South African racer Kelvin van der Linde will drive for ABT Cupra in the upcoming Formula E races set to take place in Berlin in May.
Van der Linde will replace regular driver Nico Müller for both races around Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit. Müller is unable to race in Formula E on 11 and 12 May due to his commitments in the World Endurance Championship taking place that same weekend.
Van der Linde, who is the team’s reserve and simulator driver, says he is eager to get behind the wheel of a Formula E car again after competing in three races at the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
The Johannesburg-born driver said: “I am really looking forward to my comeback in Formula E, especially to the many fans and the special location in Berlin. I’ve already spent many hours in the simulator with the team and been to the Formula E events, but of course, it’s something completely different to drive myself. My goal is to play my part in the team’s upward trend. And maybe we’ll even pull off a little surprise.”
ABT CEO and Team Principal Thomas Biermaier said that Van der Linde’s experience in Formula E machinery is a massive bonus to the team.
Biermaier said: “With Kelvin we are in the fortunate position of having a driver who is familiar with Formula E, our team and the current generation of the racecar and who has already completed three races for us – we are all looking forward to another weekend together.”
Van der Linde’s best finish last season was P16 in Round 2 in Saudi Arabia for ABT Cupra, which finished bottom of the team standings. He was also set to drive in the Cape Town E-Prix on the Cape Town Street Circuit but was unable to due to rear suspension issues affecting the team.
