Pole positions for Grapp and Visser at the Lausitzring

• On pole: Hendrik Grapp in Race 1, Beitske Visser in Race 2
• Maiden pole positions for Grapp and Visser in Formel ADAC
• Championship leader Malja and Kirchhöfer, who is second overall, head up second row

Lausitzring - Qualifying

Date: 25 August 2012
Weather: sunny, 20°C
Circuit length: 4.534 km
Pole Race 1: Hendrik Grapp
Pole Race 2: Beitske Visser

Lausitzring – In qualifying at the Lausitzring, Hendrik Grapp (18, Berlin, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) secured pole position for the 16th race at the third-to-last Formel ADAC race weekend. It is the first pole for the ADAC Sport Foundation protégé in his debut year in the junior series. His previous best qualifying results – two sixth places. „I’m hoping to achieve my first clutch of podium finishes in the races and am confident that I can succeed on home territory with the support of the many fans in the stands“, said the Berlin-based driver.

Grapp posted a 1:48.159, the fastest lap time of the session, just edging out Beitske Visser (17, Netherlands, Lotus) by 0.059 seconds. The only female driver on the grid covered the 4.534 kilometre track in 1:48.218 minutes on her best lap and so is also on the front row in the opening race; Visser is on pole in the second race on Sunday morning. The second fastest lap times of qualifying decide the grid line-up for race two.

Championship leader Gustav Malja (16, Sweden, Neuhauser Racing) secured third place on the grid for the first race at the Lausitzring with a personal best time of 1:48.311 minutes. Marvin Kirchhöfer (18, Leipzig, Lotus) is second in the overall standings and shares the second row of the grid with Malja, taking P4.
Two-time race winner Alessio Picariello (18, Belgium, G & J / Schiller Motorsport) and Jeffrey Schmidt (18, Switzerland, Lotus) share row three. Thomas Jäger (18, Austria, Neuhauser Racing) took the seventh-fastest time in qualifying from Indy Dontje (19, Netherlands, Lotus).

Visser and Malja head up the front row in Sunday morning’s second race at 9:50am. Grapp is placed third, alongside Kirchhöfer, in this 17th points-scoring race in a series of 24.

Hendrik Grapp (18, Berlin, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), Pole Position Race 1:

„It feels fantastic to have secured my first pole position for a home race in the Formel ADAC. I’m just lost for words. Everything worked great today, so many thanks to the team for my perfectly tuned car and a good strategy. I’m hoping to achieve my first clutch of podium finishes in the races and am confident that I can succeed on home territory with the support of the many fans in the stands.“

Beitske Visser (17, NED, Lotus), Pole Position Race 2:

„My first pole in the Formel ADAC – a great result for the Lausitzring opener. The track was dry for qualifying, unlike in practice on Friday, which made it easier to go on a charge. The circuit is very challenging and demands absolute concentration from drivers. I’m sure the races themselves will be tough too, but I’m doing my best to achieve my second win in the series.“