Alessio Picariello wins first Formel ADAC race to be staged in Slovakia

• Tenth win of the season for Alessio Picariello: Outcome of title race almost decided
• Picariello equals Richie Stanaway’s record for most victories in the series
• Picariello: “I’m quite close to winning the title now”

Slovakia Ring – Alessio Picariello (20, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) has taken another decisive step towards claiming the 2013 title ahead of time. With this victory in the opening race at the Slovakia Ring, the young Belgian has also written his name into the Formel ADAC annals as the first winner of a race in Slovakia. “On the first lap, I tried to build up a big gap as quickly as possible so that the others wouldn’t benefit from my slipstream. That worked out well, and after four laps, I noticed that I had established a sizeable lead,” said Picariello after his tenth success of the 2013 season. His total haul of wins in the competition is twelve. He thereby equals the record number of wins set by 2010 champion Richie Stanaway in the six-year history of the junior series.

Picariello paved the way to victory at the start. Having qualified for pole position, the championship leader opened up a gap on the rest of the field before they had even reached the first corner; from then on, he steadily increased his lead, lap by lap. Picariello eventually crossed the finish line 6.342 seconds ahead of second-placed Marvin Dienst (16) who had to battle hard for his fifth podium finish of the season. The Neuhauser Racing rookie got off to a great start from sixth on the grid and quickly worked his way up to fourth. On the eighth lap, he pulled off the decisive overtaking move when he outsmarted Swiss junior Ralph Boschung (15, KUG Motorsport) to secure the second podium spot. Boschung completed the podium party in third.

Beer forced to retire in sight of podium finish

There was plenty of racing action also going on behind the Top Three. Nicolas Beer (17, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) starting from eleventh looked to be in contention for a trophy at one stage. The Danish youngster had secured pole position in qualifying but had to serve a grid penalty of ten places carried over from the Lausitzring weekend. He was involved in a series of spectacular slipstream battles with fourth-placed Jason Kremer (18, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) over a number of laps in which the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé ultimately prevailed.

Red Bull junior Visser rewarded for spectacular charge up the field

On the penultimate lap, Beer was scrapping with Beitske Visser (18, Netherlands, Lotus) for fifth position when he went for a spin, skidded off the track and got stranded in the gravel. The Red Bull junior put in a magnificent performance to advance from 13th on the grid to fifth place.

Behind sixth-placed Neuhauser Racing rookie Stefan Riener (18, Austria), the Lotus trio of Callan O’Keeffe (17, South Africa), Mikkel Jensen (18, Denmark) and Indy Dontje (20, Netherlands) were locked in a thrilling three-way fight. After a sequence of internal team duels, the three youngsters finished Saturday’s race at the Slovakia Ring in positions seven, eight and nine.

Picariello close to wrapping up title

In the championship, an early decision could be approaching. After the 19th race of the season and after having led the championship since the season opener, Picariello has now amassed 313 points. Title rival Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) was the biggest loser on the day. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé was forced to retire while lying in fourth place on Lap 6 with a technical failure, so remains stuck on 216 points. With only five races left before the end of the campaign (two at the Slovakia Ring and three at the Hockenheim grand finale) and a maximum of 130 points available, Günther trails by 97.

Comments from the Top Three drivers

Alessio Picariello (20, Belgium, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), Winner:
“I’m delighted to have the honour of being the first ever Formel ADAC race winner at the Slovakia Ring. On the first lap, I tried to build up a big gap as quickly as possible so that the others wouldn’t benefit from my slipstream. That worked out well, and after four laps, I noticed that I had established a sizeable lead. I therefore decided to ease up and conserve the tyres. I’m quite close to winning the title now, but in racing, it isn’t over until it’s over. I feel sorry for Maximilian because this is not the way I wanted to extend my lead in the championship. Tomorrow, I’ll be going all out for the race win as usual.”

Marvin Dienst (16, Germany, Neuhauser Racing), Second:
“I’m very happy with second place. In qualifying, I got my strategy a bit wrong, because I thought the track would dry out. I didn’t get the best out of my car and therefore only qualified in sixth place. So to finish on the podium from sixth on the grid shows just how good our car is. At the start of the race, it was difficult to get past Maximilian Günther. He defended well, and in any case overtaking is difficult on this track, as there are plenty of chances to come back. When I passed him, I went at full throttle to take second place – and managed to do precisely that. I quickly realised that Alessio Picariello was too far ahead of me and focused on conserving the tyres for Sunday.”

Ralph Boschung (15, SUI, KUG Motorsport), Third:
“I am very pleased about my fourth podium finish in Formel ADAC, but at the same time, I think I could have done even better. At the start of the race the car was very good and I was able to catch up with Alessio Picariello. Unfortunately, a problem developed at the front left of my car. The grip was getting better and then worse again; I don’t know what was causing it. If my car had been as good as it was over the first few laps of the race, I might even have managed to win.”