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26.07.2012 - ADAC Formel Masters
Mid-season interview with championship leader Marvin Kirchhöfer
- Marvin Kirchhöfer leads the 2012 Formel ADAC drivers' standings after 12 out of 24 races on a score of 162 points
- Promising start for ADAC Sports Foundation protégé to career debut in single-seater racing
- Kirchhöfer excels in terms of race wins (3), fastest race laps (5) and podiums (8)
Half-time in the 2012 Formel ADAC series: Marvin Kirchhöfer (18, Leipzig, Lotus) has topped the table since the first race. Supported by the ADAC Sports Foundation, the talented young driver is pleased with the way his debut season is going and sounding upbeat about the future.
Going into your debut year in Formel ADAC racing, did you imagine that you would be leading the championship at this stage of the season?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: Definitely not. My main objective was to gain experience, score a few points and perhaps even get onto the podium a couple of times. I'm obviously very happy that everything is going so smoothly for me as a newcomer and that the car is up to speed. I hope it carries on like this.
Why do you think your first season is going so well?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: Winning the German Kart Championship was an excellent preparation for my first year in Formel ADAC. At first, the transition from karting to a fully-fledged formula car was not all that easy, but eventually, it just sort of went 'click' and then there was no looking back. I don't regard my debut season in single-seater racing as some sort of learning year; right from the start, it has been my intention to attack and to compete at the highest level.
Which of your current three wins from twelve races do you rate as the best?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: Each of them was special for me. Winning the first race in the season opener was obviously a fantastic feeling - my first ever race at Formula level, and in difficult weather conditions too. My two victories at Zandvoort in front of the Dutch fans were also highly memorable; things went really well for me there. Outright wins are always great, but I also remember podiums. The Nürburgring wasn't a complete success as far as I was concerned, because I didn't manage to post any perfect laps. But despite that, I still finished in the Top Three in all three races. The speed of my Formel ADAC car is good, and that's the most important thing.
You've led the standings right from the first race. Are thoughts of the championship beginning to dominate your mind?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: Obviously, the priority now has to be retaining my championship lead. But that's easier said than done, because a lot can happen in the next twelve races. To be successful, you have to make sure the whole package is right: a good car, talent and a little luck. If all of this falls into place, we'll see if it's enough to take the title.
What's your opinion of the current crop of drivers?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: The field is really well matched; there are a lot of drivers who are capable of competing for victory. This is shown by the statistics - in the twelve races so far, there have been seven different winners. Jason Kremer of Mücke Motorsport and Gustav Malja of Neuhauser Racing are now into their second season of Formel ADAC racing and have lots of experience. It's been apparent that some drivers are highly competitive on one circuit but less so on another. Kremer and Malja have been consistently strong so far, so I see them as my toughest competitors in the battle for the championship.
Lotus are a well-known name from Formula 1, but they are also prominent in Formel ADAC. How do you feel about being part of this team?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: I am very pleased to be driving for Lotus. Late last year, I drove my first formula test for the team in Spain, and I felt at home right from the start. The team has taken good care of me since I got involved in single-seater racing. As a young driver, it's very important that you feel like you're in good hands - that's definitely the case with Lotus.
You're currently receiving backing from the ADAC Sports Foundation; in which areas has this support been particularly helpful?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: I am very grateful to the ADAC Sport Foundation for the support they have given me. It's not just about the financial aspect: fitness testing, nutritional advice and media training are just a few examples of the help I have received. It has all been very useful in getting me started on my career in professional motor racing; I've learnt that a talent for driving is not the only factor that counts - the entire package has to be right.
Do you already have an idea of where your career will take you at the end of this season?
Marvin Kirchhöfer: My focus for now has to be on the remainder of the Formel ADAC season. If it carries on like this, a move up to Formula 3 would be a fantastic step forward. With the backing of Lotus, I can look to my future in motor racing with optimism.
