The Abt Audi driver recorded his first triumph since 2021, finishing almost two seconds clear of Laurin Heinrich, who led the first phase of the race from pole position.
Van der Linde's team-mate Ricardo Feller prevailed in a thrilling late scrap with Rene Rast to take the final podium spot, while championship leader Mirko Bortolotti came home in ninth.
The race started on a damp track, with most of the field opting for wet-weather tyres. Team 75 Motorsport Porsche driver Heinrich converted a maiden pole into the lead at turn one, but then was challenged on the climb to turn three by van der Linde.
Heinrich managed to prevail in that battle, with van der Linde slipping to fifth after running wide and then getting swamped on the run to turn four by Heinrich's team-mate Ayhancan Guven, Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel and championship contender Thomas Preining.
Heinrich pulled out a three-second advantage over Engel in the early stages, while van der Linde recovered past Preining and Guven into third. Schubert BMW driver Rene Rast also joined the action, battling his way past Preining into fifth.
Lamborghini driver Bortolotti spent most of the opening 20 minutes in ninth before picking up the pace and gaining a couple of places. He pulled off a wild overtake on Marco Wittmann on the outside of turn six, despite dipping two wheels in the gravel on the exit, and the pinched seventh from Manthey Porsche driver Dennis Olsen.
The leading runners left it late into the pit window before making their mandatory stops as the track continued to dry, eventually switching to slick tyres.
Source: Autosport