Alessio Picariello secures second home win at Spa-Francorchamps

• Picariello makes it four wins out of five races this season
• Local favourite Picariello: “I’m delighted with this second win on my home track.”
• ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Maximilian Günther secures second successive podium finish

Spa-Francorchamps – Race 2

Date: 12th May 2013
Race: 05/24
Weather: Overcast, 8°C
Circuit length: 7.004 km
Pole: Jason Kremer
Laps: 6
Winner: Alessio Picariello
Fastest lap: Alessio Picariello (2:44.971)

Spa-Francorchamps – Alessio Picariello (19, Belgium, Mücke Motorsport) could hardly have wished for a better outcome to his home race at Spa-Francorchamps. The local favourite not only won the opening race on Saturday but continued his winning streak in the second of the weekend’s three races on Sunday morning. “I knew that I had to take the lead as soon as possible if I was to have a chance of winning, and that’s exactly what I did.” This makes it four victories out of five so far this season.

The young Belgian had already overtaken three other cars by the time he reached the fourth corner to take the lead ahead of pole-sitter Jason Kremer (18, Germany, Schiller Motorsport), Maximilian Günther (15, Germany, Mücke Motorsport) and Nicolas Beer (17, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing). Picariello held on at the front after a safety car deployment to cross the finish line six seconds ahead of race runner-up Beer. ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther completed the podium party in third place.

Close encounters on the Ardennes rollercoaster

Whereas the finishing order in the Top Three was never in much doubt, there were some enthralling battles in the pursuing group for championship points. The race was stopped shortly after the start following a pile-up on the first corner and, after the safety car was deployed, the stewards curtailed it to 19 minutes. This resulted in an exciting sprint over six laps. Behind ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Kremer in fourth place, the young formula drivers engaged in lively but fair combat in atrocious weather conditions.

Marvin Dienst (16, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) prevailed over a series of scraps to take fifth place. Hendrik Grapp (19, Germany, Mücke Motorsport) improved on his grid position by six places to secure a P6 finish. The two Lotus drivers, Mikkel Jensen (18, Denmark, Lotus) and Callan O’Keeffe (16, South Africa, Lotus) battled it out for seventh, with the Dane coming out on top. The gap between sixth-placed Grapp and Fabian Schiller (15, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) in P9 was under two seconds as they crossed the line.

Picariello reigns supreme at top of table

After the fifth of 24 races in total this season, Picariello continues to lead the overall standings on 107 points. In second and third respectively are Beer on 67 points and series newcomer Günther on 61.

O'Keeffe starts on pole in the third race of the ADAC high-speed academy at Spa-Francorchamps (streamed live on www.adac.de/motorsport on Sunday at 4:30pm local time). Next to him on the front row of the grid will be his Lotus team-mate Jensen. Grapp and Dienst have booked the second row.

Comments from the Top Three drivers

Alessio Picariello (19, Belgium, Mücke Motorsport), Winner:
“I’m really delighted to have won for the second time on my home track. The race was by no means easy. The surface was already wet when we started for the first time, which made it difficult to get off the line on slicks. I knew that I had to take the lead as soon as possible if I was to have a chance of winning, and that’s exactly what I did. After the restart, it was all about keeping the car on the track. Although we had wet weather tyres on, the car had been set up for dry conditions. I’m feeling very optimistic about the third race: we’re very fast in the rain, but even when it stays dry, the long straights offer good overtaking opportunities thanks to the slipstream effect.”

Nicolas Beer (17, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing), Second:
“Second place is a good result for me. Unfortunately, the start didn’t go too well, but the race stoppage gave me a second chance which I made better use of. I overtook Maximilian Günther and Jason Kremer, and I really wanted to have a crack at Alessio Picariello, but there wasn’t enough time left. I decided it was more important to secure valuable championship points and to bring the car home in one piece. Congratulations to Alessio on his win. He’s not making it any easier for me in the overall standings, but I’ll continue to give it all I’ve got.”

Maximilian Günther (15, Germany, Mücke Motorsport), Third:
“That was my third podium in five races so far this season. I’m overjoyed. The start on slicks worked out OK, though Alessio Picariello got past me on the inside. He was very fast today, but at least I was able to stay in touch with him better than yesterday. Nicolas Beer used the slipstream to get past me on Eau Rouge. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to keep up with him, but all in all, I’m satisfied with my race, and I’m looking forwards to the rematch this afternoon. This track offers a lot of overtaking opportunities and our car seems to be very fast.”