Kelvin van der Linde (born 20 June 1996), also known by his initials KVDL, is a South African racing driver for BMW Motorsport. He previously drove for Audi.

Van der Linde is a two-time ADAC GT Masters champion (2014 and 2019) and three-time Nürburgring 24 Hours winner (2017, 2022 and 2025). He made his DTM debut with Audi in 2021, placing third after a clash with Liam Lawson in the final race. He was DTM runner-up in 2024 for Abt Sportsline. Van der Linde moved to BMW in 2025, and won both the GT World Challenge Europe and Intercontinental GT Challenge titles.

Van der Linde also competed in Formula E as a substitute driver for ABT Cupra in 2023 and 2024. He is the older brother of Sheldon van der Linde.

Racing career

Van Der Linde, a South African, started his career in racing in kart racing at the age of eight in 2005.

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

In 2013, van der Linde 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 the age of 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 Lawson, with Lawson finished 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. After finishing ninth in points in 2022, van der Linde returned to the team for 2023.

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. 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.

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.

Personal life Kelvin is the older brother of Sheldon van der Linde, a fellow BMW factory driver and 2022 DTM champion. Together, they won the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour. Their uncle Etienne van der Linde was also a racing driver.

In 2022, van der Linde initiated the process for acquiring German citizenship after living in Kempten, Germany since 2014. In early 2024, the process was completed.

Racing record Racing 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 Ferodo Racing 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 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Audi Sport Team ISR 4 0 0 0 0 5 33rd 24H Series - A6 Car Collection Motorsport 24 Hours of Nürburgring . SP9 Audi Sport Team Land 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st 2018 ADAC GT Masters Montaplast by Land-Motorsport 14 2 0 0 6 136 2nd IMSA 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 Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe 10 0 0 1 0 24.5 10th 24H GT Series - A6100000NC† IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Audi Sport Team WRT Speedstar 1 0 0 0 1 3047th 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 driver2020 ADAC GT Masters Rutronik Racing1310041604th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Belgian Audi Club Team WRT41001524th GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup101012664th 24H GT Series - GT3100000NC† Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team Valvoline10010419th Audi Sport Team WRT20000 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land10000N/A6th 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 WRT30002565th GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup400019.522nd24H GT Series - GT3 Pro1000126NC Intercontinental GT Challenge Audi Sport Team WRT10001337th Audi Sport Team Saintéloc Racing10001 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Land10000N/ADNF 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 Valvoline100001216th Audi Sport Team WRT10000 Audi Sport Team Tresor10000 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team Phoenix11001N/A1st 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 Sportsline10000N/A9th2023–24 Formula E ABT CUPRA Formula E Team 2 0 0 0 0 0 25th2024 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 16 3 3 3 6 221 2nd Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Red Bull Team ABT40001** 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP910000N/A5th FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Akkodis ASP Team 6 0 0 0 0 18 23rd 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Team WRT 8 0 1 0 2 52 8th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 5 1 1 1 1 63 3rd GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 2 0 0 6 88.5 1st IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Paul Miller Racing 1 0 0 1 0 298 28th Intercontinental GT Challenge Team WRT 4 3 1 0 3110 1st Rowe Racing 1 1 0 0 1 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9 Rowe Racing 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP911001N/A 1st2025–2624H Series Middle East - GT3Team WRT2026Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersSchubert Motorsport 13 1 2 0 1 86 13th*Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9Rowe Racing 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP910000N/ADNFGT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupTeam WRTGT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 2 0 1 3 55 5th † 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 OSC1 OSC2 ZAN1 ZAN2 LAU1 LAU2 RBR1 RBR2 SLO1 SLO2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 HOC1 HOC2 1st214 2015 C. Abt Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra OSC1 OSC2 RBR1 RBR2 SPA1 SPA2 LAU1 LAU2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 ZAN1 ZAN2 HOC1 HOC2 14th 81 2016 Car Collection Motorsport Audi R8 LMS OSC1 OSC2 SAC1 SAC2 LAU1 LAU2 RBR1 RBR2 NÜR1 NÜR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 HOC1 HOC2 54th 1 2017 Aust Motorsport Audi R8 LMS OSC1 OSC2 LAU1 LAU2 RBR1 RBR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SAC1 SAC2 HOC1 HOC2 5th 107 2018 Montaplast by Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS OSC1 OSC2 MST1 MST2 RBR1 RBR2 NÜR1 NÜR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 SAC1 SAC2 HOC1 HOC2 2nd 136 2019 HCB-Rutronik Racing Audi R8 LMS Evo OSC1 OSC2 MST1 MST2 RBR1 RBR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC1 HOC2 SAC1 SAC2 1st 2052020Rutronik RacingAudi R8 LMS Evo LAU1 LAU2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC1 HOC2 SAC1 SAC2 RBR1 RBR2 LAU1 LAU2 OSC1 OSC2 4th 160

Complete GT World Challenge Europe results GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) 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 NOGQR NOGCR BRHQR BRHCR ZANQR ZANCR SVKQR SVKCR ALGQR ALGCR ZOLQR ZOLCR BAKQR BAKCR NC 0 2018 Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS Pro ZOL1 ZOL2 BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HUN1 HUN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 3rd 65 2019 Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HUN1 HUN2 10th 24.5 2020 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo Pro MIS1 MIS2 MIS3 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 CAT1 CAT2 CAT3 4th 66 2021 ROFGO Racing with Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo Pro MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 BRH1 BRH2 VAL1 VAL 2 22nd 9.5 2025 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 VAL1 VAL2 1st 88.5 2026 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 ZAN1 ZAN2 CAT1 CAT2 5th 55

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) YearTeamCarClass1234567Pos.Points 2015 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Pro MNZSILLECSPA6HSPA12HSPA24HNÜR NC 0 2017 Audi Sport Team ISR Audi R8 LMS Pro MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H CAT 33th 52018 Attempto RacingAudi R8 LMSPro MNZ SIL LEC CAT8th36 Montaplast by Land-Motorsport SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H 2019 Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS Evo Pro MNZ SIL LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H CAT 24th 10 2020 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo Pro IMO NÜR SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H LEC 4th 52 2021 Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo Pro MON LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24HNÜRCAT 5th 56 2022 Team WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo II Pro IMO LEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H HOC CAT 17th 27 2023 Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS Evo II ProMNZLEC SPA6H SPA12H SPA24HNÜRCAT 12th 24 2025 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo Pro LEC MNZ SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR CAT 3rd 63 2026 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo Pro LEC MNZ SPA6H SPA12H SPA24H NÜR ALG 3rd* 42*

Complete TCR International Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)