South African brothers Sheldon and Kelvin van der Linde delivered a dominant performance at the Bathurst 12 Hour race in Australia, leading Team WRT to an impressive 1-2 victory over the weekend.
Partnering with Augusto Farfus, the duo clinched the win in their #32 BMW M4 GT3, finishing ahead of their teammates Valentino Rossi (ITA), Raffaele Marciello (SUI), and Charles Weerts (BEL) in the #46 BMW.
Team WRT credited their success to a flawless race strategy, with both BMW M4 GT3s gaining an edge in fuel efficiency. While rival teams were forced to make late pit stops for refuelling, the WRT cars maintained their pace without interruption, securing a decisive advantage.
The BMW pair finished ahead of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo driven by Jules Gounon, Luca Stolz, and Kenny Habul, as well as the Arise Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 crewed by Chaz Mostert, Will Brown, and Daniel Serra.
Despite car #46 dropping to eighth place after a drive-through penalty, its drivers fought back, with Marciello executing a spectacular overtake on Gounon to reclaim second place. For the Van der Linde brothers, this marked their first shared victory in a BMW M Motorsport car, while Rossi celebrated his first-ever podium finish at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, praised the team’s achievement, saying:
“Congratulations to Team WRT on the long-awaited Bathurst victory! It was our third attempt with the BMW M4 GT3, and after coming close last year, we finally made it! I am very happy for the Van der Linde brothers that they can celebrate a victory in their first race sharing a car for BMW M Motorsport
“Valentino Rossi, Raffaele Marciello, and Charles Weerts also did a great job in the sister car. It’s a pity that a penalty cost them a chance of victory. Team WRT remains undefeated this year after victories at the 24h Dubai and the 6h Abu Dhabi. Hopefully, this is a good omen for the rest of the season!”
For Sheldon van der Linde, the victory at Bathurst was a testament to the team’s exceptional strategy.
He acknowledged that while their car wasn’t the fastest on the track, flawless teamwork and precise execution secured the win.
Sharing this milestone with his brother for the first time since 2018 made the moment even more significant.
He also praised Kelvin for quickly adapting to BMW M Motorsport, despite it being only his second race with the team.
Kelvin described the race as an emotional experience, marking several important firsts—his return to Team WRT, racing alongside his brother again, and competing with teammate Augusto Farfus.
He expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to share the win with Farfus, someone he had admired since childhood.
The final stint was particularly intense, with Chaz Mostert closing in behind him, but maintaining the lead despite the pressure made the victory even more rewarding.
Rossi Relishes First Bathurst Podium
Despite a costly drive-through penalty, Valentino Rossi was delighted with his team’s podium finish.
He initially thought their chances had slipped away, but their strong pace allowed them to fight back.
One of the race’s standout moments was Raffaele Marciello’s daring overtake on Jules Gounon, which helped the team reclaim second place.
Rossi saw the result as a fantastic way to start the season, reinforcing Team WRT’s strength as they continue their impressive form.
With this victory, Team WRT remains undefeated in 2025, following wins at the 24H Dubai and the 6H Abu Dhabi.
The team’s flawless execution at Bathurst sets high expectations for the rest of the season.
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