Van der Linde Tests ASP Lexus at Barcelona

Kelvin van der Linde has emerged as a candidate to join Akkodis ASP Team’s LMGT3 effort in the FIA World Endurance Championship after testing the Lexus RC F GT3 at Barcelona.

Images have surfaced of the South African driver joining the Jerome Policand-led squad at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, alongside the recently confirmed Jose Maria Lopez.

Van der Linde himself added to the speculation with a recent Instagram post hinting at a “new chapter” in the 27-year-old’s career.

Earlier this year, he brought an end to an eight-year stint as an Audi Sport factory driver that notably saw him achieve a pair of victories in the Nürburgring 24.

Since then, Van der Linde has remained somewhat aligned with Audi through his affiliation with the German ABT Sportsline outfit, which confirmed him for a fourth consecutive DTM season with the team last month.

He also joined at ABT at this year’s N24 piloting a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 as his deal with the Thomas Biermaier-led team gave him “manufacturer flexibility”, Van der Linde told Sportscar365 back in May.

ASP, meanwhile, is yet to announce a second pro driver for its LMGT3 effort after only confirming two-time WEC drivers’ champion Lopez earlier this week.

Jack Hawksworth previously joined Lopez at the wheel of the Lexus during a Goodyear tire test at Portimao, but the British driver will focus on defending his GTD Pro title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship alongside Ben Barnicoat.