US Racing, a German-run team, have followed Prema and Van Amersfoort in naming their lead drivers for the 2017 ADAC Formula 4 campaign. In Nicklas Nielsen (20, Denmark) and Fabio Scherer (17, Switzerland), team principals Gerhard Ungar and Ralf Schumacher have secured the services of two drivers who already made a great impression in last year's championship.
Nielsen drove for the Austrian team, Neuhauser Racing, in 2016 and lifted the Best Rookie trophy after registering six victories in the junior class. Ungar is delighted with his new recruit: "Nicklas is an experienced and talented driver. We already discussed a potential partnership last year, and he actually went for his very first test drive in one of our Formula 4 cars." In his first season, Nielsen finished in the points on twelve occasions and made three podium appearances.
17-year-old Scherer also made a positive impression in 2016, especially for his victory in the third race at the Lausitzring where he was the only driver to fit the right tyres for a drying track, a call that earned him a surprise victory. "I was instantly convinced of Fabio's talent in his first test last year," said Ungar who, after leading HTP F4 Junior Team UNGAR to the team championship in 2015, went into partnership with ex-Formula 1 and DTM star Schumacher to establish a team which they called US Racing. "Fabio is very focused as a person and extremely mature for his age. Above all, he was instantly up to speed in his first test."
Co-principal and ADAC Sports Foundation committee member Ralf Schumacher is confident that US Racing can be doubly successful in the 2017 season: "We are well set up with Fabio and Nicklas, who are both capable of scoring race victories. Nicklas did a great job in 2016 in winning the Rookie Championship. I knew him from his time in kart racing where he was already an exceptional talent. He is fast and extremely focused in his approach to developing as a racing driver and, above all, to winning. Fabio has also got himself noticed for his talent and speed. His victory at the Lausitzring showed that he is not only quick but also shows judgement, which is very important as a racing driver."
Like the former Swiss Kart Champion, ex-Karting World Champion Nielsen from Denmark is looking forward to his second season in ADAC Formula 4, which starts on 28th April at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben: "I am looking forward to working with such a professional and successful team as US Racing. The team has had a great record in recent years, and I hope we will have a successful 2017 together." His 17-year-old team-mate from Switzerland concurs: "I felt really good right from the start of my first test. We are both very focused and want to win. I am highly motivated and looking forward to a successful season with US Racing."