Kelvin van der Linde

Kelvin van der Linde emerged from one of South Africa’s most accomplished racing families, along with his younger brother, Sheldon, following in his father’s footsteps. After relocating to Europe, he quickly established himself as a standout talent, initially in touring cars and later in GT racing. He first gained international attention by becoming the youngest-ever title winner in the ADAC GT Masters back in 2014, building a reputation as one of the finest GT3 racers of his generation. After came success in endurance classics such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and a factory programme with Audi.

For 2025, he joined the roster of BMW factory drivers to clinch titles in GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup and Intercontinental GT Challenge, as well as adding a second victory in the twice-around-the-clock Nürburgring endurance classic, cementing his status as one of the leading names in modern GT racing. He’s currently dovetailing full-time programmes in the DTM, GT World Challenge Europe and Intercontinental GT Challenge.

“Road safety has been a key focus for me since my time in the FIA Young Driver Academy, so I’m proud to be joining the FIA Smart Driving Challenge as an ambassador, where I hope to promote smarter driving, both in my home country of South Africa, and worldwide.”