Kelvin van der Linde Consoles Maro Engel After Sachsenring Collision

On the penultimate lap at the Sachsenring, Schubert BMW driver Kelvin van der Linde was taken out of the race following a collision with Maro Engel. The incident marked van der Linde's seventh failure to finish in 14 races this season, as well as his second crash involving the Mercedes title contender after an earlier collision at the Nürburgring. Frustration ran high immediately following the hit, with van der Linde expressing his anger over the team radio.

However, following a hearing with the stewards in which Engel received a 15-second substitute penalty for three penalty laps, van der Linde embraced his rival despite losing fifth place. The penalty cost Engel 11 points, dealing a major blow to his championship aspirations. The 30-year-old South African explained that he put his arm around Engel because he understood from his own past experience how painful it is to see title chances slip away, adding that he wanted to encourage his long-time rival not to let his head drop.

Van der Linde described the crash as water under the bridge and a mistake that happens in racing. The two top GT3 drivers have known each other and competed since 2014, when van der Linde won the ADAC GT Masters title alongside Rene Rast in his debut year for Christian Abt's Audi team while Engel was driving for Rowe Mercedes.

Heading into the DTM season finale at Hockenheim, Winward Mercedes driver Engel sits second in the overall standings, trailing Manthey Porsche's Thomas Preining by 23 points with 56 points still available.