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Kelvin van der Linde Eyes Future with Hypercar and GT3 Opportunities

Kelvin van der Linde is keen on aligning himself with a manufacturer that has both a Hypercar and a GT3 program, allowing him to explore his options for continuing in the DTM series after his contract with Abt Sportsline wraps up. Van der Linde has expressed interest in testing a Lamborghini LMDh car as he looks ahead to his racing career.

The South African driver’s future has been under scrutiny following the conclusion of his two-year contract with Abt, which ends at the conclusion of this weekend’s DTM finale at Hockenheim. He faces off against fellow Lamborghini racer Mirko Bortolotti in pursuit of his first championship title.

His racing journey has predominantly featured Audi, with whom he had a long-standing relationship until the brand opted to halt its Hypercar development in 2023. This led Van der Linde to adopt a ‘brand neutral’ stance, managing to compete in DTM with Abt while also venturing into the Ferrari World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 category with ASP Lexus.

Despite embracing this new chapter, he remains motivated to race within top-tier prototype divisions—an ambition he first laid out following Audi’s announcement to return to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with an LMDh vehicle. Clearly, achieving this goal would necessitate securing a factory contract with a leading manufacturer.

Speaking to Motorsport-Total.com, Van der Linde highlighted the current state of his negotiations: “Nothing has been signed, and there are currently a few offers. My wish was always to go to a manufacturer that has a Hypercar and a GT3 program because I want to continue to be active in the DTM.” He mentioned several manufacturers that fit this requirement, including BMW, Cadillac, and Lamborghini.

In a noteworthy shift in the motorsport landscape, Abt is set to conclude its long-standing partnership with Audi to collaborate with Lamborghini starting in 2025. This move could pave the way for new opportunities for Van der Linde.

Recent insights from Motorsport.com reveal that the 28-year-old may get a chance to test the Lamborghini SC63 LMDh during the upcoming Bahrain WEC rookie test. This would be significant, as it would mark his first experience with a prototype since competing in an LMP2 vehicle during the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series. Although this testing opportunity is not guaranteed to lead to a competitive spot in WEC next season, it keeps the door open for future Hypercar endeavors.

Remaining with Abt in the DTM while exploring a Hypercar program with Lamborghini would keep Van der Linde’s racing options vibrant. Besides Lamborghini, it’s reported that he has two other potential avenues—one being BMW, where his younger brother Sheldon is already part of the factory lineup.

Van der Linde shares a management team with Rene Rast, a three-time DTM champion and former Audi factory driver who transitioned to BMW last year. When discussing the possibility of a move to BMW, Rast playfully remarked, “Kelvin at BMW? No idea. We’ll have to talk to [our manager] Dennis [Rostek] about what he’s up to.” However, sources indicate that a switch to BMW is currently not very likely for Van der Linde.

Moreover, although Cadillac is set to expand its presence in the racing arena with a two-car program alongside Jota, it appears improbable that Corvette will also enter the DTM, narrowing down the competitive landscape for Van der Linde.

While Toyota could have served as another option due to Van der Linde’s ties with Lexus in the LMGT3 division, vacancies in its Hypercar roster for 2025 remain nonexistent. That ultimately positions Lamborghini as the most viable path for him to secure a factory program in the coming years.

Source
www.motorsport.com