When on a ADAC GT Masters race weekend the GT3 supercars take a break and the single-seater ADAC Formula 4 racing cars are busy lapping the track instead, then Marvin Dienst sits glued to the monitor and is just as excited as the drivers in the racing series which first saw the light of day in 2015 and found its first champion in Dienst. "I still love to watch it and am incredibly nervous, more nervous than when I was in the car myself," said Marvin Dienst. "The races are packed full of action. I find myself commentating on manoeuvres. I had a great time in the ADAC Formula 4 and will definitely follow the series in years to come."

But it's 2016 and his year in the 2016 ADAC GT Masters. The 19-year-old has risen up through the ranks of the ADAC motor racing family from the junior series to the Super Sports Car League, and this is how it came about. "I was already in touch with Schütz Motorsport during my time in the Formula BMW Talent Cup, which was right at the start of my motor racing career immediately after karting," said Dienst. "But then I decided first on a career in formula racing, taking the classic route. After my title win in the ADAC Formula 4, I then wanted to try something new and contacted team principal Christian Schütz. We soon came to an agreement."

Marvin Dienst is sharing a Porsche 911 GT3 R with another series rookie, Christopher Zanella this year. "It's a big change, making the switch from a lightweight, nimble formula racing car to a beefy GT3 sports car. I couldn't quite get to grips with the traction control in particular at first. The Porsche is much heavier, much larger in size, and visibility is poorer. Still, you can get used to anything, and I'm doing better with every race."

The rankings for Dienst & Zanella in the first five races - 17, 26, 16, 11, 11 - show that they are on an upward trend. Dienst: "The season so far has gone as expected. We've made some minor errors. The ADAC GT Masters is a tough nut to crack." But the breakthrough then came in the second race at the Lausitzring when the young pair booked fifth place and secured their first points in the drivers' championship. "I was very happy with the race. Everything went perfectly, and our times were occasionally faster than those of the top drivers," said Dienst. "The more driving time we get, the better we become. To build things up slowly - that was our goal for the season. After 14 races, we then intend to take another look at things to see where we stand."