Successful start to a new era. The young ADAC Formula 4 talents embarked on the inaugural season of the new ADAC High-Speed Academy last weekend (April 24th-26th, 2015). More than 20,000 spectators came through the gates over the weekend to watch the young drivers deliver plenty of exciting racing, which also delighted ADAC Formula 4 patron Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel: "The young ADAC Formula 4 talents made an impressive start to the season last weekend. The races were exciting, and the drivers were very considerate towards each other. Looking at the times, you can see that the field is very strong and that the standard is already very high. I expect to see an exciting, very evenly matched year. Congratulations to Marvin Dienst and Mick Schumacher on their maiden wins in the ADAC Formula 4."

Like many other racing drivers, Vettel also began his career at the ADAC academy for junior single-seater drivers. Between 2003 and 2004, the current four-time Formula 1 world champion spent two years in Formula BMW ADAC, which he won by a big margin in his second season, taking 18 wins from 20 races.

ADAC Director Motorsport and Classic Lars Soutschka was also very positive in his conclusions: "The season opener of the ADAC GT Masters and the ADAC Formula 4 was a complete success with more than 20,000 enthusiastic spectators at the circuit and a successful debut for the ADAC Formula 4. Congratulations to Marvin and Mick, this is a great result, but don´t build your hopes up too high, the season is long and the competition certainly will not rest."

ADAC programmes for single-seater racing drivers have long been the starting point for potential motor racing aces. Apart from Vettel, other Formula 1 drivers such as world championship runner-up Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg and Ralf Schumacher plus DTM stars, including Martin Tomczyk and Timo Glock all began their successful careers in ADAC junior formula series at some point in the past.