Credit: ABT Sportsline
Nico Müller has said he is confident that replacement, Kelvin van der Linde, will ‘hit the ground running’ in his place at the Berlin E-Prix.
The race, which takes place on the 12th May, clashes with Müller’s World Endurance Championship schedule.
Van Der Linde completed in three Formula E races last seasons and impressed behind the wheel.
The South African is ABT Cupra’s reserve and simulator driver this year so he knows the team well.
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“He knows the game and he did a good job (last time he raced).” said Müller reflecting on the decision after the Monaco E-Prix.
“He’s done a lot of work with us in the simulator. He knows the systems inside out,”
“I’m pretty sure he can hit the ground running.”
It was a disappointing weekend for Müller after a collision with Jake Dennis on track.
He described Dennis’s move as “desperate”.
“You will hold people back from trying these again, but it is what it is.” said Müller.
Van der Linde ‘familiar’ with the team
It is a busy period for van der Linde who is not short of opportunities.
He drove the ABT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring last weekend. Additionally, he will contest two weekends in the DTM before the Formula E event in Berlin.
This means that within a month he will be competing in all three motorsport categories in which ABT Sportsline is involved.
“With Kelvin we are in the fortunate position of having a driver who is familiar with Formula E, our team and the current generation of the racecar and who has already completed three races for us – we are all looking forward to another weekend together.” said ABT CEO and Team Principal Thomas Biermaier, according to Electric Motor News.