Kelvin van der Linde has joined Akkodis ASP Team for their 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with the Lexus RC F GT3 in the new LMGT3 category.
The South African driver will join Akkodis ASP for their debut WEC season in which they will field two Lexus RC F GT3 entries in the replacement class for GTE Am.
He has been well affiliated with Audi machinery since 2014 in one of his two ADAC GT Masters title-winning efforts, and has claimed further highlights such as two 24 Hours of Nurburgring victories, and the 2019 12 Hours of Suzuka.
Jose Maria Lopez is the only other driver announced for the Akkodis ASP Team, who will also debut also with the Lexus manufacturer.
With three drivers in each car, four other drivers are expected to be confirmed in the future, as van der Linde will make his first appearance at the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15-16 June.
His closest form of experience in an ACO series was in the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series, driving an Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 car for Phoenix Racing.
Van der Linde’s teammates were Matthias Kaiser, Nicki Thiim and Simon Trummer as together they claimed a trio of third-place finishes on the four-round calendar, resulting in fourth place within the standings.
The 27-year-old will retain his ongoing ties with ABT Sportsline, whereby he will continue into his fourth DTM season in an Audi R8 GT3 EVO2.
After seven Nurburgring 24 Hours and two Bathurst 12 Hours starts, Le Mans gives him another opportunity to compete in a prestigious endurance race which could see Akkodis ASP potentially claim the first LMGT3 victory at La Sarthe.
