Kelvin van der Linde

Kelvin van der Linde (born 20 June 1996) is a South African sports car racing driver currently competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Abt Sportsline. He is a two-time champion of the ADAC GT Masters, having won the championship in 2014 and 2019, and won the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2017 and 2022. He made his formula racing debut in Formula E at the 2023 Diriyah ePrix, driving for ABT Cupra as a substitute for the injured Robin Frijns.

Kelvin van der Linde
Van der Linde at the Red Bull Ring in 2023
NationalitySouth Africa South African
Born (1996-06-20) 20 June 1996
Johannesburg, South Africa
Related toEtienne van der Linde (uncle)
Sheldon van der Linde (brother)
Formula E career
Debut season2022–23
Racing licence FIA Platinum
Car number4
Former teamsABT CUPRA Formula E Team
Starts3
Wins0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish24th in 2022–23
Previous series
2014–20
2015
2014
2013
2011–2012
2006–2010		ADAC GT Masters
TCR International Series
Blancpain Sprint Series
Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup
Volkswagen Cup South Africa
Karting
Championship titles
2014, 2019
2013
2011–2012
2008, 2010		ADAC GT Masters
Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup
Volkswagen Cup South Africa
South African Karting Championship

Racing career
van der Linde placed fourth in the 2017 Australian GT Championship driving an Audi R8 LMS

Kelvin van der Linde, a South African, started his career in racing in kart racing at the age of eight in 2005.

In 2011, he became the youngest driver to compete in a National South African Circuit event at age 14 and also South Africa’s youngest National Champion at the age of 16 in 2012.

In 2013 he won the International Championship. At the age of 17, van der Linde became the youngest ever winner of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup and became a Volkswagen-supported junior driver for the 2014 season. He became the youngest ADAC GT Masters champion at age 18 driving an Audi R8 LMS Ultra.

In 2015, van der Linde was promoted to Audi factory driver, winning the 2017 24 Hours of Nürburgring and Suzuka 10 Hours.

2021

In 2021, van der Linde competed in the 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) for Abt Sportsline. He won four races and finished third in the drivers' championship. Going into the final round of the season, he was fighting for the drivers' championship title with Liam Lawson and Maximilian Götz.

During both of the final races of the Championship at the Norisring, van der Linde had similar incidents with Lawson. In the first race, van der Linde dived down the inside of Liam, with Liam finished in 3rd. In the second race the consequences were much more serious; Lawson's car was damaged in a first-lap collision with van der Linde, who again dived down the inside of Lawson, taking Lawson out of contention for the title as he finished 18th. van der Linde was then given a five-second time penalty as a result. Towards the end of the race, van der Linde suffered a puncture in a battle with Götz and lost his chances to win the title, which eventually went to Götz after Mercedes issued team orders to the cars ahead of the latter to guarantee he finished 1st.[1]

The move was widely condemned, with some believing van der Linde did it deliberately. Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko called for him to be banned,[2] and Lawson himself did not hold back his anger after the race, stating Kelvin was an 'idiot' and the 'dirtiest guy I'd ever raced against.'[3] van der Linde would later apologize.[4]

2022

Days before the final round of the 2021 DTM season, Abt Sportsline confirmed him as their driver for the 2022 season.[5] After finishing ninth in points in 2022, van der Linde returned to the team for 2023.[6]

Formula E

2022–23 season

After Robin Frijns sustained a hand injury at the 2023 Mexico City ePrix, van der Linde was called upon to replace him at ABT Cupra for the rounds at Diriyah.[7] In his first weekend in single-seater racing, the South African managed to finish 16th during the first race and 18th on Saturday, which he stated gave him a base to build upon for the following event.[8]

