Who will be ADAC Formula 4 champion? Going into the final weekend of the 2019 season (27th - 29th September) at the Sachsenring, the outcome of the drivers' championship is more open than in any previous year. Théo Pourchaire had built up a substantial lead, but this has been dramatically eroded. Dennis Hauger and Arthur Leclerc are waiting to pounce, and even the newly crowned Best Rookie, Roman Stanek, has an outside chance of coming through. We introduce the championship contenders.

Théo Pourchaire

The French teenager had been the most consistent driver until the penultimate weekend. While his opponents often took excessive risks, Pourchaire drove cautiously and avoided unnecessary errors. "The key to success is consistency," was his mantra. "I'm taking each race as it comes and sharpening my focus each time." It was an approach that brought three wins, took him to the top of the table and opened up a substantial points gap. At the Hockenheimring, the penultimate fixture of the campaign, Pourchaire had the opportunity to wrap up the title ahead of time, but he then had what he describes as a "catastrophic weekend". Pourchaire is now only one point ahead of Dennis Hauger but all the more determined to make amends in the season finale.

Dennis Hauger

Hauger has frequently shown himself to be fast on track during the course of the season, but his challenge has repeatedly faltered due to unforced errors and technical problems with the car. The young Norwegian had almost written off his chances of taking the title because of the massive points deficit on Théo Pourchaire, so he went into the most recent race weekend at Hockenheim feeling that the pressure was off and just determined to enjoy the experience. What followed was undoubtedly the most successful race weekend for any contestant in the history of the ADAC Formula 4 series. No-one had ever won all three races on a weekend, but this is precisely what the Red Bull Junior managed to do. "We are now fastest and have the momentum on our side," said Hauger, whose tally of race victories in 2019 has reached five. At the Sachsenring, he will be looking to continue this late charge and round it off with the title.

Arthur Leclerc

Big name? No problem! The brother of Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc is the third of the title contenders. He is 28 points adrift of Pourchaire, but it is a gap that can be closed over the duration of a weekend. After a temporary lapse of form at Zandvoort, Leclerc has regained momentum in the run-up to the end of the season. His only victory came on the first visit to Hockenheim, the standout fixture of the 2019 campaign when the series shared the billing with Formula 1. He has since made several podium appearances. "Let's see where the journey takes us," says Leclerc. "I'm aiming to deliver a good last race weekend, and then we'll see what comes of it."

Roman Stanek

Stanek is one step ahead of the three other championship contenders. The 15-year-old Czech already has one title in the bag, having secured the 2019 Best Rookie trophy on the most recent race weekend at Hockenheim. But he sees no reason why he shouldn't set his sights even higher. With two race wins to his account, Stanek's attention is now fixed on the main championship title: "I definitely wanted to win the rookie championship, but now let's see what else is possible." To close the 45-point gap on Pourchaire, however, he is going to need everything to fall into place.