In 2021, Abt Sportsline relies on veteran Mike Rockenfeller and a rookie who actually isn’t: GT3 specialist Kelvin van der Linde.
The thing was scratched from the start, the way paved. Kelvin van der Linde didn’t have any other option either. No chance, no alternative.
Because as the saying goes: It was put in his cradle. No question about it: motorsport was in his blood from the start.
Because the South African belongs to a real racing family. Grandpa Hennie? Was one of the most successful touring car drivers in South Africa. Papa Shaun? South Africa champion in touring and formula cars. Uncle Etienne? Drove Formula 3 and Formula 3000.
Grew up on the racetrack
Kelvin and his three years younger brother Sheldon grew up practically on the racetrack. Cars, races, the roar of engines – that also has an impact.
The family lived motorsport and Kelvin wanted to live his own dream of racing. “To become and to be a racing driver was never really a conscious decision for me, it is my fate,” he says.
For that he takes risks. The biggest risk: The move to Germany, to the VW Scirocco R-Cup. Yes, he has a title in his luggage, at the age of 16 he won the title in the South African Volkswagen Polo Cup.
But Germany is far away. 8,500 kilometers, a lot of wood for a 17-year-old. A new country, a new language, new faces, new challenges: Van der Linde has to get used to in many ways.
At the same time, he repeatedly manages the route between Europe and Australia in order to catch up on his school leaving certificate. A busy program.
The family as support
Always by his side: his family. «My parents made many and great sacrifices for me and my younger brother. I am very, very grateful for that. And we are very, very happy that, unlike many other families, things worked out for us with motorsport, ”he says.
And how it worked. Because van der Linde didn’t need to get used to it. On the contrary: it took off immediately.
He won the Scirocco R-Cup 2013 on the first attempt. The promotion to the ADAC GT Masters was not a problem for the teenager either: together with Rene Rast, he won the title there in 2014.
Unforgettable highlight
The reward: Kelvin van der Linde has been an official Audi Sport driver since 2015. That is also a success story.
There are the usual apprenticeship years at that age, the setbacks that go with them, but in 2017 he celebrates the next big success: As the final driver, in the most difficult conditions in the rain, he clinched victory for Audi in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring . Van der Linde: “That remains an absolutely unforgettable, eternally impressive experience.”
He stayed in the fast lane: In 2018, a family coup only narrowly failed, with brother Sheldon he finished second in the GT Masters, one point behind. His attitude pays off: “I constantly strive for improvement and perfection,” he clarifies.
In 2019 he won the title for the second time – without the brother who switched to the DTM: This time he was the experienced professional and was able to bring much more knowledge and experience to the new HCB-Rutronik team and implement it.
Change as a direct hit
In 2020 he started to defend his title, but just missed it at the season finale.
Time for a new challenge: this year he will be competing in the DTM for the first time. HE may be a rookie, but he is one of the most accomplished GT3 professionals, an absolute secret weapon that is actually no longer – the competition knows that Abt is sending a dangerous mixture into the race with Rockenfeller and van der Linde.
“For me, starting in the DTM is a dream come true and I’m very grateful that I got this chance. I know the R8 LMS extremely well, which is why this exciting phase of the DTM is the perfect moment for me, ”said van der Linde, who has lived with his brother in Kempten, the Abt homeland, for several years.
He added on Instagram: “15 years of dreaming, working and praying for this day! I was often close to it on this path and had to take a few setbacks. But the hard work has paid off and has shown me that the best things in life don’t just happen to you, ”he wrote.
And of course he addressed the words to his family too. “In the beginning, when you start with nothing on your résumé in motorsport, not many people call or knock on the door, but my family has been there from day one. I am forever grateful that I have had such great support from home every day for the past 17 years », says van der Linde.
It has now been eight years since he dared to make the leap to Germany. A direct hit, he is now one of the best and most accomplished GT drivers. Mind you, at the age of 24.
But of course: Motorsport was in the cradle.
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