The Lausitzring played host to ADAC Formula 4 on the weekend of 3rd to 5th June, staging races seven to nine of the 2016 season. On Saturday, Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam) registered his second and third victories of the current campaign. The son of record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher dominated qualifying to take pole for both races. Fabio Scherer (16, Switzerland, Jenzer Motorsport) won Sunday´s race. Starting from 14th on the grid, the rookie was one of the few drivers to opt for slicks, thanks to which he was able to claim his first ever victory in the ADAC High Speed Academy. Joey Mawson just about managed to hang on to his lead in the championship. For the first time this season, the Australian failed to score any points in a race when he experienced a technical problem with his car on Sunday. His points total remains on 152, narrowly ahead of Schumacher on 149. Ortmann is third on 100.
A Motorsport Festival deserving of the name: 67,500 motorsport fans came through the Lausitzring turnstiles over the weekend, packing the grandstands and milling around the paddocks. The information, entertainment and catering stalls were also kept busy. The joint event staged by the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM attracted fans not only from nearby. Many of them arrived with tents and caravans. The impromptu parties and concerts created a real festival atmosphere.
Lightweight comes up against heavyweight: Following his surprise win in Race 3, rookie Fabio Scherer received his trophy from the hands of former heavyweight boxer Axel Schulz. For motorsport fan Schulz, this was not his first visit to a race weekend. "My wife got me interested in motor racing. She´s totally addicted to it – her father used to compete in races on the AVUS circuit. We´ve been married for ten years now, and for the past ten or twelve years, I´ve been following the DTM, Formula 1 and a lot of other series because of the superb atmosphere." However, Schulz no longer fancies his own chances in racing. "I used to compete occasionally but had to give it up. However, I do find this sport really fascinating. I don´t mind which of the guys wins – I´m crossing my fingers for all of them."
Wall-to-wall sunshine: While the rest of Germany was experiencing adverse weather conditions, the Lausitzring was basking in sunshine – to the absolute delight of drivers and fans alike. Conditions were perfect for the first two of the three ADAC Formula 4 races, with an ambient temperature of 28°C and a dry track. Just before the third race on Sunday afternoon, there was a short but heavy downpour. What started out as a wet track then dried so quickly that Fabio Scherer ran out surprise winner thanks to a gamble on slick tyres. By the time he made his maiden ADAC Formula 4 podium appearance, the sun was shining again.
Super supporters: The fan club of ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Mike David Ortmann laid on a specially choreographed display at the Lausitzring to show their support for the local favourite from Team ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. They brought along a 10 x 10 metre banner which – with the permission of the organisers – they then unfurled in the grandstand. Ortmann rewarded their loyalty by finishing third in the final race. The 16-year-old had a generally busy time in his home fixture, chatting to fans and posing for selfies. He also handed out pennants and souvenirs to fans young and old as well as signing autographs.
More heavyweights: In addition to Axel Schulz, a number of other big names from the sporting world came along to watch the racing. Bobsleigh star Nico Walther had already dropped in on the Sachsenring weekend and was now a guest of ADAC Formula 4 for the second time this year. Showing their faces for the first time were triple world champion in the two-man bobsleigh event Francesco Friedrich and coach Gerd Leopold.
Podium ceremony: Brazil´s Felipe Drugovich received the trophy for Best Rookie in the first race from the hands of DTM driver Timo Glock. Fellow DTM driver and winner of the 2012 ADAC GT Masters Maximilian Götz presented the trophy for the second race to rookie Lirim Zendeli. Thomas Preining, who finished Race 1 in third place, received his trophy from Bernd Schneider. The record DTM championship winner arrived at the Lausitzring fresh from his triumph in the ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on the previous weekend. He also stood in as racing pundit in the SPORT1 commentary box for TV coverage of the second ADAC GT Masters race on Sunday. Former Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Director Norbert Haug also watched the talented youngsters in action. Bruno Spengler, DTM champion in 2012, shared some interesting insights into the DTM with members of the US Racing squad.
Racing interludes: Between races, the young drivers had enough time to let off steam in other sporting disciplines. In the US Racing area of the paddock, there were some thrilling table tennis matches between Kim-Luis Schramm and Louis Gachot. Meanwhile, Prema Powerteam managed to play competitive football in a relatively confined space, Cedric Piro showed off his skill with a tennis ball, and several of the youngsters used the surroundings as a jogging track. The imminent European Football Championship was a hot topic of discussion. "France will be very strong," said US Racing´s Jannes Fittje, "but I think that Germany are getting stronger with every game. They should certainly get at least as far as the semi-finals." Thomas Preining from Linz in Austria completed his Abitur exams in May and can forget about school for the moment: "Did I pass? Yes, of course!" The teenager can now focus fully on single-seater racing and is already looking forward to his home race at Spielberg in late July. The junior formula contestants also received terrific support from their families. Corinna Schumacher was there in person at the Lausitzring to watch her son claim his second winner´s trophy of the season. Likewise the family of Franco-Canadian Kami Laliberté, whose father Guy is the founder of Cirque du Soleil. The Lalibertés made the journey from Switzerland in a motorhome and were delighted to see Kami finish second in the first race.