Kelvin van der Linde
South African racing driver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kelvin van der Linde (born 20 June 1996) is a South African and German[3] sports car racing driver for BMW Motorsport.[4] 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, 2022 and 2025. Van Der Linde formerly competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Abt Sportsline.[5] He also 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.[6]
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South AfricanSheldon van der Linde (brother)
| Kelvin van der Linde | |
|---|---|
Van der Linde in 2024 | |
| Nationality | South African |
| Born | 20 June 1996 |
| Relatives | Etienne van der Linde (uncle) Sheldon van der Linde (brother) |
| Formula E career | |
| Debut season | 2022–23 |
| Current team | BMW Motorsport |
| Categorisation |  FIA Silver (2014)[1] FIA Gold (2015–2019) FIA Platinum (2020–)[2] |
| Car number | 51 |
| Starts | 5 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 11th in 2023-24 Formula E season |
| 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 | |
| 2025 2025 2014, 2019 2013 2011–2012 2008, 2010 | Intercontinental GT Challenge GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup ADAC GT Masters Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup Volkswagen Cup South Africa South African Karting Championship |
Racing career
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Van der Linde, a South African, started his career in racing in kart racing at the age of eight in 2005.[citation needed]
In 2011, van der Linde became the youngest driver to compete in a National South African Circuit event at the age of fourteen and also South Africa's youngest National Champion at the age of sixteen in 2012.[citation needed]
In 2013, van der Linde won the International Championship. At the age of seventeen, 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 the age of eighteen driving an Audi R8 LMS Ultra.[citation needed]
In 2015, van der Linde was promoted to Audi factory driver, winning the 2017 24 Hours of Nürburgring and Suzuka 10 Hours.[citation needed]
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 Lawson, with Lawsonfinished in third. 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 in first.
2022
Days before the final round of the 2021 DTM season, Abt Sportsline confirmed van der Linde as their driver for the 2022 season.[7] After finishing ninth in points in 2022, van der Linde returned to the team for 2023.[8]
Formula E
ABT CUPRA Formula E Team (2023–2024)
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.[9] In his first weekend in single-seater racing, he 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.[10]
2023–24 season
As a reserve driver of ABT Cupra, van der Linde returned for the 2024 Berlin ePrix, replacing Nico Müller who missed the event due to clashing commitments in the FIA World Endurance Championship.[6]
Personal life
In 2022, van der Linde initiated the process for acquiring the German citizenship after living in Kempten, Germany, since 2014.[11] In early 2024, the process was completed.[3]
Racing record
Racing career summary
† 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)
Complete GT World Challenge Europe results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Prosperia ABT Racing | Audi R8 LMS ultra | Pro | NOG QR |
NOG CR |
BRH QR |
BRH CR |
ZAN QR |
ZAN CR |
SVK QR |
SVK CR |
ALG QR |
ALG CR |
ZOL QR |
ZOL CR |
BAK QR Ret |
BAK CR 15 |
NC | 0 |
| 2018 | Attempto Racing | Audi R8 LMS | Pro | ZOL 1 4 |
ZOL 2 1 |
BRH 1 8 |
BRH 2 3 |
MIS 1 Ret |
MIS 2 4 |
HUN 1 10 |
HUN 2 3 |
NÜR 1 6 |
NÜR 2 4 |
3rd | 65 | ||||
| 2019 | Attempto Racing | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | BRH 1 5 |
BRH 2 4 |
MIS 1 7 |
MIS 2 14 |
ZAN 1 27 |
ZAN 2 24 |
NÜR 1 28 |
NÜR 2 12 |
HUN 1 4 |
HUN 2 10 |
10th | 24.5 | ||||
| 2020 | Belgian Audi Club Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | MIS 1 2 |
MIS 2 5 |
MIS 3 7 |
MAG 1 5 |
MAG 2 6 |
ZAN 1 1 |
ZAN 2 11 |
CAT 1 7 |
CAT 2 4 |
CAT 3 4 |
4th | 66 | ||||
| 2021 | ROFGO Racing with Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | MAG 1 11 |
MAG 2 Ret |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
MIS 1 23 |
MIS 2 3 |
BRH 1 |
BRH 2 |
VAL 1 |
VAL 2 |
22nd | 9.5 | ||||
| 2025 | Team WRT | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | BRH 1 7 |
BRH 2 2 |
ZAN 1 5 |
ZAN 2 1 |
MIS 1 3 |
MIS 2 5 |
MAG 1 3 |
MAG 2 3 |
VAL 1 Ret |
VAL 2 1 |
1st | 88.5 | ||||
| 2026 | Team WRT | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | BRH 1 3 |
BRH 2 6 |
MIS 1 |
MIS 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
3rd* | 13.5* |
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Belgian Audi Club Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS | Pro | MNZ Ret |
