Van Amersfoort driver takes two commanding victories. Tramnitz unable to convert pole position in race two. Third and final race on Sunday.

Two races, two wins – Oliver Bearman has enjoyed the perfect start to the ADAC Formula 4 season-opener so far. The Brit claimed commanding victories in both races on Saturday.

Bearman led from start to finish in race one. The 16-year-old from the Van Amersfoort Racing team, who started from pole position, controlled the race from the word go to take victory in the opening race of the season. Sebastian Montoya (16, Columbia, Prema Powerteam) came home in second place, ahead of Russian Kirill Smal (16, Prema Powerteam). Hamburg’s Tim Tramnitz (16, US Racing), an ADAC Stiftung Sport driver, was fourth. Fifth place went to Italian guest driver Leonardo Fornaroli (16, Iron Lynx).

The best-placed rookie was Nikita Bedrin (15, Russia, Van Amersfoort Racing) in twelfth place, followed by Maya Weug (17, Belgium, Iron Lynx), who finished 15th. Third place in the rookie competition went to Marcus Amand (15, France, R-ace GP).

Tim Tramnitz (US Racing) started the day’s second race from pole position, but did not get off to a good start. Bearman took full advantage, wasting little time in passing the man from Hamburg. From that point on, the 16-year-old dominated the field, just as he had in race one. ADAC Stiftung Sport driver Tramnitz eventually came home second, followed by Italian guest driver Leonardo Fornaroli (Iron Lynx). Joshua Dufek (Switzerland, Van Amersfoort Racing) was fifth, ahead of Luke Browning (US Racing), the 2020 British Formula 4 champion.

“I am really happy. We knew from qualifying and the first race that we have the pace. I had a very good start and was then able to open a lead, which I managed to maintain right through to the finish,” said Bearman, summing up race two. “The key to the win was definitely the start, which is not actually one of my strengths. I have worked on that and this start was the basis for the victory,” the Brit added.

Tramnitz was basically happy with his result in race two, but was less satisfied than Bearman with his start: “P2 is ultimately still a good result. I started from pole position and would obviously have liked to have won. I don’t think my reaction time was very good at the start. We will have to analyse that again.” Meanwhile, Fornaroli was happy with his third place: “It was a really good race from me. I had a good start and my pace was good.”

In the rookie competition, Nikita Bedrin was again first across the finish line, followed once again by Maya Weug. Michael Sauter (16, Switzerland, Sauter Engineering+Design) was the third-fastest newcomer in race two.

The final race takes place on Sunday and features the familiar reverse grid, which sees the top eight drivers from race two start in reverse order.

“I am definitely looking to be among the front-runners again in race three – preferably on the podium again,” said Tramnitz, making his intentions clear. Bearman can make it the perfect weekend with one more win: “I don’t have any major expectations for tomorrow’s race. I want to score as many points as possible and am looking forward to it,” said the relaxed Brit.

The third and final race of the weekend starts at 11:05 on Sunday. The races are live, free and exclusive on TVNOW.de and adac.de/motorsport.