Van der Linde was recruited by Abt to lead the outfit into the DTM’s new customer racing era in 2021, with the South African bringing with him nearly a decade’s worth of experience of GT3 cars – including two titles in ADAC GT Masters and an outright Nurburgring 24 Hours victory.
His know-how of GT3 machinery gave him an early edge last year, allowing him to stretch a 33-point lead in the championship at the halfway point of the campaign.
However, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson was eventually able to catch up with him in the second part of the season, before the two drivers came to blows in the finale following an audacious divebomb from van der Linde – paving the way for Mercedes driver Maximilian Gotz to nab the title.
Abt has undergone a major reshuffle in its driver line-up since last year’s controversial title decider, with Rast returning to the DTM after a year’s absence to take the place vacated by Rockenfeller, and reigning GT Masters champion Ricardo Feller replacing…
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