Sheldon van der Linde managed to spot 3rd in the remaining race at the Hockenheimring (GER) to assert the championship offering BMW their first winner since Marco Wittmann in 2016 and South Africa’s initial-ever DTM champion.
Van der Linde held his nerve on the closing race weekend of the period. On Saturday, he overcame a grid penalty to struggle his way up from 16th to next put. He claimed fifth on the grid on Sunday and followed this up by ending third to achieve the podium following a faultless race. He chalked up 164 details to major the drivers’ standings, 11 a lot more than Lucas Auer (AUT, Mercedes) in second position.
Van der Linde celebrated a few wins and six podiums in his championship period. It was his fourth time in the DTM and the initially for his Schubert Motorsport staff, which also secured the crew title at the first try.
Franciscus van Meel (CEO BMW M GmbH): “What a wonderful day for the whole BMW M Motorsport relatives! Congratulations to Sheldon van der Linde and Schubert for profitable the group and drivers’ championships! Absolutely everyone concerned – the workforce, the motorists and the vehicle – shipped superb performances throughout the time and deserved this triumph. It is a quite emotional day for us all. Even more so, as Marco Wittmann also managed to win the last race. Seeing him and Sheldon celebrating jointly like that on the podium reveals how nicely everybody gets on in the BMW M Motorsport family. Now we can rejoice!”
Sheldon van der Linde (#31 BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport): “Right now, it is not possible for me to explain my feelings. There are a million thoughts heading as a result of my head. I experienced a couple sleepless evenings this 7 days. I have to acknowledge that the pressure of heading into this weekend as championship chief was huge. It feels superb now that this bodyweight is off my shoulders. At any time due to the fact I was a kid, I have dreamed of driving in the DTM. I am unbelievably proud and delighted now that I have won it. Expanding up in South Africa, building the leap to the DTM appeared a extremely lengthy way absent. But now it has all worked out – I can hardly feel it!”
A significant congratulations to the younger driver who we will be seeing at the BMW M Fest this weekend so do not overlook to enable him know that he is the 1st ever DTM Winner from sunny South Africa.
