Abt Sportsline has introduced its cut up with Kelvin van der Linde forward of his anticipated swap to BMW.
The 2024 DTM championship runner-up will depart the Abt fold after 4 years within the DTM with eight race wins, having additionally received his first of two ADAC GT Masters titles with the squad in 2014.
The German outfit will swap to working Lamborghinis within the 2025 DTM after ending its prolonged affiliation with Audi.
As beforehand reported, van der Linde is anticipated to affix youthful brother and 2022 DTM champion Sheldon at BMW subsequent 12 months. Nevertheless, the South African seems unlikely to return to DTM subsequent 12 months.
Having raced within the World Endurance Championship with Lexus in 2024, van der Linde could possibly be nominated because the alternative for Maxime Martin, the Belgian having switched to Mercedes-AMG after initially being named towards one among BMW’s LMGT3 entries.
He is also lined up for a seat within the Professional ranks of the GT World Problem Europe Endurance Cup.
“I had all the time hoped that at the present time would by no means come, so it’s troublesome for me to search out the appropriate phrases,” stated van der Linde.
Kelvin van der Linde, Staff ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
“I’ve lots to thank Abt Sportsline for. I got here to Kempten as a younger man and would in all probability have failed with out the heat and help of the folks at Abt.
“I made lifelong buddies there and my coronary heart will all the time beat for Abt. It’s not a choice towards Abt, however for one more producer.”
Paying tribute, Abt managing director Thomas Biermaier stated it could be “onerous for us to let Kelvin go” after twice coming near the DTM title.
Van der Linde challenged for the crown in 2021 when the collection rebooted for GT3 automobiles, in the end being defeated by Mercedes driver Maxi Gotz.
“We have now supported him from day one,” Biermaier stated. “When the chance arose to discipline Kelvin within the DTM in 2021, we jumped on the probability.
“We have now by no means regretted it, despite the fact that we didn’t obtain the massive objective of profitable the DTM title. Kelvin will all the time be one among us.”
Biermaier’s sentiments had been echoed by Abt motorsport director Martin Tomczyk, whose feedback counsel that the group’s arms had been tied over persevering with with 28-year-old van der Linde.
“After 25 years with Audi, 2025 marks the start of a brand new period for ABT Sportsline within the DTM,” he stated. “It is a crucial step for us to have the ability to compete within the DTM once more with manufacturing unit help.
“However the partnership with Lamborghini will even result in adjustments. Ideally, our drivers will come from the Lamborghini roster.
“Regardless of the efforts of Kelvin’s administration and intensive discussions with Lamborghini, Kelvin will sadly now not be obtainable to us in 2025, which all of us very a lot remorse.
“We have now shared unforgettable moments and nice successes collectively. With Kelvin we’re shedding not solely a high driver but in addition a fantastic persona.”
It appears more and more probably that DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti will be a part of the Abt subsequent season for his title defence.
Learn Additionally:
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Sönke Brederlow
DTM
Kelvin van der Linde
Staff Abt
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