Rast

Two drivers as strong as René Rast and Kelvin van der Linde in one team – will that work?
Rene Rast: “I’ve known Kelvin for a long time. We raced together for the first time in 2014 and won the GT Masters straight away. Since then, we’ve kept running into each other. We have also been working together in our agency for a few years. It will certainly be a new situation to race against him instead of working with him or for him, but I don’t think that it will be a problem. It will be interesting to see how we coexist – especially how we deal with each other on the race track. Off the track, I don’t have any concerns about that at all.”

Will you pick up where you left off in the DTM at the end of 2020?
“I’m realistic enough to say that the DTM has changed and that it won’t be a walk in the park. The DTM is now with GT3 cars, which I have experience with, but very little compared to the likes of Kelvin van der Linde and the others. It will probably take me some time to get used to it again and learn the little tricks of the trade from the guys who have been driving these cars for seven, eight years. It’s quite clear that it’s going to be very hard. You also saw last year how other former DTM drivers or even other greats from motorsport struggled in the series. I hope that I can race for victories and that I can manage my learning curve, so that at the end of the year, I could possibly fight for a podium position somewhere in the overall standings. The most important thing is that the title finally comes back to ABT. They’ve been waiting for this for several years and they’ve been close many times.”

Here we are in the second decade of the 21st Century and there are still classic car owners who have yet to discover the benefits of electronic fuel injection (EFi). No doubt most don’t realise how simple the conversion can be thanks to the Retroject 38/38 Throttle Body from Webcon.

The Retroject is a dual injector throttle body designed to directly replace the Weber 32/36 DGV and 38DGAS carburettors.

The critical dimensions are identical so it will fit!. The positioning of the throttle lever and throttle rotation are the same so it will be possible to:
• Remove a Weber twin choke carb (e.g. Weber 32/36 DGV or 38DGAS).
• Bolt on the Retroject and connect the linkage.
• Add any aftermarket ECU and loom.
• Fit a high pressure fuel supply such as a Webcon WFP600…and the engine is ready to run.
All that’s needed is a rolling road session to map the ECU for optimum performance and economy. You’re then ready to reap the benefits of a modern EFi system on your classic car: power, driveability, torque and economy.

It really is as simple as that! No messing about with new throttle linkages, new air filters or new inlet manifolds. (You’ll need to tell your insurance company, but experience has shown that in many cases the premium remains the same).

The Retroject comes with Genuine Weber 480cc/m PICO fuel injectors. Air temp sensor, TPS and idle motor are already installed and ready to plug into your ECU’s wiring harness. The package also includes a 3 Bar fuel pressure regulator and two straight 8mm fuel unions. (90 degree angled ones are also available).

The Retroject 38/38 retails at just £472.97+VAT and the Webcon EFi Fuel Pump with Swirl Pot retails at £288.75+VAT. Retroject is also ideal when using a modern engine in a kit car and EFI is needed to comply with modern catalyst requirements. It will also be suitable for off road and marine use.

Available directly from Webcon and from appointed Webcon dealers around the world.
For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

Webcon is pleased to announce it has now reproduced the original Weber Auxilliary Venturi Puller. In the process of doing so Webcon has added a number of subtle improvements to ensure the quick and efficient removal of stubborn auxilliary venturis from Weber carburettors whilst minimising the chances of damage to the venturi or the carburettor.

The Weber Auxilliary Venturi Puller is an essential tool for anyone who overhauls Weber
carburettors or a DIY classic car enthusiast.

The Weber Auxilliary Venturi Puller can be ordered as part number 9800920000 at £88.14+VAT.

Available directly from Webcon and from appointed Webcon dealers around the world.
For further details contact Webcon UK on +44 (0)1932 787100 or visit www.webcon.co.uk

Anyone who is rebuilding an ‘A’ Series engine over the winter will be pleased to hear that Mini Spares is now offering the special dowels required when refitting main caps.

The special round dowels fit in the main bearing caps to locate the caps correctly and
ensure the bolts go through casings precisely where the surfaces meet.

Two versions are available:
Dowel – Maincap for 1300cc engines. Part number: 12G1268. Each £2.16 inc VAT
Dowel – Maincap for all other ‘A’ Series engines. Part number: 2A54. Each £1.82 inc VAT
The dowels are sold singly. Six will be required per engine.

For more details contact Mini Spares on
+44 1707 607700 or visit their website: www.minispares.com

Mini Spares strives to keep classic Minis on the road by remanufacturing parts which are no longer available from the original sources. The latest part to be added to its inventory is the ‘A
Plus’ Idler Gear.

