The 2024 DTM championship runner-up will leave Abt after four years in the series, during which he secured eight race wins. He also claimed his first of two ADAC GT Masters titles with the team in 2014. The German team will switch to running Lamborghinis in the 2025 DTM season, ending its long-standing partnership with Audi.
As previously reported, van der Linde is set to join his younger brother and 2022 DTM champion Sheldon at BMW next year. However, the South African is not expected to return to the DTM in 2025.
After competing in the World Endurance Championship with Lexus in 2024, van der Linde may be considered as a replacement for Maxime Martin, who has moved to Mercedes-AMG despite initially being named for one of BMW’s LMGT3 entries. He could also be in line for a seat in the Pro category of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
“I had always hoped this day would never come, so it’s hard for me to find the right words,” said van der Linde.
“I have so much to thank Abt Sportsline for. I came to Kempten as a young man, and I might have failed without the warmth and support from the people at Abt.
“I’ve made lifelong friends there, and my heart will always be with Abt. This isn’t a decision against Abt, but rather for another manufacturer.”
Abt managing director Thomas Biermaier paid tribute to van der Linde, saying it would be “difficult for us to let Kelvin go” after he came so close to winning the DTM title twice.
Van der Linde fought for the crown in 2021, when the series switched to GT3 cars, but was ultimately beaten by Mercedes driver Maxi Gotz.
“We supported him from day one,” Biermaier said. “When the chance came to field Kelvin in the DTM in 2021, we jumped at it.
“We never regretted it, even though we didn’t achieve the big goal of winning the DTM title. Kelvin will always be one of us.”
These sentiments were echoed by Abt motorsport director Martin Tomczyk, whose comments suggest the team was left with no option but to part ways with the 28-year-old driver.
“After 25 years with Audi, 2025 marks the beginning of a new era for ABT Sportsline in the DTM,” he said. “It is a significant step for us to return to the DTM with factory support.
“But the partnership with Lamborghini will also bring changes. Ideally, our drivers will come from Lamborghini’s roster.
“Despite the efforts from Kelvin’s management and extensive discussions with Lamborghini, Kelvin will unfortunately not be available to us in 2025, which we all deeply regret.
“We’ve shared unforgettable moments and great successes together. Losing Kelvin means not only losing a top driver but also a great personality.”
It is increasingly likely that DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti will join Abt next season to defend his title.