BMW M4 GT3 Evo Test Signals Kelvin van der Linde’s Return Ahead of DTM Opener

Eleven days after a serious crash at the Norisring, Kelvin van der Linde returned to his BMW M4 GT3 Evo for a private test day at Oschersleben. The Schubert‑run squad used the sole permitted off‑season test to prepare for the upcoming DTM weekend at the venue, while the 30‑year‑old – who suffered bruising in the accident – assessed his recovery.

“I’m incredibly happy to be back in the racing car,” van der Linde told ran.de. “The team rebuilt the car in just a week, so a huge thank you to everyone involved. It’s truly amazing what they’ve achieved in such a short time.”

The driver also confirmed his physical condition: “I’m fit, the pace is there, and I’m looking forward to next week’s race.” He made it clear that nothing stands in the way of his participation in the DTM opener at Oschersleben.

Test Mileage and Performance

Under sunny skies and temperatures just below 30 °C, van der Linde completed an extensive programme, logging roughly 70 laps. Teammate Marco Wittmann, as well as Dorr‑McLaren drivers Ben Dorr and Timo Glock, also used the same private test slot.

“We did about 70 laps,” he said. “I felt good in the car – it was perfectly prepared and right on the pace straight away.” While the laps are a positive sign for his recovery, they provide limited insight into how competitive the team will be when all rivals are on track.

Oschersleben has never been a traditional BMW venue, and van der Linde – who sits twelfth in the standings after technical setbacks earlier in the season – urgently needs to close the gap.

“I’m very excited for next week – it’s the home race for Schubert. We hope for our spectators, fans, team members and partners that we can be up front,” he added. “After the test we have a very good feeling with the car. Everything else remains to be seen once the other cars are on the track as well.”

First Full Race Weekend Since Crash

Van der Linde will line up at Misano this weekend for his first full race weekend since the incident. He will drive for WRT in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, sharing the BMW M4 GT3 Evo with Belgian teammate Charles Weerts.

Although medical clearance was granted after a final check‑up at the hospital, swelling concerns forced him to sit out the Norisring Sunday race. The driver spent the previous week undergoing rehabilitation at the Athlete Performance Center in Thalgau, Austria, under Red Bull specialists.

Impact on the Grasser Lamborghini Line‑up

Meanwhile, Maximilian Paul continues a longer recovery. The 26‑year‑old from Dresden fractured his tibia, fibula and a lumbar vertebra in the same crash, required surgery, and was discharged from a Nuremberg hospital last week.

Gottfried Grasser, team principal of the Grasser outfit, recently left open the possibility that a replacement driver could field the second Temerario GT3 at Oschersleben. The car is repairable, but parts availability “is an issue,” he noted.

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