Kelvin van der Linde joins BMW as factory driver in 2025

BMW has announced that Kelvin van der Linde will join its pool of factory drivers in 2025, two years after he split with rival German brand Audi.

As reported by Autosport last week, the South African will unite with younger brother Sheldon van der Linde at BMW’s factory roster next year after spending the last two seasons as an independent driver without any manufacturer affiliation.

The two-time Nurburgring 24 Hours winner will take part in an “extensive racing programme” with the new evo version of the BMW M4 GT3 in 2025, although the exact details of his schedule will be revealed at a later date.

It is expected that he will combine a campaign in the LMGT3 class of the World Endurance Championship with a season in GT World Challenge Europe. Select outings in endurance classics are also on the cards.

Although the LMGT3 door was previously closed, with BMW having already nominated Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus as the professional drivers for its two-car LMGT3 line-up, Martin’s sudden departure from the factory line-up to join Mercedes has opened up a seat.

Van der Linde already has experience of racing in the WEC, having contested the 2024 season with ASP in a Lexus RC F GT3.

“I'm really looking forward to the new challenge at BMW M Motorsport,” he said. “For me and my family, this is a full circle.

“My father drove BMW touring cars, and after my brother Sheldon moved to BMW M Motorsport a few years ago, it was always my dream that we would drive there together at some point. This dream is now coming true.

Sheldon van der Linde, Schubert Motorsport, Kelvin van der Linde, Team ABT Sportsline

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

“I will have an extensive racing programme in the coming season and will therefore get a lot of driving time in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. This will help me a lot to quickly get used to the new car."

Van der Linde already explained in a social media post this week that he would “probably take a one-year” break from the DTM in 2025 when it was announced that he will be splitting with Abt Sportsline.

The 28-year-old had been racing in the German category with Audi squad Abt since 2021, winning a total of eight races and finishing runner-up in the championship to SSR Lamborghini’s Mirko Bortolotti this year.

BMW doesn’t appear to have any space to accommodate van der Linde in its DTM line-up. In 2024, it fielded previous champions Rene Rast, Marco Wittmann and Sheldon van der Linde in the three-car Schubert Motorsport team.

Speaking of the elder van der Linde’s appointment, BMW motorsport chief Andreas Roos said: "I am delighted to welcome Kelvin van der Linde to the BMW M Motorsport family. He has proven over many years that he is one of the absolute top GT drivers in the world and has shown impressive performances in countless races.

“Kelvin is a great addition to our high-class driver line-up. We want to continue to complete an extensive racing programme with our new BMW M4 GT3 EVO and fight for victories and titles in the big GT highlights of the season. Kelvin van der Linde will be a great support in achieving our ambitious goals."