On 14th April, one day ahead of the first race weekend of the 2016 ADAC Formula 4 season at Oschersleben, the large field of talented youngsters had the opportunity to complete a special course of training as stipulated by the world motorsport governing body FIA. A total of 34 drivers took part in the session, which was initiated and coordinated by the FIA and the German Motorsport Association (DMSB).

The FIA decreed that all entrants for this year´s FIA Formula 3 Championship had to undergo a compulsory course of training. ADAC Formula 4 has now become the first national racing series to apply the same principle in the form of a pilot project. In future, all national Formula 4 series will have to include this element of preparation.

The FIA has introduced the training requirement to ensure that drivers receive guidance at all stages of their career and that the graduation from karting to Formula sport is an orderly process. The training has been tailored to the individual format and circumstances of Formula 4, allowing not only newcomers but also drivers embarking on their second season to gain a better understanding of the vehicles and the series in general.

The FIA focuses on the key elements of a racing weekend such as procedures, safety precautions, driver behaviour, preventive measures and anti-doping rules. Familiarisation with the technical and sporting regulations together with media and communications training is just as much part of the training programme for young drivers as an understanding of the engineering aspects and knowledge of the vehicle.

FIA training is an ideal supplement to the thorough grounding the youngsters receive in ADAC Formula 4. The role of the ADAC in bringing on the formula racing stars of tomorrow has now entered its 25th year. It was in 1991 that the ADAC first gave young talent a platform to excel in the BMW Formula ADAC Junior Championship; since last year, the name of the series aimed at emerging talent has been ADAC Formula 4. The success of the ADAC youth development programme for budding single-seater racers is apparent from the current crop of Formula 1 drivers: all four of the Germans (Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg and Pascal Wehrlein) are past winners of one or the other ADAC junior formula series.

"The promotion of young talent is an integral part of ADAC Motorsport, and we welcome any initiative to support the training of young racers," says ADAC Sport President Hermann Tomczyk. "Every step in a driver´s career is important, and we want to do everything possible to give the youngsters the best possible backing on their way to future fame and fortune. The training provided by the FIA for our drivers was a great start to the season and we can now look forward to some exciting racing."

Stefano Domenicali, President of the FIA Single Seater Commission concurs: "We are pleased to be the first to carry out FIA training in the context of a national Formula 4 race. There is no doubt that, in the future, this will be a mandatory part of the programme. With the rapid growth in the number drivers, it is clearly important to ensure that they are well prepared before they start racing."

ADAC Formula 4 driver Jonathan Aberdein: "That was great today. Like many of the others, I have only just made the switch from karting to formula racing. There is a lot to learn, and today has been especially helpful in reaching a better understanding of the car and the championship. It will be a highly competitive season, but if you know that your learning process is going to receive such good support, that´s a great way to start, and we are sure to benefit from it in the long term."

The ADAC Formula 4 calendar consists of eight fixtures of three races each. The first of these takes place this weekend at Oschersleben.