Robin Frijns also misses Cape Town E-Prix, Kelvin van der Linde contests Formula E home race

ABT Cupra driver Robin Frijns is on the road to recovery. The Dutchman has already returned to training in the team's simulator following his accident at the season opener in Mexico. However, next week's Cape Town E-Prix will be too early for a race. Therefore, substitute driver Kelvin van der Linde may contest his home race.

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The forced break of Robin Frijns will be extended by another race, as the team ABT Cupra confirmed on Friday afternoon. The Dutchman must thus bury the hopes for a comeback in February. After the races in Diriyya and Hyderabad, Kelvin van der Linde will again be in the car in South Africa.

Frijns suffered multiple broken bones in his left hand in an accident on the first lap of the season opener in Mexico and had to undergo surgery that same day at a hospital in Mexico City.

"Robin, together with the team and the FIA doctor, decided to give his hand some more time and not to start in Cape Town," said a statement from ABT Cupra. "The preparation in the simulator in Kempten went smoothly, but nobody wants to take an unnecessary risk, also because there is a longer break after the event. Kelvin van der Linde will also replace Robin Frijns in South Africa."

Frijns: "Had no pain"

"I would like to return to the race car and the Formula E paddock as soon as possible," says Robin Frijns. "I felt very comfortable in the simulator, had no pain and enjoyed working with the guys. Nevertheless, we decided together not to race in Cape Town, to continue training hard and to give my hand a few more weeks to heal completely. I thank Kelvin for his flexibility and wish him all the best for his home race."

Van der Linde will thus become the first driver to contest a home race in the Gen3 era. Currently, no drivers from India, Mexico or Saudi Arabia compete in Formula E.

The first Formula E races for van der Linde - his first ever races in Formula racing - were not very successful: after finishing 16th and 18th in the "double-header" in Saudi Arabia, he had to retire the car put down in Hyderabad with "strange" brake problems. He is currently 22nd in the overall electric series standings.

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