The second half of the 2016 ADAC Formula 4 season is about to commence. Rounds 13, 14 and 15 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria (22nd - 24th July) promise to be a highly competitive affair. Earlier in July, the circuit played host to the stars of Formula 1, including Sebastian Vettel who is patron of the ADAC Formula 4 series. Now it's the turn of the formula juniors to compete for championship points at this track with its spectacular setting amid the Austrian Alps. The venue for fifth race weekend of the ADAC High Speed Academy is also the first outside Germany this year. Germany's main sports channel - SPORT1 - will be showing the first two races live. All three races are streamed live on www.adac.de/formel-4 and www.SPORT1.de.
Local favourite Thomas Preining (Austria, Lechner Racing) has big ambitions for his home race and personal highlight of the season. As the only Austrian on the grid, he intends to build on the solid performance of the first four ADAC Formula 4 race weekends and to celebrate his 18th birthday (21st July) in style: "I'm looking forward to the race at the Red Bull Ring. We're setting up a large hospitality marquee for all the sponsors and partners we've invited. But I mustn't allow myself to be distracted. I need to stay focused as always on the racing, to concentrate on what I do best and to be systematic about it. We're only just at the halfway point, and the season still has a long way to go. I'll be trying to secure my maiden win and, apart from that, to make as many podium appearances as possible."
Joey Mawson (20, Australia, Van Amersfoort Racing) arrives brimming with confidence as overall leader on 202 points. He has so far notched up five wins from twelve races, only twice failing to finish in the Top Ten. For the (unofficial) 'half-time champion', his second season in ADAC Formula 4 is going according to plan, and as for the Red Bull Ring, he has fond memories of competing there last time: "I like the track - it's where I celebrated my first ADAC Formula 4 win. They've laid a new surface for the current season, and they've also modified the kerbs. Consequently, I'm expecting lap times to be better compared with 2015. It's a great track - in my opinion, equal only to Hockenheim on the calendar. There will certainly be plenty of exciting scraps."
The man from Down Under goes into the second half of the season with a 20-point lead on Mick Schumacher (17, Germany, Prema Powerteam) and 77 points ahead of third-placed Kim-Luis Schramm (Germany, US Racing). Schramm, who is just about to turn 19, shares the same birthday with Preining (21st July). He is keen to add a second ADAC Formula 4 victory to the one he scored at Oschersleben: "The Red Bull Ring reminds me of my home track, the Sachsenring. It's great fun driving there. The speed you reach can be quite addictive. We have made good use of the summer break, doing some testing at the Red Bull Ring, at the Nürburgring and at Zandvoort. All of these tests went smoothly, and I think we are well positioned for the second half of the season."
Just two points behind Schramm is Mike David Ortmann (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) who also has his sights on the Top Three, an ambition shared by Jannes Fittje (16, Germany) who is Schramm's team-mate at US Racing. The Kerpen-based outfit leads the ADAC Formula 4 team standings at the halfway stage of the season. Currently placed fifth, Fittje turns 17 on 22nd July and is the third of five youngsters who have a birthday coming up around the time of the fifth race weekend. Diego Ciantini (Argentina, Jenzer Motorsport) is 18 on 21st July, and Michelle Halder (Germany, Liqui Moly Team Engstler) is 17 on 25th July.
Neuhauser rookies Drugovich and Nielsen in excellent form
The Austrian team of Neuhauser Racing has two real contenders for the Best Rookie trophy in Felipe Drugovich (16, Brazil) and Nicklas Nielsen (19, Denmark). They are currently placed second and third respectively in this classification, hot on the heels of leader Juan Manuel Correa (16, USA/Ecuador , Prema Powerteam). Team boss Hannes Neuhauser, who knows the 4,326-metre track well from his own racing days, is well pleased with their progress: "If you find yourself consistently at the front of a field of 35 to 40 cars and some rookies, you have every reason to feel satisfied. Felipe Drugovich has been doing especially well recently, only just missing out on a podium at Oschersleben. I'm able to advise the two of them how best to tackle the track here. We may not have any special advantage at Spielberg, but we certainly aren't disadvantaged. That's a good basis to start from."
Comeback for Esmeijer - Debut for Wahbeh - Brezina misses out
Sebastian Fernandez Wahbeh (16, Venezuela, RB Racing SA) is making his first outing of the season in an ADAC Formula 4 car. Team Scheider Motorsport, headquartered on the German shore of Lake Constance, will be fielding a driver who is already familiar with the series - Janneau Esmeijer (19, Netherlands) will be starting alongside Scheider Motorsport regular Julian Hanses (18, Germany). Esmeijer contested the inaugural season of the ADAC Formula 4 under the flag of the former HTP F4 Junior Team UNGAR and enjoyed some degree of success, including four podiums. "It's great to have someone with real pedigree like Janneau Esmeijer join the team," says DTM driver Timo Scheider. "With his speed and experience, he will be an important benchmark for the entire team. I feel sure that we are taking a strong team to the Red Bull Ring."
The ADAC High Speed Academy is organising six of its eight race weekends in the 2016 season to coincide with the ADAC GT Masters. One more has already been held in the context of the joint event for the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM at the Lausitzring, and the remaining weekend was part of the TCR International Series at Oschersleben. TV partners SPORT1 will broadcast the races live on free-to-air TV as well as online and on mobile devices.
In the 2016 season, ADAC Formula 4 continues to work in close collaboration with its established partners. The turbocharged engines are supplied by Abarth, while the chassis come from Italian manufacturer Tatuus. The Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli - well-known for its association with Formula 1 - and wheel manufacturer Motec are also official suppliers to ADAC Formula 4. Suspension manufacturer Eibach and vehicle inspection experts DEKRA are further series partners. Auto Zeitung continues to be the official media partner.
ADAC Formula 4 on TV
23/07/16 14:30 Race 1 LIVE on SPORT1
23/07/16 14:40 Race 1 LIVE on SPORT1.de
23/07/16 16:15 Race 1 SPORT1+ (Recording - first broadcast)
24/07/16 00:20 Race 1 SPORT1+ (Recording)
24/07/16 09:10 Race 1 SPORT1+ (Recording)
24/07/16 09:45 Race 2 LIVE on SPORT1
24/07/16 09:45 Race 2 LIVE on SPORT1+
24/07/16 09:45 Race 2 LIVE on SPORT1.de
24/07/16 13:35 Race 3 LIVE on SPORT1+
24/07/16 13:40 Race 3 LIVE on SPORT1.de
26/07/16 06:25 Race 3 SPORT1+ (Recording)