Racing driver

Considering that he only turned 18 in June, you can be forgiven for thinking that Kelvin van der Linde is your typical teenage boy. Instead, he is an international motorsport sensation having taking the racing world by storm ever since he became the youngest-ever driver to compete in a National South African Senior Circuit event at 14.

With both his father and grandfather being involved in motorsport, Van der Linde jokingly says that racing is in his DNA.

Currently competing in the 2014 ADAC GT Masters season in Europe, Van der Linde has to manage his time well to balance his professional life with his school responsibilities (he is currently in grade 11).

“It really is a complicated lifestyle flying back and forth between Europe and South Africa most weeks, but the key is to have a well-organised plan and try to keep things as stress-free as possible. Obviously I want to do well in school, but I am also realistic about how high my marks will be,” he says.

But thanks to the mentorship of his father and the understanding of the school, Van der Linde has been able to keep things as balanced as possible.

He has no aspirations to become a Formula One driver, but instead cites driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race as one of his career goals.

“I have worked extremely hard to get where I am and am always looking for the next thing. Some might think that this means I am never happy, but the thing is that I am just really focused on what comes next. Eventually, I want to live in Europe and establish myself there but for the moment I am taking it one challenge at a time.”
— Iwan Pienaar

Twitter: @KelvinvdLinde Website: kelvinvanderlinde.com