Slowly but surely, the ADAC Formula 4 is heading for the home straight in its second season. The ADAC High Speed Academy will stage its sixth race weekend at the Nürburgring (5th - 7th August). Races 16, 17 and 18 will bring the championship decider ever closer. The focus is again on the two title contenders, Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) and Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam). However, this is also a home fixture for Kerpen-based US Racing led by ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Ralf Schumacher and Gerhard Ungar, who are keen to do well there. SPORT1 will broadcast the first two races live from the Nürburgring. The third race will feature live on SPORT1+. All three races will also be available online as live streams at ww.sport1.de and at www.adac.de/formel-4.
Australian Mawson extended his lead in the standings even further during the last race weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. He secured his sixth win of the season and is now 46 points up on Mick Schumacher. The son of record Formula 1 world championship winner Michael Schumacher has 208 points, while his main rival, Mawson, is on 254.
Both drivers are way out in front of the other competitors. ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV, 157), Kim-Luis Schramm (19, Germany, US Racing, 150) and Jannes Fittje (17, Germany, US Racing,112), who is also supported by the ADAC Sports Foundation are placed behind the two front-runners.
However, the likely winner of the championship has by no means already decided, according to Mawson. "It's great that I'm currently out in front, but there are still nine races to go and plenty of points still to be awarded. I will approach the races as I've already been doing all season. I aim to finish consistently in the points and on the podium if possible," said the Australian, who is looking forward to racing at the Nürburgring: "It's a magnificent track, in a very beautiful, idyllic setting and has a great history."
It's mainly thanks to the Australian that Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing (291) have been able to pull out a small lead in the team standings on Kerpen-based US Racing (287).
Nevertheless, US Racing team principal Ungar remains confident. "The weekend in Spielberg was a bit tricky generally, plus there's the fact that we haven't yet achieved the maximum. We've been reasonably satisfied with the way the season has gone so far, but the weekend at the Nürburgring will obviously be like a home race for us," he said.
Fellow team boss Ralf Schumacher agrees with him: "We simply had a spot of bad luck at the Red Bull Ring, but clearly, our goal is to continue to score points and to push forwards once again in the team standings," said the ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver. "We're well prepared for the Nürburgring, so hopefully, we should be able to attain our objectives there."
Timo Scheider is also buoyed by recent good results. The DTM driver signed Janneau Esmeijer (19, Netherlands), who already competed in the series in 2015, to the team in the run-up to the Red Bull Ring meeting. The Dutch driver promptly rewarded their faith in him by placing seventh, giving Team Timo Scheider their best result of the season so far.
"Finding the right direction is never easy when you're inexperienced. Now we have Janneau, who is an experienced driver. He's quick and has helped us a lot," said Scheider. "Not only is he fast on the track but is also adept at finding the right setup in conjunction with his engineer. His speed is very acceptable when compared to the guys at the top, which gives us confidence. We've already done some testing with him at the Nürburgring, and I think we're well on the way to achieving our goals."
Jenzer to field new driver at Nürburgring
Jenzer Motorsport will have a new driver for the races. Giacomo Bianchi (16, Switzerland) joins the ADAC Formula 4 line-up for the first time at the Nürburgring, while Sebastian Fernandez Wahbeh (16, Venezuela) will start under a new aegis and race for KUG Motorsport.
During the 2016 season, the ADAC High Speed Academy is holding six race weekends in conjunction with the ADAC GT Masters and appeared at the joint meeting of the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM at the Lausitzring and under the banner of the TCR International Series in Oschersleben. Television partner SPORT1 will broadcast the races live via a variety of media: on free-to-air TV, online and on mobile devices.
The ADAC Formula 4 is again relying on the services of tried and trusted partners during the 2016 season, utilising Formula 4 racing cars with Abarth turbocharged engines and chassis from Italian manufacturer Tatuus. Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli, who are well-known from Formula 1, and wheel manufacturer Motec also supply equipment to the ADAC Formula 4. Eibach, who make suspension springs, and DEKRA, one of the world's leading expert service providers, are partners to the series. Auto Zeitung continue as official media partners.
ADAC Formula 4 on TV
06/08/2016 14.30 Race 1 LIVE on SPORT1
06/08/2016 14.35 Race 1 LIVE on SPORT1+
06/08/2016 14.45 Race 1 LIVE on SPORT1.de
07/08/2016 09.45 Race 1 SPORT1+ (recording)
07/08/2016 10.15 Race 2 LIVE on SPORT1
07/08/2016 10.25 Race 2 LIVE on SPORT1+
07/08/2016 10.25 Race 2 LIVE on SPORT1.de
07/08/2016 14.45 Race 3 LIVE on SPORT1.de
07/08/2016 14.45 Race 3 LIVE on SPORT1+
07/08/2016 15.30 Race 2 SPORT1+ (recording)
07/08/2016 18.05 Race 3 SPORT1+ (recording)
07/08/2016 23.50 Race 2 SPORT1+ (recording)
08/08/2016 02.20 Race 3 SPORT1+ (recording)