Fresh from the podium of the DTM, soon in the cockpit of Formula E: Ricardo Feller will make his debut for the ABT CUPRA team at the Rookie Test in Berlin (13 May). The 23-year-old Swiss driver will take over the number 51 car for one day, which is normally driven by Nico Müller in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
« We have already experienced victories and many great moments with Ricardo in the DTM – so he has more than earned his trip into the electrified world and we are all looking forward to seeing him in the Formula E car, » says ABT CEO and Team Principal Thomas Biermaier, who already has his driver’s tasks in mind: « Ricardo is a great race driver, he knows the team well and will certainly be able to support us perfecty in our test program – but of course he should also have a lot of fun during the day in Berlin. »
Ricardo Feller is in his third year in the DTM for ABT and started the new season with a podium finish at Oschersleben last weekend. « I immediately said yes when the team approached me with the rookie idea – it will certainly be a completely new and exciting experience, » says Feller, who last competed in a formula car in 2016. To prepare for the new challenge, Feller will spend a day at the simulator in Kempten to familiarize himself with the track in Berlin and the car’s systems. « I’ve been following the team’s upward trend closely and now I’m looking forward to being a part of it. I want to help with the development – if my times in Berlin are reasonably good, that’s even better. »
The test day, with three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, will take place on Monday after the World Championship double-header at the former Tempelhof Airport. Feller will be joined by 19-year-old German Tim Tramnitz, who completed the test day in Berlin last year and a free practice session at Misano this season. Both youngsters will spend the entire weekend with the team to learn the ropes.
Fun fact: Because Kelvin van der Linde, who normally drives for ABT together with Feller in DTM, will replace regular driver Nico Müller in the two races in Berlin (Müller will be competing in the WEC at the same time), the two team mates will suddenly be reunited on the same weekend in a different championship and in different roles.