South African racing duo and brothers Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde are set to participate in the Formula E in Berlin this weekend, on 11 and 12 May.
Kelvin (27) will drive for ABT Cupra Formula E Team in both rounds of the Berlin E-Prix, which will take place at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit.
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He is standing in for driver Nico Müller, who is competing in the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship that same weekend.
‘It’s exciting to be back with the Formula E team for a weekend. Nico is having a strong season but of course I will do my best to represent him worthily,’ said Kelvin.
‘I’ve already prepared myself in the simulator, for the track, but also for energy management and the best strategy,’ he added.
Sheldon (24) will be behind the wheel for Jaguar TCS Racing for the official Formula E rookie test in Berlin on Monday, 13 May, the same day he will be celebrating his 25th birthday.
‘I feel like a bit of a veteran at the rookie tests and this will be my fourth test in the space of a year with Jaguar TCS Racing. I’m very excited to be back in Berlin where we topped the timesheets in the morning session one year ago,’ said Sheldon.
‘I hope to do the same again and position myself as best as possible for a potential Formula E seat in the future to try to revive the Cape Town E-Prix,’ he added.
The brothers are well-experienced behind the wheel of a Formula E car, with both of them having driven in the series on prior occasions.
In 2023, Kelvin was the official ABT Cupra reserve driver and replaced Robin Frijns for three races at the beginning of the season.
His best finish was P16 in Round 2 in Saudi Arabia for a team that finished at the bottom of the standings.
He was also set to drive in the Cape Town E-Prix on the Cape Town Street Circuit but was unable to due to ‘rear suspension issues affecting the team’.
While Sheldon has never participated in an official race weekend before, he has driven in multiple rookie sessions for Jaguar throughout 2023 and 2024, which includes the Rome Free Practice 0 and Berlin Rookie Test in 2023 and the Misano Free Practice 0 in 2024.
South African-born James Barclay, Jaguar TCS Team Principal, has praised Sheldon for his abilities and for having ‘a proven track record’ already in his young career.
‘We are looking forward to having him return to join us for the rookie Test on Monday,’ said Barclay.
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Picture: Van Der Linde Brothers / Facebook
