Thomas Biermaier (CEO of ABT Sportsline): “It’s hard for us to let Kelvin go. Kelvin is not only a great rider, but above all a special part of the ABT family and a great person. When he came to Germany from South Africa as a young man, Kelvin found a second home in the Allgäu and at ABT Sportsline. We have supported him from day one. When the opportunity arose to field Kelvin in the DTM in 2021, we jumped at the chance. We have never regretted it, even though we did not achieve the big goal of winning the DTM title. Kelvin will always be one of us. Also on behalf of Hans-Jürgen Abt and Harry Unflath I would like to say thank you for the years together and good luck for the future!”
Martin Tomczyk (ABT Motorsport Director): “After 25 years with Audi, 2025 marks the beginning of a new era for ABT Sportsline in the DTM. It is an important step for us to be able to compete in the DTM again with factory support. But the partnership with Lamborghini will also lead to changes. Ideally, our drivers will come from the Lamborghini roaster. Despite the efforts of Kelvin’s management and intensive discussions with Lamborghini, Kelvin will unfortunately no longer be available to us in 2025, which we all very much regret. We have shared unforgettable moments and great successes together. With Kelvin we are losing not only a top driver but also a great personality.”
Kelvin van der Linde: “I had always hoped that this day would never come, so it is difficult for me to find the right words. I have a lot to thank ABT Sportsline for. I came to Kempten as a young man and would probably have failed without the warmth and support of the people at ABT. I made lifelong friends there and my heart will always beat for ABT. It is not a decision against ABT, but for another manufacturer. The last four years were of course particularly intense – in the DTM, but also because of my additional role in Formula E and on the Nordschleife. I have experienced emotions that I will never forget. I felt the support and passion at every race, and I can only thank every single member of the team. Even though we missed our big goal in the end, we were able to celebrate great successes together. Every victory was special. See you!”