Far too often, the motorsport world studies automotive manufacturers every move. Who will announce a new works program? Who may be pulling out at the end of the season? Admirably, Porsche and Ferrari stand alone in their unwavering support for racing, while others come and go with varying frequency.

However, one constant factor that keeps the motor racing ecosystem in balance, is the privateer. At any level, motor racing involves colossal expense. Therefore, competing only for enjoyment with no expectation of financial return demands the deepest passion for the sport. In the endurance racing world in particular, private entrants racing for leisure are the lifeblood of the sport.

In the shadow of the infamous Nurburgring-Nordschleife, the village of Barweiler is home to a particularly special privateer team – Frikadelli Racing.

Back in the 1980s, a young Klaus Abbelen tasted the delights of competing at the Nurburgring on motorcycles but soon stepped away from racing altogether. A decade later, Abbelen returned to the track, but this time on four wheels. As a successful entrepreneur and market leader in the meatball business, Abbelen could afford the privilege of racing in FIA GT in Dodge Vipers and at his beloved Nordschleife in various other exotic machines.

However, Abbelen soon became disillusioned with spending enormous sums of money to race with a team, only for mechanical failures to thwart his efforts. Despite having the means to indulge his passion at whatever level he chose, Abbelen still struggled to find the ultimate joy in racing. This all changed when he fell in love with Sabine Schmitz – The Queen of the Nurburgring.

Driven by their shared love affair for the notorious Eifel circuit, Klaus and Sabine formed their own team to take on the never-ending challenge of ‘The Green Hell’ on their own terms. Famous for his ‘Frikadellen’(meatballs), Abbelen’s nickname – Frikadelli – was chosen to adorn the flanks of the team’s cars. Since the team’s inception, only the finest Porsche racing cars will do, regardless of the expense.

For over a decade, Klaus and Sabine enjoyed countless races in the Nurburgring VLN championship and an annual assault on the circuit’s revered 24-hour race. On their second attempt at the 2008 Nurburgring 24 hour, Klaus and Sabine finished third overall with co-drivers Edgar Viersen and Kenneth Heyer. Only the might of Manthey Racing finished ahead on a milestone day for Frikadelli Racing.

Klaus and Sabine never lost their unwavering common love of racing at the Nurburgring. Fuelled by the delights of the Früh brewery from nearby Cologne, the Frikadelli team also enjoyed their time off track as much as on. Peer into the cockpit of the immaculately prepared Frikadelli Porsche and you’d notice a button labelled ‘Früh’ rather than ‘water’. After yet another dice with the Nurburgring’s wicked contours, wild after parties often broke out at Klaus and Sabine’s Longhorn saloon, complete with a pole for the more adventurous dancers. Although Klaus and Sabine competed at the very highest level with the latest iterations of Porsche GT racing cars, having fun was essential.

In recent times, Frikadelli racing has risen to the top table of endurance racing teams and enjoys the blessing of the Porsche’s racing department. The team’s honour roll of star drivers is extensive: Kevin Estre, Michael Christensen, Matt Campbell, Laurens Vanthoor, Earl Bamber, Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet and Jorg Bergmeister. All have raced (and probably partied) hard with Frikadelli. At the revived Kyalami 9 hour in 2019, the Frikadelli climbed to the top step of the podium. Thus, proving the Barweiler team are no one trick Nurburgring pony.

In the sanitised and corporate world of motorsport, Frikadelli’s ideology of racing for fun at the highest level is wonderfully refreshing. Porsche factory driver, Mathieu Jaminet, describes the privilege of racing for Klaus and Sabine’s team: “Every driver that had the chance to drive for Frikadelli has unbelievable memories from Klaus and Sabine. We race hard in the day, but in the evening, we enjoy a nice dinner and a beer and talk about everything in life. This is very cool for a driver.”

In 2021, Frikadelli Racing head to the Nurburgring 24-hour with their strongest ever chance to finally win the race which has eluded them for so long. A pair of 911 GT3 R machines driven by the finest pilots in the Porsche stable make up: “the strongest entry Frikadelli have ever had” according to Jaminet, driver of Frikadelli’s #30 car.

For Frikadelli’s topflight drivers, strength can be drawn from the emotion and pride of racing for Sabine Schmitz, who tragically lost her battle with cancer in March 2021 at the age of just 51. Look closely on the roof of the distinctive Frikadelli machines and S.Schmitz will ride alongside four superstar drivers. Racers are powered by emotion and Frikadelli’s pair of Porsches will be driven by the memory of an exceptional woman.

During the final three years of Sabine ’s extraordinary life, the tenacious grapple with cancer interrupted opportunities to race her beloved Frikadelli Porsche. However, her spirit and infectious joy for life lives on within the Frikadelli team.

For Sabine’s partner in crime Klaus, taking the tough decision for Frikadelli to carry on is brave and inspiring. Throughout the life of their family race team, Sabine and Klaus chased the grandest prize in their world – the 24 hours of Nurburgring. Winning the 49th running of the world’s toughest endurance race on the 5th/6th June would be the most fitting tribute to Sabine and the spirit of the fun-loving yet determined privateer.