Preview – Sachsenring: Challenging ‘roller coaster’ of a circuit

• Eight different winners in twelve races at Sachsenring since 2008
• Home race for Florian Herzog
• Alessio Picariello: “I intend to win and extend my championship lead”

Hohenstein-Ernstthal – The Sachsenring is set to host Formel ADAC’s third race weekend of the season from 7th to 9th June 2013. This historic circuit has been a regular feature on the racing calendar of the Formel ADAC academy ever since its inception and has produced exciting and varied racing year on year. Since 2008, eight different drivers have seen their names inscribed in the list of winners, and four of them have gone on to subsequently win the Formel ADAC championship title at the end of the season.

Dresden-based Florian Herzog (19, KUG Motorsport) would be delighted to see his name immortalised in the Sachsenring’s Hall of Fame in his home race next weekend. From home to track is less than 90 kilometres, so many friends and relatives will be cheering him on at the Sachsenring. Herzog: “I’m looking forward to the special atmosphere at this particular circuit. Of course, I intend to achieve super results at the Sachsenring.”

The 19-year-old has already posted the fastest lap once this season and feels well prepared for his home race. “We were quick in testing at the Sachsenring, so I’m optimistic for the race weekend,” says the KUG Motorsport driver. “A place among the front-runners should definitely be possible. This is my second Formel ADAC season and so I have the necessary experience.”

Sachsenring challenge: White-knuckle turns. Considerable variations in altitude

At the Sachsenring, the drivers in ADAC’s high-speed academy will be faced with an undulating, 3.645km track and 14 demanding turns in all, some of which are blind, so drivers cannot see the exit. Apart from hosting the ADAC GT Masters together with the Formel ADAC, the Motorcycle World Championship is held every year at the Hohenstein-Ernstthal track; this season’s ‘eni Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland’ takes place on 12th-14th July.

Local driver Herzog has a special favourite among the 14 turns: “I especially like the bit of track just after the Omega. You go in blind and can gain or lose a lot of time at this spot.” Any number of different racing lines are possible running along this section. It is up to each driver to find for himself the fastest way through in his car and then do his best both in qualifying and in the race to hit the line.

Considerable variations in altitude along the track constitute another major headache. “They may be great fun, but also require plenty of skill,” said championship runner-up Nicolas Beer (17, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing). The Danish driver is well aware that every mistake is punished at the Sachsenring: “We need to be fully focused at every touch and turn, because there are hardly any hard run-off areas. If you run wide, you can lose a lot of time in the gravel or even get completely stuck and have to drop out.”

Varied start to the season

The first two Formel ADAC race weekends of the season took place in the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben and at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 circuit. There were four different winners in the six races and nine drivers from six different countries stood on the podium. ADAC Sports Foundation protégés, Maximilian Günther (15, Germany, Mücke Motorsport) and Jason Kremer (18, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) finished on the podium six times.

Neuhauser driver Beer is certain that the Sachsenring will again produce plenty of variety: “The entire circuit is one enormous challenge, so I’m pretty sure that we will see very exciting racing.” Alessio Picariello (19, Belgium, Mücke Motorsport), who got off to a flying start to the season, setting a new Formel ADAC record, has a clear aim in mind for the race weekend: “I intend to win at the Sachsenring and extend my championship lead as much as possible.” Picariello is the first driver in the history of the ADAC’s high-speed academy to win four of the season’s initial six races.