Racing record

Career summary
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2011 Engen Volkswagen Cup Ferodo Racing 10 0 0 0 1  ? 3rd
Volkswagen Challenge South Africa Ferodo Racing 16 12 16 15 12 152 1st
Autoquip
2012 Volkswagen Cup South Africa  ? 20 7  ?  ? 15 429 1st
2013 Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup N/A 9 5 2 4 6 348 1st
2014 ADAC GT Masters Prosperia C. Abt Racing 16 3 4 0 9 214 1st
Blancpain Sprint Series Prosperia Abt Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2015 ADAC GT Masters C. Abt Racing 16 1 0 0 3 81 14th
TCR International Series Liqui Moly Team Engstler 2 0 0 0 0 13 21st
Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2016 ADAC GT Masters Car Collection Motorsport 10 0 0 0 0 1 54th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP6 Prosport-Performance GmbH 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2017 ADAC GT Masters Aust Motorsport 14 1 0 0 2 107 5th
Australian GT Championship JAMEC PEM Racing 12 2 0 0 5 516 4th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Magnus 2 1 0 0 1 27 5th
Audi Sport Team ISR
24 Hours of Nürburgring . SP9 Audi Sport Team Land 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Audi Sport Team ISR 4 0 0 0 0 5 33rd
2018 ADAC GT Masters Montaplast by Land-Motorsport 14 2 0 0 6 136 2nd
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship - GTD 1 0 0 0 1 24 53rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team MPC 3 1 2 1 2 40 6th
Audi Sport Team Absolute Racing
Audi Sport Team Land
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Attempto Racing 5 0 0 0 1 36 8th
Montaplast by Land-Motorsport
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Attempto Racing 10 1 0 1 3 65 3rd
Stock Car Brasil Blau Motorsport 3 0 0 0 1 0 NC†
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
2019 ADAC GT Masters HCB-Rutronik Racing 14 3 3 1 7 205 1st
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Valvoline 4 1 0 0 1 32 13th
Audi Sport Team Land
Audi Sport Team WRT
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Attempto Racing 4 0 0 0 0 10 24th
24 Hours of Daytona - GTD Audi Sport Team WRT Speedstar 1 0 0 0 1 30 3rd
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
FIA GT World Cup Audi Sport Team Rutronik 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th
2019–20 Formula E Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Test driver
2020 ADAC GT Masters Rutronik Racing 13 1 0 0 4 160 4th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 4 1 0 0 1 52 4th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 1 0 1 2 66 4th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Valvoline 1 0 0 1 0 4 19th
Audi Sport Team WRT 2 0 0 0 0
2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Abt Sportsline 16 4 5 2 5 208 3rd
Asian Le Mans Series - LMP2 Phoenix Racing 2 0 0 0 1 27 9th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Team WRT 3 0 0 0 2 56 5th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 4 0 0 0 1 9.5 22nd
24H GT Series - GT3 Pro 1 0 0 0 1 26 NC
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team WRT 1 0 0 0 1 33 7th
Audi Sport Team Saintéloc Racing 1 0 0 0 1
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2022 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Abt Sportsline 16 0 1 1 1 90 9th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 4 1 2 0 1 27 17th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Valvoline 1 0 0 0 0 12 16th
Audi Sport Team WRT 1 0 0 0 0
Audi Sport Team Tresor 1 0 0 0 0
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2022–23 Formula E ABT CUPRA Formula E Team 3 0 0 0 0 0 24th
2023 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 16 1 0 1 2 119 8th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Scherer Sport PHX 1 0 0 0 1 24 12th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 ABT Sportsline 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th

† As van der Linde was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete ADAC GT Masters results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points
2014 Prosperia C. Abt Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra OSC
1
2		 OSC
2
1		 ZAN
1
3		 ZAN
2
2		 LAU
1
7		 LAU
2
2		 RBR
1
10		 RBR
2
2		 SLO
1
6		 SLO
2
10		 NÜR
1
6		 NÜR
2
2		 SAC
1
1		 SAC
2
1		 HOC
1
10		 HOC
2
6		 1st 214
2015 C. Abt Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra OSC
1
17		 OSC
2
6		 RBR
1
10		 RBR
2
17		 SPA
1
Ret		 SPA
2
11		 LAU
1
Ret		 LAU
2
12		 NÜR
1
3		 NÜR
2
Ret		 SAC
1
Ret		 SAC
2
1		 ZAN
1
Ret		 ZAN
2
7		 HOC
1
3		 HOC
2
7		 14th 81
2016 Car Collection Motorsport Audi R8 LMS Evo OSC
1
27		 OSC
2
10		 SAC
1
24		 SAC
2
20		 LAU
1
29		 LAU
2
Ret		 RBR
1
Ret		 RBR
2
16		 NÜR
1
12		 NÜR
2
24		 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 HOC
1
 HOC
2
 54th 1
2017 Aust Motorsport Audi R8 LMS Evo OSC
1
4		 OSC
2
9		 LAU
1
6		 LAU
2
7		 RBR
1
9		 RBR
2
21		 ZAN
1
2		 ZAN
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
6		 NÜR
2
1		 SAC
1
4		 SAC
2
6		 HOC
1
7		 HOC
2
20		 5th 107
2018 Montaplast by Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS Evo OSC
1
2		 OSC
2
Ret		 MST
1
9		 MST
2
8		 RBR
1
5		 RBR
2
13		 NÜR
1
Ret		 NÜR
2
10		 ZAN
1
2		 ZAN
2
11		 SAC
1
1		 SAC
2
2		 HOC
1
3		 HOC
2
1		 2nd 136
2019 HCB-Rutronik Racing Audi R8 LMS Evo OSC
1
2		 OSC
2
4		 MST
1
1		 MST
2
4		 RBR
1
4		 RBR
2
3		 ZAN
1
17		 ZAN
2
9		 NÜR
1
3		 NÜR
2
2		 HOC
1
9		 HOC
2
1		 SAC
1
19		 SAC
2
1		 1st 205

Complete TCR International Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2015 Liqui Moly Team Engstler Audi TT Cup SEP
1		 SEP
2		 SHA
1		 SHA
2		 VAL
1		 VAL
2		 ALG
1
4		 ALG
2
12†		 MNZ
1		 MNZ
2		 SAL
1		 SAL
2		 SOC
1		 SOC
2		 RBR
1		 RBR
2		 MRN
1		 MRN
2		 CHA
1		 CHA
2		 MAC
1		 MAC
2		 21st 13

† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Ovr.
Pos.		 Class
Pos.
2016 Germany Prosport-Performance GmbH Germany Fidel Leib
Sweden Jonas Carlsson
Germany Thomas Bolz		 Porsche Cayman Pro4 SP6 4 DNF DNF
2017 Germany Audi Sport Team Land / Land-Motorsport United States Connor De Phillippi
Germany Christopher Mies
Germany Markus Winkelhock		 Audi R8 LMS SP9 158 1st 1st
2018 Germany Audi Sport Team Land Germany Christopher Mies
Germany René Rast
Germany Christopher Haase		 Audi R8 LMS SP9 133 5th 6th
2019 Germany Audi Sport Team Land Germany Christopher Mies
Germany René Rast
Germany Christopher Haase		 Audi R8 LMS Evo SP9 139 DNF DNF
2020 Germany Audi Sport Team Land Italy Mattia Drudi
Germany Christopher Mies
Germany René Rast		 Audi R8 LMS Evo SP9 85 6th 6th
2021 Germany Audi Sport Team Land Germany Christopher Mies
Germany René Rast
Belgium Frédéric Vervisch		 Audi R8 LMS Evo SP9 47 DNF DNF
2022 Germany Audi Sport Team Phoenix Netherlands Robin Frijns
Belgium Dries Vanthoor
Belgium Frédéric Vervisch		 Audi R8 LMS Evo II SP9 159 1st 1st
2023 Germany ABT Sportsline Italy Marco Mapelli
South Africa Jordan Pepper
Denmark Nicki Thiim		 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 SP9 160 9th 7th

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2018 Australia Jamec Pem Racing Australia Garth Tander
Belgium Frédéric Vervisch		 Audi R8 LMS APP 241 27th 7th
2019 Australia Audi Sport Team Valvoline Australia Garth Tander
Belgium Frédéric Vervisch		 Audi R8 LMS APP 181 DNF DNF

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Engine Class No. 1 2 3 4 Pos. Points
2021 Germany Phoenix Racing Liechtenstein Matthias Kaiser
Denmark Nicki Thiim
Switzerland Simon Trummer		 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 P2 5 DUB
1
3		 DUB
2
3		 ABU
1
4		 ABU
2
3		 4th 57

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2021 Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS Evo MNZ
1
4		 MNZ
2
1		 LAU
1
4		 LAU
2
3		 ZOL
1
1		 ZOL
2
8		 NÜR
1
1		 NÜR
2
Ret		 RBR
1
5		 RBR
2
6		 ASS
1
12		 ASS
2
4		 HOC
1
1		 HOC
2
10		 NOR
1
4		 NOR
2
17		 3rd 208
2022 Team Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS Evo II ALG
1
4		 ALG
2
6		 LAU
1
Ret		 LAU
2
20		 IMO
1
5		 IMO
2
13		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
2		 NÜR
2
4		 SPA
1
5		 SPA
2
14		 RBR
1
8		 RBR
2
Ret		 HOC
1
12		 HOC
2
5		 9th 90
2023 Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS Evo II OSC
1
6		 OSC
2
Ret		 ZAN
1
12		 ZAN
2
6		 NOR
1
21		 NOR
2
5		 NÜR
1
8		 NÜR
2
20		 LAU
1
3		 LAU
2
8		 SAC
1
5		 SAC
2
13		 RBR
1
1		 RBR
2
Ret		 HOC
1
6		 HOC
2
25		 8th 119

Complete Formula E results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Chassis Powertrain 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2022–23 ABT CUPRA Formula E Team Formula E Gen3 Mahindra M9Electro MEX DRH
16		 DRH
18		 HYD
Ret		 CAP
WD		 SAP BER BER MCO JAK JAK POR RME RME LDN LDN 24th 0

References
  1. Thukral, Rachit; Haidinger, Sven (11 October 2021). "Lawson hits out at "idiot" van der Linde after losing DTM title". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  2. Media, TEAMTalk. "Red Bull's Marko calls for SA DTM driver Kelvin Van der Linde to be banned". Wheels. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  3. Crebolder, Finley (11 October 2021). "Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson rages over lost DTM title". PlanetF1. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  4. "Kelvin van der Linde apologises for taking out Liam Lawson in DTM finale". VelocityNews. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  5. "Kelvin van der Linde also in DTM with ABT Sportsline in 2022". ABT Sportsline GmbH. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  6. "Feller & Van Der Linde Rejoin ABT For 2023 DTM Season". Dailysportscar. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  7. "Van Der Linde To Step In For Frijns At ABT CUPRA". FIA Formula E. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. Golding, Nick (31 January 2023). "Kelvin van der Linde thanks ABT CUPRA for their 'trust and patience' following single-seater debut". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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