Rover made the originals with what came to be known as ‘Clean Steel’ to eradicate power train wear on the final 1996-on MPI cars. The Idler Gear also became a useful upgrade for any ‘A Plus’ power unit. Thanks to Mini Spares the ‘A Plus’ Idler gear is once again available..

The Mini Spares ‘A Plus’ Idler Gear can be ordered as part number TUB101310 at £124.80 inc. VAT.

Mini Spares recommends that this idler gear is used in conjunction with original Torrington bearings (Part number TUK100320 –  8.56 each)

For more details contact Mini Spares on
+44 1707 607700 or visit their website: www.minispares.com

M-Style’s new body kit will give a standard 2015-2018 F20 LCI 1 Series an exciting and
more sporty appearance similar to that seen on the current M2.

The kit consists of a front bumper with a large intake below the grille, a rear bumper with provision for quad exhaust tips and a pair of sideskirts to enhance the body from all angles.

The kit price is £905.00 inc. VAT. M-Style
also offer painting and fitting services if required.
•Painting add £480.00 inc. VAT
•Painting and Fitting add £600.00 inc. VAT

Also new is the GTS style bonnet with a functional vent insert for the 1 series F20 / F21, 2 series F22 / F23 and for the M2 F87. The bonnet is made from pressed steel with a fully formed inner skin and mounting points for the factory hinge and lock.

The bonnet costs £799.00 inc. VAT and, again, M-Style can offer a painting and fitting service at its workshop.
• Painting add £300.00 inc. VAT
• Painting and Fitting add £360.00 inc. VAT

­For further details e-mail info@mstyle.co.uk or call 0208 598 9115

The Civic is a popular base for tuners, racers, drifters as well as those that want a car that will perform well both on the street and the track. Now leading suspension specialists GAZ has a suspension upgrade that will help the Civic perform even better by improving road holding and handling.

The GP8-2318 (front) and GP8-2319 (rear) dampers will fit Civic EG-3-9 EH9 ‘91/’95 and CRX models.

They provide adjustable damping rates by an adjustment knob on the side and height adjustment by means of threaded spring platforms.

Ride height is adjustable from -25mm to -50mm.

All the units are individually tested before leaving the factory and are covered by a two year warranty.

The GP8-2318 (front) and GP8-2319 (rear) dampers retail at £107.78 each plus VAT.

Springs are available separately in the spring-rate specified by the customer.

For further details visit the GAZ website:
www.gazshocks.com

Looking for a reasonably priced sportscar for some fun and a few trackdays? A Ford Puma might be the answer and, if you want to get the real sportscar experience out of it, a GAZ Gold coilover kit is what’s needed.

The coilover struts are both height and damper rate adjustable with rride height adjustable through 80mm.

The height adjusters have a coarse acme form thread for ease of adjustment and the damper units are black zinc plated to ensure that they remain in good order even after considerable service.

Damper rates are variable by means of an adjuster knob on the damper body. The GAZ Gold range comes with a gas cell in the reservoir filled with a high viscosity index multi grade oil to prevent cavitation and reduce fade under racing or trackday conditions.

All the units are individually tested before leaving the factory and are covered by a two year warranty.

GAZ can produce this kit with ‘road use’ or ‘full race’ valving as required.

GAZ Gold Coilover Kits are available for Puma 1996-98 models (No: GGA444) and for 1999 onwards (No: GGA445) and both retail at £1,024.30 plus. VAT per kit.

For further details visit the GAZ website: www.gazshocks.com

The 126 used much of the same mechanical underpinnings and layout as its Fiat 500 rear-engined predecessor with which it shared its wheelbase. However, in contrast it featured an all new bodyshell closely resembling a scaled-down Fiat 127.

This cute little two door was manufactured until 1979 and over a million were produced. Whilst this was considerable it was far short of the more popular Fiat 500. However, it found greater popularity in Eastern Europe as the Polski Fiat version, which sold in excess of three million.

GAZ is now offering an adjustable damper rate shock absorber for the 126 complete with height adjustable spring platforms for assister springs.

The damper rate can be adjusted by means of an easily accessible adjuster knob on the side.

GAZ can set the dampers up for general road use. They will also be suitable for occasional track slalom and sprint use; alternatively they can even be set up for serious classic racing use if desired.

GAZ dampers feature a zinc plated body and protective plastic sleeve to keep them looking good and working well for long into the future.

All the units are individually tested before leaving the factory and covered by a two year warranty for non-competition use.

The GAZ coilover dampers for the Fiat 126 retail at £93.09 + VAT each
For further details visit the GAZ website: www.gazshocks.com