Few drivers embody the spirit of South African motorsport quite like Kelvin van der Linde. Having begun his racing career in karting at the age of eight, he became the youngest driver to compete in a National South African Circuit event at just 14, before being crowned the country’s youngest ever National Champion at 16. From there, he made history as the youngest winner of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup and the youngest ADAC GT Masters Champion, a title he would claim a second time in 2019.
Victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours followed in 2017, in 2022, and again in 2025, alongside triumph at the Suzuka 10 Hours. After a tenure as an Audi Factory driver, he recently embarked on a new chapter with BMW M Motorsport, winning the Bathurst 12 Hours in only his second appearance for the brand, before sealing the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup title alongside Charles Weerts in a heated finale in Valencia.
Now, ahead of the 2026 DTM season, Kelvin returns to the championship with Schubert Motorsport, driving the BMW M4 GT3 EVO alongside Marco Wittmann. It is a comeback fuelled by unfinished business. He finished third in the DTM standings in 2021 and second in 2024, narrowly missing out on the title on both occasions. Pit Debrief sat down with Kelvin to discuss something beyond lap times and championships: the growing wave of young South African drivers making their mark on the international stage, and the responsibility that comes with being a role model for the next generation.
A changing paddock
When Pit Debrief noted the increasing visibility of young South African drivers in motorsport, especially junior formulae, and asked Van der Linde how he views his role as a figure they can look up to, he reflected warmly on just how much has changed since his own early days in Europe.
Van der Linde remains one of South Africa’s most decorated motorsport representatives, and his presence in the paddock has helped reshape perceptions of what African drivers can achieve.
“It’s obviously very proud to know that and to feel that kind of responsibility. Obviously when I came up in 2013-14, when I looked around the paddock, there was nobody from Africa that was in the paddock. It was all European kids, and so I felt very out of place when I came to Europe. I feel like nowadays it definitely has. I’ve also noticed that there’s a lot more African drivers from different parts of Africa, but also, as you say, specifically South Africa, that are coming through, and I think that’s fantastic.”
A new pathway to motorsport
Van der Linde believes the shift in numbers is no coincidence. Young drivers from South Africa and across the continent now see a genuine pathway to a professional career, something that simply did not exist in the same way when he was starting out.
“I think part of the reason is just they feel that there is an end goal. There’s a real chance of making it. And I’m not the only South African that’s made it, obviously. To name a couple, my brother, and Jordan, and David Perel. There’s been a couple, mainly in GT racing, because I think GT racing probably offers the biggest chance of becoming a professional driver at this point still.”
“I think Formula 1 is still a little bit out of reach for many of us from those developing countries. But yeah, it’s a role which I’m really happy to be in, so when some of them come up and I see them at some races, I’m always happy to have a chat.”
Learning the hard way
For all his warmth towards the next generation of South African drivers, van der Linde is clear that being a role model does not mean shielding young drivers from the difficulties of the sport. He is a firm believer that struggle is an essential part of the journey.
“On the one hand, happy to give advice, happy to help out, but part of that growth, and part of what made my journey what it is today, is also going through the hard moments and sticking through the tough moments. And to do that, you have to learn the hard way and not have everything given to you on a platter. I’m a big believer in that the only way you evolve is through being put through hard things, getting thrown in the deep end of the pool and learning how to swim.”
“You just gotta fly, you gotta swim. So I do give them advice, I do reach out, and I’m really happy to see them all here, but essentially, I’m also an advocate for learning the hard way and working hard for what you want to achieve. If it’s too easy, most of the time, at least in my experience, it doesn’t work out.”
Changing perceptions
Perhaps most significantly, van der Linde points to a shift in how teams across the paddock now perceive South African talent, a reputational change that has taken years to build. He hopes it will open doors for those coming through.
“I’m very proud to see all of them, proud to welcome even more every year. But yeah, it’s still a hard job and it’s not an easy one to get through. We’re definitely making a mark, that’s clear to see. And also when I speak to some teams, the mindset has changed. When a quick South African comes, or a South African driver comes to test, I’ve had it a couple of times. Tested for WRT, for example, and they would test and they’d be quick. ‘Another quick South African.'”
Earning respect, one lap at a time
For van der Linde, South Africa’s growing motorsport footprint is not just a source of pride, it is proof that talent transcends geography.
“So already it’s like the connotation is: a South African comes from wherever we are and they’re generally quick. There’s not many slow ones that come across. So just that mindset is like they’re more open to also test these young kids, and that mindset has taken years to create.”
“It doesn’t happen by just one kid coming across and being successful. Obviously, there’s a couple that have come across and have shown that they’ve got talent, so I think that mindset has been really positive for our country. So it’s good to see.”
From karting tracks in South Africa to the podiums of Europe’s most prestigious motorsport series, Kelvin van der Linde has always done things his own way and on his own terms. He returns to the DTM in 2026 not as a rookie chasing recognition, but as an established race winner with scores to settle. For the generation of young South Africans watching from the sidelines, that may be the most important victory of all.
