Kelvin van der Linde set to join BMW, but could be left without DTM seat

GT racing star Kelvin van der Linde is poised to join BMW’s factory roster in 2025, but any such deal would leave him without a seat in the DTM.

According to Autosport’s sister title Motorsport-Total.com, all signs point to van der Linde following his younger brother Sheldon in driving for the Bavarian brand next year. 

It is understood that an agreement has been reached between the two parties, but no contract has been signed yet. BMW has not denied that it has been talking to van der Linde over the winter, but equally it hasn’t been willing to offer any details about 2025.

While his exact programme remains unclear, it appears he will not be representing the brand in the DTM next season. This is a particular surprise, given the South African had dreamt of racing in the DTM as a kid and had been a part of the category since 2021 with Abt Audi.

His 2025 programme could include a campaign in the GT World Challenge Europe, where a number of teams field the BMW M4 GT3, as well as appearances in classic endurance events.

“I’m sure he’ll drive the car with the number 32 there,” a BMW expert said on this matter. “I doubt they’ll use him in the DTM and there’s nothing else.”

BMW already has other plans for DTM in 2025. This year, it fielded a trio of drivers in the works-supported Schubert team, including brother Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann and Rene Rast.

Elsewhere, there are only two spots for professional drivers in the manufacturer’s LMGT3 programme in the World Endurance Championship. Augusto Farfus and Maxime Martin have already been nominated for the spots reserved for gold or platinum drivers, although Martin has since parted company with BMW. 

What is certain is that the 2017 Nurburgring 24 Hour winner will not get a regular spot in its Hypercar programme next year. Although the 28-year-old was previously included in Audi’s stillborn LMDh project, he has very limited experience in prototype machinery, having only competed in two Asian Le Mans events in 2021.

BMW also recently signed ex-Formula 1 racer Kevin Magnussen for a Hypercar drive, leaving even fewer opportunities for other drivers in its fold.

Stepping down from the DTM would not be easy for van der Linde, an eight-time series race winner, who said in September: “It is my goal to continue to be in the DTM, to continue to be with Abt Sportsline – a team that is now like a family to me. Hopefully that will be confirmed in the next few weeks.”

Abt is ending a two-decade relationship with Audi to join forces with Lamborghini, and van der Linde could have also switched brands in the process. He was supposed to sample Lamborghini’s SC63 LMDh car in the Bahrain rookie test, but that opportunity never materialised.

Kelvin van der Linde, Team ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

By the final round of the DTM season, he already denied his chances of teaming up with Lamborghini driver and eventual champion Mirko Bortolotti in the same championship in 2025, saying: “I don’t think it will happen like that.”

With the Lamborghini route seemingly closed, efforts were made to ink a deal with both Lexus/Toyota and Porsche, but no deal could again be reached. That left van der Linde, who also raced for ASP Lexus in WEC’s LMGT3 class this year, with few other options than BMW.

Van der Linde’s moves to BMW would bolster the presence of his manager Dennis Rostek, whose company Pole Promotion also manages the affairs of his younger brother Sheldon and three-time DTM champion Rast.

With three victories across Lausitzring, Nurburgring and Hockenheim rounds, van der Linde finished second in the 2024 DTM season only losing out to the SSR Performance Lamborghini of Bortolotti.

Bortolotti may end up taking van der Linde’s seat at Abt depending upon the future of his current team SSR Performance.