Tales from the Nürburgring paddock

• Lotus wrap up team title – drivers’ championship to be decided at Hockenheim
• Formel ADAC drivers as video stars
• Flying Finn makes guest start for Lotus

Nürburgring – The seventh race weekend of the 2012 season (14th - 16th September) brought the aspiring young drivers of the Formel ADAC series to the Nürburgring. The second visit of the season by the ADAC ‘Formula Motorsport Academy’ to the venue in the Eifel saw one championship issue resolved, namely the team title. In the drivers’ championship, however, the situation could not be more finely balanced, with just two points separating the main contenders and the destiny of the trophy to be decided by the grand finale at Hockenheim on the weekend of 28th - 30th September.

Lotus reign supreme: The first championship trophy of the 2012 season has already been awarded – Lotus have taken the team title at the Nürburgring with an unassailable points tally of 552. Whether the Oschersleben-based outfit will also win the drivers’ championship will not be known until the grand finale at Hockenheim. Going into the last three races of the season, current leader Gustav Malja and second-placed Marvin Kirchhöfer are separated by just two points. Kirchhöfer is predicting three electrifying final races: “At the Hockenheimring, I will be going all out to win on the home straight.”

Lights, camera, action: Spotlight on the young Formel ADAC talent at the Nürburgring. On the penultimate race weekend of the 2012 season, the drivers were persuaded to appear in a video that will be premiered ahead of the Hockenheimring race weekend. Strange sensation – the youngsters are normally zooming around the track in a 145bhp open-wheel car, but for this production, they were asked to do a lap on foot.

Long-yearned-for return: Kim-Alexander Giersiepen is back in Formel ADAC. The KSW driver had to miss out on the last three race weekends due to injury. “I watched every race via live streaming on the internet and had itchy hands and feet all the time,” said Giersiepen. Following an intensive programme of exercises, the 18-year-old was cleared to compete in the three races at the Nürburgring. “I had absolutely no worries about getting back behind the wheel and driving flat out, because I know how safe the Formel ADAC cars are,” said Giersiepen.

New face in the paddock: Formel ADAC welcomed a new competitor in the shape of Antti Buri. The Finn accepted an invitation from Lotus to act as a guest driver for Beitske Visser who had to drop out of the penultimate race weekend of the year due to injury. However, the only female driver in the line-up and winner of two races this season fully intends to be back in action for the grand finale at Hockenheim. Buri has been contesting the British Formula Ford series this season but was determined not to miss out on the chance to drive a Formel ADAC powered by Volkswagen. “Lotus have given me a great reception and I am most impressed by the professionalism of the series,” said the 23-year-old.

Foxtail power: The TV station kabel eins, which broadcasts all 16 races of the ADAC GT Masters live, presented the fans at the Nürburgring with a special gift – members of staff handed out foxtails to members of the public. The classic mascot, so beloved of the typical Manta driver of old, was a big hit with the Formel ADAC youngsters. Thomas Jäger took one and hung it in the car of his team-mate Gustav Malja. “I wonder if this will have a negative effect on the aerodynamics,” mused the Swede, causing huge mirth in the Neuhauser garage.