SIL | LEC | SPA 6H |
SPA 12H |
SPA 24H |
NÜR | NC | 0 |
| 2017 | Audi Sport Team ISR | Audi R8 LMS | Pro | MNZ | SIL | LEC 29 |
SPA 6H 8 |
SPA 12H 9 |
SPA 24H 9 |
CAT | 33th | 5 |
| 2018 | Attempto Racing | Audi R8 LMS | Pro | MNZ 6 |
SIL 19 |
LEC Ret |
CAT DNS |
8th | 36 | |||
| Montaplast by Land-Motorsport | SPA 6H 1 |
SPA 12H 9 |
SPA 24H 3 |
|||||||||
| 2019 | Attempto Racing | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | MNZ 7 |
SIL Ret |
LEC 8 |
SPA 6H 31 |
SPA 12H 30 |
SPA 24H 30 |
CAT | 24th | 10 |
| 2020 | Belgian Audi Club Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | IMO 1 |
NÜR 4 |
SPA 6H 24 |
SPA 12H 49 |
SPA 24H Ret |
LEC 5 |
4th | 52 | |
| 2021 | Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | MON Ret |
LEC 2 |
SPA 6H 5 |
SPA 12H 2 |
SPA 24H 2 |
NÜR | CAT | 5th | 56 |
| 2022 | Team WRT | Audi R8 LMS Evo II | Pro | IMO 1 |
LEC 41 |
SPA 6H 14 |
SPA 12H 14 |
SPA 24H Ret |
HOC Ret |
CAT | 17th | 27 |
| 2023 | Scherer Sport PHX | Audi R8 LMS Evo II | Pro | MNZ | LEC | SPA 6H 2 |
SPA 12H 12 |
SPA 24H 3 |
NÜR | CAT | 12th | 24 |
| 2025 | Team WRT | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | LEC 1 |
MNZ 5 |
SPA 6H 7 |
SPA 12H 9 |
SPA 24H 7 |
NÜR 10 |
CAT 6 |
3rd | 63 |
| 2026 | Team WRT | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | LEC 4 |
MNZ |
SPA 6H |
SPA 12H |
SPA 24H |
NÜR |
ALG |
4th* | 15* |
Complete TCR International Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results
Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |  Melbourne Performance Centre |
Garth Tander Frédéric Vervisch |
Audi R8 LMS | Pro | 241 | 27th | 7th |
| 2019 | Melbourne Performance Centre |
Garth Tander Frédéric Vervisch |
Audi R8 LMS | Pro | 181 | DNF | DNF |
| 2020 | Melbourne Performance Centre |
 Mattia Drudi Markus Winkelhock |
Audi R8 LMS Evo | Pro | 308 | 18th | 11th |
| 2022 | Melbourne Performance Centre |
 Nathanaël Berthon Brad Schumacher |
Audi R8 LMS Evo II | Pro-Am | 290 | 4th | 4th |
| 2024 | Melbourne Performance Centre |
Christopher Haase Liam Talbot |
Audi R8 LMS Evo II | Pro | 275 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2025 | Team WRT |
Sheldon van der Linde Augusto Farfus |
BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | 306 | 1st | 1st |
| 2026 | Team WRT |
Jordan Pepper Charles Weerts |
BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | 262 | 12th | 8th |
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Montaplast by Land-Motorsport | GTD | Audi R8 LMS | Audi DAR 5.2 L V10 | DAY 7 |
SEB | MOH | DET | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | LGA | PET | 53rd | 24 |
| 2019 | Audi Sport Team WRT Speedstar | GTD | Audi R8 LMS Evo | Audi DAR 5.2 L V10 | DAY 3 |
SEB | MDO | DET | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | LGA | PET | 47th | 30 |
| 2025 | Paul Miller Racing | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 | DAY 4 |
SEB | LGA | DET | WGL | MOS | ELK | VIR | IMS | PET | 28th | 298 |
Complete Stock Car Brasil results
† As Albuquerque was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
Complete Asian Le Mans Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Phoenix Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | 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 11 |
LAU 1 42 |
LAU 2 3 |
ZOL 1 11 |
ZOL 2 8 |
NÜR 1 11 |
NÜR 2 Ret |
RBR 1 5 |
RBR 2 6 |
ASS 1 12 |
ASS 2 4 |
HOC 1 11 |
HOC 2 101 |
NOR 1 42 |
NOR 2 172 |
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 Ret1 |
NOR 2 Ret |
NÜR 1 2 |
NÜR 2 42 |
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 12 |
RBR 2 Ret |
HOC 1 6 |
HOC 2 25 |
8th | 119 |
| 2024 | Red Bull – Team ABT | Audi R8 LMS Evo II | OSC 1 12 |
OSC 2 5 |
LAU 1 11 |
LAU 2 2 |
ZAN 1 13 |
ZAN 2 3 |
NOR 1 6 |
NOR 2 9 |
NÜR 1 11 |
NÜR 2 4 |
SAC 1 8 |
SAC 2 22 |
RBR 1 8 |
RBR 2 5 |
HOC 1 11 |
HOC 2 12 |
2nd | 221 |
| 2026 | Schubert Motorsport | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | RBR 1 DSQ |
RBR 2 61 |
ZAN 1 Ret |
ZAN 2 11 |
LAU 1 |
LAU 2 |
NOR 1 |
NOR 2 |
OSC 1 |
OSC 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
SAC 1 |
SAC 2 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
7th* | 41* |
* Season still in progress.
Complete FIA Formula E World Championshp 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 |
| 2023–24 | ABT CUPRA Formula E Team | Formula E Gen3 | Mahindra M10Electro | MEX | DRH | DRH | SAP | TOK | MIS | MIS | MCO | BER 11 |
BER 15 |
SIC | SIC | POR | POR | LDN | LDN | 25th | 0 |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Akkodis ASP Team |
 Timur Boguslavskiy Arnold Robin |
Lexus RC F GT3 | LMGT3 | 279 | 34th | 7th |
| 2025 | Team WRT |
 Ahmad Al Harthy Valentino Rossi |
BMW M4 GT3 Evo | LMGT3 | 156 | DNF | DNF |