aBr May 2014 | Page 79

Kelvin van der Linde is 2013 Bridgestone SA /SA Guild of Motoring Journalists Motor Sportsman of the Year Kelvin van der Linde, 17, who won the 2013 International VW Scirocco R-Cup against drivers from 24 countries, has become the youngest recipient of the prestigious Bridgestone / SAGMJ Motor Sportsman of the Year award. The award, which was made on 10 April at a function in Johannesburg attended by the Who’s Who of South African motorsport, was accepted on Van der Linde’s behalf by his uncle, Etienne van der Linde, as he is in Germany attending official testing for the 2014 ADAC GT Masters Championship. He became the hottest property in South African motor racing with his VW Scirocco Cup victory and will be taking his burgeoning career to the next level with a full-time drive in the international GT Masters with the Prosperia C Abt Racing team, winners of the 2013 team title. Other finalists were Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton; Brett Cummings; Giniel de Villiers; Hudson Kennaugh; Cristiano Morgado; Riaan van Niekerk; and Wade Young. Winner of the Colin Watling Award for special achievement in motor sport by someone other than a competitor was Beaulah Schoeman, former managing director of Motorsport South Africa, who pipped Richard Schilling. ➲ Ken Oyama (Bridgestone SA vice president Sales and Marketing), Trish Watling, Beaulah Schoeman, Christo Valentyn (SAGMJ Chairman)