The sensation is perfect! Despite having a Porsche contract, Ricardo Feller is ensuring that there will be an Audi in the DTM field in 2025: How it came about and why Porsche gave its approval
This is something that few would have expected: former Abt driver Ricardo Feller will ensure that an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II makes it into the DTM field after all! This has now been officially confirmed, bringing the DTM field to 24 cars and nine brands .
The 24-year-old Swiss will work with the Audi squad Land Motorsport, with whom he won the ADAC GT Masters championship title in 2021. “Everything fits perfectly and I’m so happy to be able to compete in the DTM with Land Motorsport,” says Feller, who has had quite a rollercoaster ride in recent weeks.
First, after the dissolution of the Audi driver squad and the brand change from Abt to Lamborghini, he was hired as a contract driver by Porsche – and nominated by Porsche’s new DTM team Allied Racing for one of the two cockpits.
“Last weeks very exhausting”: Feller’s rollercoaster ride
His future seemed secure, but then Allied-Racing withdrew from the DTM, filed for bankruptcy on March 10 – and Feller’s main program fell through. In record time, Feller sought a replacement and is now returning to his ex-team Land Motorsport – and to Audi.
“Ricardo was originally supposed to compete for another team in the DTM. However, the project fell through a few weeks ago. From there, we quickly developed a close exchange in order to put together an alternative program for him,” explains team manager Christian Land, describing how the unexpected DTM entry came about.
“The last few weeks have been very exhausting for me,” Feller clarifies. ‘The cancellation of my actual DTM program hit me hard because everything was uncertain for me. I am particularly grateful to Christian and Wolfgang Land for leaving no stone unturned. I would also like to thank Porsche for giving me the go-ahead for this.’
Why Porsche gave Feller the Audi approval
In addition to the financing, the approval of the traditional brand was a decisive criterion, because Feller is now competing in the Audi as a Porsche driver against the three Manthey Porsches that are on the grid this year.
“Ricardo approached us with the desire to compete for another team in the DTM. Due to the special circumstances, we have given him the go-ahead and wish him every success,”
What were the “special circumstances”? The planned Porsche Allied Racing team cannot compete as expected, and there is no prospect of an additional Porsche car in the DTM for Feller to compete in.
Feller will be testing in an Audi as early as next week
But the important thing is: Feller will remain with Porsche despite driving the Audi! “Ricardo Feller remains a Porsche contract driver and will compete in other customer sports programs for Porsche,” confirms the Porsche spokesperson. This presumably involves the GT World Challenge Europe and the races at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
But now the full focus is on the DTM project, because as early as Wednesday, Feller will step on the gas with the Land-Audi at the official DTM test in Oschersleben, where the season opener will take place in a month.
Incidentally, his race car is actually the 2021 championship-winning Audi that his father purchased from Land Motorsport and even had spray-painted with clear varnish to preserve the patina from the season finale. Now it could play an important role in Feller’s career again.
