The new ADAC Formula 4 series is making its second excursion outside the confines of Germany on only the third race weekend of its first season. The Friday morning free practice session gave the talented young racing stars of the future an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the legendary and highly challenging circuit of Spa-Francorchamps which is hosting rounds seven to nine of the 2015 championship. Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam) clocked the fastest lap time in the 45-minute session. Currently fourth in the championship table, the Estonian posted a time of 2:22.778 minutes.

Aron went to the top of the timesheet with his last flying lap of the session on a drying track. Setting absolute best times in the second and third sectors, he prevailed over Prema Powerteam team-mate Guan Yu Zhou (16, CHN, Prema Powerteam). Ferrari Academy Driver Zhou Yu held the lead for much of the morning session but was thwarted by Aron in the closing minutes, finishing 0.586 seconds behind.

Just hundredths in it at Spa

Third place went to Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing) with a time of 2:23.478 minutes. The Australian, who is currently third in the championship, was battling it out in the closing minutes of free practice with Janneau Esmeijer (18, NED, HTP Juniorteam) and single-seater racing newcomer Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport). The gap separating Esmeijer and Shwartzman was ultimately a mere four hundredths of a second on the seven-kilometre track - the longest on the calendar.

The two main title contenders, Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam) and Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark), were placed sixth and eighth. Championship leader Eriksson was 1.2 seconds adrift of Aron. Finishing between Dienst and Eriksson in seventh was ADAC Formula 4 debutant Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport). Jannes Fittje (15, GER, Motopark) and Kim Luis Schramm (17, GER, Neuhauser Racing) completed the Top Ten.

Qualifying takes place this afternoon (Friday). Qualifying Group 1 starts at 17:25 CEST. This is immediately followed by Group 2 at 17:50, which is also a 20-minute session.

SPORT1 will broadcast all the races on free-to-air TV

Fans can watch all three ADAC Formula 4 races live on free-to-air television. TV partner SPORT1 will show the first race on Saturday, June 20th at 14:45. SPORT1 will also feature both races on Sunday at 13:25 clock and 17:00 on free-to-air TV. In addition, all 24 ADAC Formula 4 races are streamed live on www.SPORT1.de and adac.de/motorsport.