RISING STAR: Teenager Kelvin van der Linde is set to join elite FIA Academy.
This followed a rigorous application process in which 25 applicants, between the ages of 17 and 23, were whittled down to a short list of five. The other nominees were racing drivers Ashton Hare and Jordan Pepper, rally driver Henk Lategan and Ford Racing factory cross country driver Lance Woolridge.
The short listed drivers were interviewed by a panel which included multiple former South African motor racing champion, and ex-Formula One driver Ian Scheckter and Motorsport South Africa chief executive officer Adrian Scholtz.
Teenager van der Linde comes from a family steeped in South African motorsport with his grandfather Hennie, father Shaun and uncle Etienne all South African champions. Van der Linde is the youngest ever South African car circuit racing national champion, replacing uncle Etienne.
He is currently leading the Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup championship, following three wins and a third place.
The training and selection event of the Young Driver Excellence Academy for the Africa region will be hosted and organised on behalf of the FIA Institute by MSA and is to be held at the end of September.
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