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.
