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Klaus Abbelen
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Klaus Abbelen
Klaus Abbelen (born 15 September 1960) is a German former racing driver and businessman. Abbelen was a regular participant in races sanctioned at the Nürburgring, including the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. With his team Frikadelli Racing, he won the 2023 24 Hours of Nürburgring as a team principal.
Abbelen owns his family's business Abbelen GmbH, a German Frikadelle manufacturer. Abbelen was also married to German racing driver Sabine Schmitz before her death in 2021.
Abbelen started his endurance career in 1999, joining class A in the Ferrari Porsche Challenge in a Porsche, finishing second in his class. In 2002, Abbelen attempted to run the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, but failed to get in. In the same year, Abbelen joined the A Class in the Euro GT Series, where he joined Team W&A, placing 3rd overall.
In 2003, Abbelen joined multiple series, beginning with the Euro GT Series. Then, he joined the FFSA GT Championship, driving a Porsche 911 for Chateau Sport for two races along with racer Stéphane Ortelli. The pair would fail to reach podium and would settle for a 41st in the final standings. Abbelen would then join Zwaan's Racing in the FIA GT Championship, driving their Chrysler Viper with Arjan van der Zwaan and Robert van der Zwaan. In 7 races, the team would fail to reach podium, finishing the championship 19th in points. Abbelen would then move to the Porsche Supercup, racing for DeWalt Racing driving their Porsche 911 for a single race.
In 2004, Abbelen ran in the European Le Mans Series, driving a Saleen S7-R for Konrad Motorsport in one race. In 2004, Abbelen returned to Zwaan's Racing in the FIA GT Championship before not making podium again.
In 2006, Abbelen and Sabine Schmitz drove the No. 97 Porsche 911 (997) in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie endurance racing series on the Nürburgring, entered by Land Motorsport.
Abbelen competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona for the first time in 2016, racing alongside Patrick Huisman, Sven Müller, Frank Stippler, and his wife Sabine Schmitz. On race day, the crew finished 12th in the GTD class.
Abbelen announced his retirement ahead of the NLS8 round in the 2025 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. After suffering an early end to his race with a gearbox issue, he momentarily postponed his retirement to compete in the next round in NLS9 with the aim of both finishing a race as a proper sendoff and completing all four hours of the race as a solo entry.
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Klaus Abbelen
Klaus Abbelen (born 15 September 1960) is a German former racing driver and businessman. Abbelen was a regular participant in races sanctioned at the Nürburgring, including the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. With his team Frikadelli Racing, he won the 2023 24 Hours of Nürburgring as a team principal.
Abbelen owns his family's business Abbelen GmbH, a German Frikadelle manufacturer. Abbelen was also married to German racing driver Sabine Schmitz before her death in 2021.
Abbelen started his endurance career in 1999, joining class A in the Ferrari Porsche Challenge in a Porsche, finishing second in his class. In 2002, Abbelen attempted to run the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, but failed to get in. In the same year, Abbelen joined the A Class in the Euro GT Series, where he joined Team W&A, placing 3rd overall.
In 2003, Abbelen joined multiple series, beginning with the Euro GT Series. Then, he joined the FFSA GT Championship, driving a Porsche 911 for Chateau Sport for two races along with racer Stéphane Ortelli. The pair would fail to reach podium and would settle for a 41st in the final standings. Abbelen would then join Zwaan's Racing in the FIA GT Championship, driving their Chrysler Viper with Arjan van der Zwaan and Robert van der Zwaan. In 7 races, the team would fail to reach podium, finishing the championship 19th in points. Abbelen would then move to the Porsche Supercup, racing for DeWalt Racing driving their Porsche 911 for a single race.
In 2004, Abbelen ran in the European Le Mans Series, driving a Saleen S7-R for Konrad Motorsport in one race. In 2004, Abbelen returned to Zwaan's Racing in the FIA GT Championship before not making podium again.
In 2006, Abbelen and Sabine Schmitz drove the No. 97 Porsche 911 (997) in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie endurance racing series on the Nürburgring, entered by Land Motorsport.
Abbelen competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona for the first time in 2016, racing alongside Patrick Huisman, Sven Müller, Frank Stippler, and his wife Sabine Schmitz. On race day, the crew finished 12th in the GTD class.
Abbelen announced his retirement ahead of the NLS8 round in the 2025 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. After suffering an early end to his race with a gearbox issue, he momentarily postponed his retirement to compete in the next round in NLS9 with the aim of both finishing a race as a proper sendoff and completing all four hours of the race as a solo entry.
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