New Audi customer squad W Racing Team (WRT) presented its 2019 racing programme at a bustling media event held on Thursday evening at its factory headquarters in Baudour.

The Belgian squad is stepping up its ambitions ahead of its 10th season of racing, adding a prestigious DTM operation to its existing GT3 and TCR race programmes.

Under the banner of WRT Team Audi Sport, it joins Team Rosberg, Team Phoenix and ABT Sportsline in running Audi’s RS 5 DTM car.

The team’s first announced driver is South African Jonathan Aberdein. The 21-year-old will make his DTM debut after successfully establishing himself in single-seater racing: he earned a title in the UAE F4 series, and competed in last year’s FIA Formula 3 European Championship, where he scored 108 points.

Aberdein, whose team-mate is yet to be announced by WRT, participated in last December’s DTM ‘Young Driver Test’ in Jerez, driving for Audi.

WRT team boss Vincent Vosse said: “Entering DTM is a tremendous challenge, but one that every single person within our operation is up for tackling.

“This year’s rule-changes, and the exciting future for the series, made 2019 the right time to join DTM. We acknowledge that we’re rookies, and that it won’t be easy, but we’re absolutely thrilled to get started and we’re determined to succeed!”