Abt Sportsline driver Van der Linde romped to a dominant score in the 2nd streak of the Monza season opener closing Sunday, celebrating the triumph on the occasion of his 25th birthday.
The South African has switched to the contemporary-peep DTM championship in 2021 after winning two titles in the ADAC GT Masters series and securing additional success in patience classics fancy the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
This has pitched him against his brother Sheldon, who clinched his believe maiden DTM score at Assen closing season in a great sophomore marketing campaign as a producing facility BMW driver.
Kelvin and Sheldon each bask in a unheard of family background in racing, with their father Shaun van der Linde having been a champion in the South African Touring Championship in 1994. Their uncle Etienne modified into as soon as additionally an on a typical basis on the European single-seater scene in the late 1990s.
The elder of the van der Linde brothers screech he is joyful to bask in now levelled the score with Sheldon along with his Monza triumph, even supposing the latter modified into as soon as now not in a space to be part of him on the rostrum.
“I performed the supporting role for the closing two years [to Sheldon],” said van der Linde. ”It wasn’t very easy, I will even restful be very perfect, whereas you detect your youthful brother achieving your purpose sooner than you.
“Obviously I modified into as soon as very relaxed for him, supporting him. We mentioned quite about a issues, develop in those two years. He additionally skilled highs and lows.
“On the other hand, for every of us to bask in received one DTM streak, I believe it’s for our of us, [it’s] improbable. And I believe they are nice proud. My wants exit to them.”
Kelvin van der Linde, Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3
Describe by: Paolo Belletti
Van der Linde started the streak on pole plan and modified into as soon as in a space to steer clear of conceding the lead to the instant-initiating Ferrari of Saturday winner Liam Lawson when the Crimson Bull driver ran deep and over the kerbs exiting Turn 1, compromising his line for the 2nd fragment of the chicane.
Lawson, Group Rosberg Audi’s Nico Muller and Sheldon van der Linde then engaged in an yarn three-manner scrap for 2nd, allowing the elder of the van der Linde brothers to flee up entrance and cruise to the enact line.
Sheldon, alternatively, lost areas at some level of the pit cycle and in the extinguish crossed the enact line in fourth in the serve of Muller’s Audi and the Mercedes of Lucas Auer.
Kelvin admitted that the hole lap modified into as soon as principal to his victory, as he feels the Audi R8 LMS GT3 lacked in straightline trip in contrast with its competitors on the excessive-trip Monza circuit.
“This form of proud moment to be perfect,” he said of his Sunday score. “Obviously it’s your birthday and the day begins smartly whereas you to find the group singing for you in the garage.
“The feeling upright now’s I will’t even portray it. The valid day to be perfect. The valid ingredient that is missing is Sheldon right here subsequent to me.
“The streak modified into as soon as ravishing easy. I knew already initially that Ferrari and BMW will be extraordinarily strong. The layout of the [rolling] initiating favours the turbo cars and the Ferrari purchased a true jump, Nico modified into as soon as going with him in the slipstream.
“So, going into Turn 1 I modified into as soon as already in the serve of the Ferrari. Handsome play to [Lawson], he gave me adequate room and I factual made up our minds to high-tail most threat.
“I knew if I modified into as soon as in the serve of him on the principle corner it can perchance perchance per chance be refined to high-tail him on the straights. It modified into as soon as if truth be told stout threat at Turn 1 and then after I made the hole there and I seen the guys combating, I modified into as soon as correct away in tyre-saving mode, now not animated if we’ll high-tail lengthy or instant as of late.
“The strategy is clearly the correct real manner we are able to overtake right here in our vehicle with the diminutive straightline trip. On the other hand, it modified into as soon as an easy day and the group did most attention-grabbing pitstops, no errors.”
