BMW driver van der Linde joins Rowe Racing's DTM effort
Factory BMW driver Sheldon van der Linde will remain in the DTM this year after signing a deal with BMW customer squad Rowe Racing.
Van der Linde made his DTM debut at the age of 19 in 2019 as a factory BMW driver, scoring a maiden pole position just four races into the season at Zolder en route to 13th in the championship.
The South African driver was one of the star performers within the BMW stable last year, finishing a strong sixth in the championship after bagging a maiden win at Assen.
Following the announcement in December that van der Linde will remain within BMW's fold after the marque's factory exit from the DTM, it has now been revealed that he will drive Rowe’s M6 GT3 in the series, starting with the Monza season opener in June.
Van der Linde will be joined on the DTM grid by his elder brother Kelvin, who will drive an Audi R8 LMS GT3 for Abt alongside 2013 series champion Mike Rockenfeller.
"Firstly, I am delighted still to be racing in the DTM in a BMW,” van der Linde said. “After two years and many highlights in the series, my goal is now to use the experience I have gained. In doing so, I want to help improve both myself and the team.
“I am very proud to be part of the Rowe Racing project, and would like to thank the team for the trust they have all put in me. On the other side, I am really pleased that Kelvin has also made it into the DTM.
“We have both always dreamed of driving in the DTM at some point. It is simply unbelievable that, from June, we are actually going to be facing each other in the biggest touring car series in the world.”
Rowe Racing is entering the DTM this year with the outgoing BMW M6 GT3 model with which it won the Spa 24 Hours in 2016 and the Nurburgring 24 Hours last year.
It is one of the two teams representing BMW on the grid this year, with Walkenhorst Motorsport having also confirmed a one-car entry.
It is unclear if Rowe Racing will expand to campaign a second BMW this year.
“We are very pleased to line up with Sheldon van der Linde in our first DTM season,” said team principal Hans-Peter Naundorf.
“We consciously went for him, because, on one hand, he is still a young driver. On the other hand, he already has a lot of experience in the DTM and has shown his class there.
"He is a very good fit for our expectations and ideas for the DTM, and will help us to implement our concept and achieve the best possible performance.
"The fact that we will see the first sibling rivalry in DTM in this millenium is a nice spin-off for us. I assume it will be an extra motivation for Sheldon to finish ahead of his big brother.”
Podium: Race winner #99 Rowe Racing BMW M6 GT3: Alexander Sims, Nicky Catsburg, Nick Yelloly
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Related video
DTM made failed bid for Hulkenberg to race Lamborghini
Porsche team "really optimistic" about entering DTM
How the DTM has come back stronger from its Norisring nadir
OPINION: Questionable driving standards and farcical team orders meant the DTM's first season under GT3 regulations ended under a cloud. But the organisation has responded firmly by banning team orders and welcomed new manufacturers, making for an intriguing season ahead as new and returning names prepare for battle.
The remarkable career of 'classy' champion Martin Tomczyk
Over two decades as a factory driver with Audi and BMW, Martin Tomczyk earned the respect of teammates and rivals as a hard but fair racer. After calling time on his racing career, the 2011 DTM champion sat down with Motorsport.com to look back.
Jamie Green: The other Hamilton conqueror seeking career revival
On his rise through the ranks before reaching Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton was usually a cut above the rest. But he never truly asserted himself over a Mercedes-backed fellow Briton who traded single-seaters for touring cars and is now seeking new opportunities after a year largely spent on the sidelines.
How the DTM's shambolic finale poses awkward future questions
OPINION: The scenes at the Norisring as Mercedes used blatant team orders to secure the first DTM title of the new GT3 era totally undermined the credibility of the championship. But as well as overshadowing the season, it also presents uncomfortable questions to series bosses about the direction it is headed in.
How Audi's new DTM flagbearer is closing on his "childhood dream"
Having learned the ropes in GT3 alongside Rene Rast, Kelvin van der Linde is in line to take up the three-time champion's baton as Audi's new DTM king. From humble origins in South Africa, it's been a remarkable journey so far for the current series leader, but he knows that the 2021 title is a long way from settled just yet.
The number-crunching behind the new-look DTM's equalisation drive
Switching to GT3 regulations marked a fresh start for the DTM in 2021, but it has also drawn a line in the sand against other series using similar cars by engaging AVL Racing to develop a bespoke Balance of Performance system. Here’s how it works.
The initial verdict on DTM's move to GT3 cars
OPINION: Facing collapse last year, the DTM has shifted its philosophy from a championship for silhouette-based touring cars to GT machines not too dissimilar to those racing across multiple series worldwide. But despite some initial BoP-based teething troubles, there were some pleasant findings as the 'new DTM' got underway at Monza
Why Albon has his work cut out in the new-look DTM
The DTM moves into its bold new GT3 era with welcome support from Red Bull, which enters two AF Corse-run Ferraris. That includes one for ex-F1 driver Alex Albon, who’s determined to make a success of his GT switch