DTM star Kelvin van der Linde celebrates the arrival of Formula E / DTM

Kelvin van der Linde returns to Formula E: At the ABT CUPRA team’s home game in Berlin (May 11 and 12), the South African-born driver will replace regular driver Nico Müller for two races, who is making his WEC debut. the same weekend. At the beginning of last season, van der Linde had already participated in three Formula E races and was very impressive. He is also part of the team this year as a reserve and simulator driver and is involved in all preparations.

“Nico is currently in very strong form, so obviously it hurts a bit to be without him for two races. However, we do not want to put any obstacles in his way for his parallel use in the WEC and therefore we have given him the official approval,” says the Director ABT executive and team boss Thomas Biermaier. “We are in a fortunate position to have a driver in Kelvin who knows Formula E, our team and the current generation of racing cars and who has already completed three races for us – we are all looking forward to another weekend together.”

After his appearance in the ABT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring last weekend, Kelvin van der Linde will take part in two more weekends in the DTM before the Formula E event in Berlin. This means that within one month he will be racing in all three motorsport categories that ABT Sportsline is involved in.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Formula E, especially for the many fans and the special location of Berlin,” says van der Linde. “I’ve already spent many hours in the simulator with the team and I’ve been on the Formula E tracks, but of course it’s something completely different to drive myself. My aim is to contribute my part to the team’s progress. And maybe we can even have a few surprises.” He is calm about jumping from one cockpit to another: “It’s been an exciting few weeks with work in a variety of racing cars and series – but that’s how I’d like it to be as a racing driver.”

Van der Linde himself is sitting out the world endurance championship to compete in an electric formula car. In the FIA ​​​​WEC it usually starts in the Lexus RC F GT3 from Akkodis ASP. Toyota works driver Ritomo Miyata will replace van der Linde at the Ardennes roller coaster in a Lexus with a powerful V8 engine.

Formula E has come to Berlin every year since its inception in 2014 and has never raced in any other city. ABT has so far achieved ten podium positions and three victories in the capital. Kelvin van der Linde takes Nico Müller’s number 51 car and completes Saturday and Sunday’s race alongside Lucas di Grassi.