BMW M factory driver Kelvin van der Linde will return to the DTM in 2026, with two-time teams’ champion Schubert Motorsport.
The South African joins two-time drivers’ champion Marco Wittmann at the German outfit, which will once again field a pair of M4 GT3 Evos.
Van der Linde previously competed in the DTM from 2021 to 2024, winning eight races and claiming a best result of second in the drivers’ championship with Abt Sportsline. The 29-year-old was absent from the series last season, his first with BMW M, but is now returning as the replacement of three-time champion Rene Rast in Schubert’s line-up.
“The DTM is a very special championship for me. It was always my childhood dream to race there and win races. I have achieved both, but the ultimate goal remains: to win the DTM title,” van der Linde said.
“Sheldon [van der Linde] did it in 2022, and now it’s a kind of homecoming at Schubert Motorsport as I, his brother, will also drive for the team. The environment there is fantastic, and I felt very comfortable with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO during the successful 2025 season. In 2026, I want to be successful in the DTM right from the start and fulfill my lifelong dream of winning the drivers’ title. I am very excited and can’t wait for the season to begin.”
Wittmann is entering his 14th consecutive season in the DTM, all of which have been with BMW. The 36-year-old ended up fifth in the drivers’ championship last year, finishing on the podium on four occasions and contending for the title until the final round.
“I am really looking forward to another DTM season and am truly confident that I can be at the front again,” Wittmann said.
“Over the past two seasons with Schubert Motorsport, we have built a great foundation. My crew of engineers and mechanics remains almost unchanged, which is very important because we work well together. In 2025, we were able to fight for the title with both cars right up to the end. My clear goal for 2026 is to win my third DTM title.”
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, commented: “After the dramatic season finale in 2025, we still have unfinished business with the DTM. We were so close to winning the title that we are even more motivated to do better this year. I am convinced that, with the successful combination of car, team, and drivers, we have the optimal conditions to fight for the DTM crown.
“Marco Wittmann proved last year that he has what it takes for a third title. From the very beginning of our collaboration, Kelvin van der Linde had a strong desire to return to the DTM, and I am glad that we can now make this comeback possible for him. He proved with his fantastic successes last season that he is capable of anything in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Moreover, his personality is a great asset to the DTM, which in our view is developing excellently. The racing, spectator numbers, and fantastic atmosphere make the DTM an indispensable platform for BMW M Motorsport.”
The 2026 DTM season begins at the Red Bull Ring, Austria on 24th to 26th July 2026.
Images courtesy of BMW M Motorsport
