Kelvin van der Linde has never been a driver who does things by halves. From becoming South Africa’s youngest ever National Champion at 16, to claiming back to back European titles before his 19th birthday, to winning some of the world’s most prestigious endurance races, his career has been defined by a relentless pursuit of the next challenge. Yet for all his achievements, one milestone remains elusive: the DTM title.
In 2024, his final season with Audi and ABT Sportsline, van der Linde produced arguably his finest DTM campaign to date. Nobody claimed more victories than his three, including a masterful drive in treacherous conditions at the Nürburgring, where he won by over 15 seconds in a dominant display that underlined just how formidable he can be when the weather turns. Those who worked alongside him at ABT pointed to his ability to think strategically whilst performing at the limit, his openness with fans and media, and his gift for motivating those around him as the qualities that made him stand out as a complete package. Despite all of that, the 2024 championship went to Mirko Bortolotti by the narrowest of margins, leaving van der Linde as Vice-Champion.
Now, ahead of the 2026 season, he returns to the DTM grid with Schubert Motorsport, driving the BMW M4 GT3 EVO alongside Marco Wittmann. It is a new chapter in every sense, and one that van der Linde approaches with a mixture of excitement, experience, and clear-eyed determination.
Back in DTM where he belongs
Turning 30 this year, van der Linde is candid about what his return to the DTM means to him.
“I’m excited to be back because I think it’s a championship that just kind of lives a little bit with me,” he said. It’s been my childhood dream with DTM from day one. So, having to step away last year was always pretty painful for me, having to watch in the background.”
“And, obviously, it was cool to see Jordan [Pepper] fighting for the championship as a close friend. But I really inside wanted to be part of that fight for another DTM title. So, yeah, it was a tough year from that perspective. But I think it gave me a new perspective. I learned a lot. And I only see positives now coming back with a bit more wisdom. And hopefully I can put that into good use.”
The year away was not without its rewards. Van der Linde switched to BMW M Motorsport to join brother Sheldon van der Linde, and made an immediate statement by winning the Bathurst 12 Hours in only his second appearance for the brand. He went on to seal the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup title alongside Charles Weerts in a closely fought finale in Valencia. But even as the silverware accumulated, the pull of the DTM never faded.
A fresh start with Schubert
Joining Schubert Motorsport brings its own set of dynamics. Some of the mechanics within the team previously worked with Sheldon when he claimed the DTM title in 2022, and Kelvin van der Linde is quietly relishing that connection.
“Some of the mechanics and so on are still there today, which is quite cool because, obviously, they recognise me. And it’s a cool dynamic because they won the championship with Sheldon. And now they obviously have a motivation that they want to do it with both brothers.”
The transition has not been without its adjustments, however. Building new relationships, especially with his race engineer is something van der Linde acknowledges will take time.
“I have a new engineer, which is obviously a big topic. Because I was very close to my previous engineer. We were kind of fan favourites with our radio comments,” he admitted. “And there were a lot of memes about our radio comments. A lot of replays of us carrying on like an old married couple.”
“So, I need to figure out a way to work with a new engineer. How he works, how he prefers to do things. It’s different because once you’ve worked with someone for a long time, you understand each other in a blind way. And now you kind of take that for granted. Because with a new engineer, you have to explain things maybe twice, maybe three times. So, it takes a bit of time. But I don’t think that’s going to be a hindrance for the season. I think sometimes change is positive. So far, all good, I would say.”
Brotherly support
His brother has offered some guidance on the inner workings of the team, though the two maintain a relationship built more on mutual trust than active coaching.
“He has given me advice to a certain degree. But he also obviously knows that I’ve been around for a long time with DTM. So, he’s given me the advice that’s probably team appropriate,” he said. “Like, who’s in charge of what? Who gets things going? Who’s the guys that really are the movers in the team? And who I need to push if I want to get stuff done. Which is always good to know beforehand.”
“But generally, with me and my brother, we’re there as a safety net more. I wouldn’t say we proactively help each other. We kind of know that the other one’s got it under control. And we’re there as a safety net if the other one needs something.”
One goal, one milestone
Ask van der Linde what he wants from the 2026 season and the answer is straightforward.
“There’s only one milestone I’ve done most of them. I’ve done pole positions, I’ve done race wins, I’ve done Vice-Champion. So, the only milestone I’ve still yet to achieve is the champion at the end of the year, the championship,” he stated. “And to be honest, that’s the only thing I’m after.”
“To finish second, done it, feels great, feels terrible in the moment when you finish second, but it’s great when you look back at it. But I don’t want to finish second again. So, I think there’s only one milestone that I’ll be happy with at the end of the year, which is fair enough. I’ve been around for a while. And so, yeah, the goal is pretty clear. I don’t want to finish second again.”
A legacy worth chasing
Beyond the championship, van der Linde has thought deeply about what he wants his career to ultimately represent. For a driver who arrived in Europe as a teenager in a paddock dominated by European faces, the significance of what he and a generation of South African drivers have built is not lost on him.
“The legacy I want to leave behind is a legacy of achieving a goal without, let’s say, being given to me on a platter. I want to be an advocate for chasing a dream which is kind of invisible at first and through hard work is achieved. And I want to be an advocate for South African drivers.”
“And if I can have a legacy of being the first one to open the pathway for people from my country, then it will feel like a successful career, I would say. Of course, I wouldn’t want to retire without a DTM title. That would be pretty sad. I’ve still got, I would say, another 10 years, 15 years left to try. But it would be good if we can get it done this year. Then I can really focus on something else.”
As Kelvin van der Linde lines up on the 2026 DTM grid with Schubert Motorsport and BMW, the only question that remains is whether this is finally the year he completes the one piece of unfinished business that has defined his career.
