Scrapping for hundredths of a second: Jensen and Günther secure first pole positions of new season

• Mikkel Jensen on pole in first race out of three in Oschersleben
• Championship runner-up Maximilian Günther takes pole position in Race 2
• New record: Günther now most successful Formel ADAC driver ever in qualifying

Oschersleben – Qualifying in the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben marked the official start to the 2014 Formel ADAC season. The ADAC high-speed academy is now commencing its seventh year with 15 young drivers from six different countries. Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) secured the best possible grid position for the first of three races in Oschersleben. The Neuhauser Racing driver needed 1:28.709 minutes for his fastest lap in qualifying and starts the first race (Saturday, 1:35 pm) from pole position. Jensen has secured his maiden pole position in what will be his second year in the Formel ADAC.

Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) posted a 1:28.793 to secure the second-fastest time. Last year’s runner-up had a deficit of just 0.084 seconds on pole-setter Jensen, and so Günther will be in second place on the grid for the start of the first race. Günther secured pole position in the second race on Sunday at 09:15 am. Grid positions in this race are determined by the second fastest lap times in qualifying.

Aggregating results from two different seasons means that ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther is now the most successful qualifying driver ever in the history of Formel ADAC. By achieving this ninth pole position, he has overtaken the two former champions Daniel Abt (2009) and Pascal Wehrlein (2011), who each claimed eight poles.

Close scrap for lead

Günther was the first driver on Saturday morning to crack 1:29. The 16-year-old remained on top for quite a long time until Jensen’s first attack ten minutes before the end. Jensen was about two hundredths of a second off the pace on his first run but clinched best time at the second attempt. Günther counterattacked immediately, but yellow flags in the third sector forced him to slow down and he was consequently no longer a threat to Jensen.

Kim Luis Schramm (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) secured third best time in qualifying behind Jensen and Günther. With a personal best of 1:28.858 minutes just before the end, the 17-year-old took third place from team-mate Marvin Dienst (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.). And so, three drivers from Berlin-based racing outfit Mücke Motorsport, who compete under the aegis of ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. finished in the top four.

Zimmermann best rookie

Tim Zimmermann (17, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) improved at the chequered flag to take fifth place with a lap time of 1:29.320 minutes, making him the most successful rookie in the series during the first qualifying session of the season. Fellow rookie Dennis Marschall (17, Germany, Lotus) came home behind the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé in sixth position to finish as the best placed driver for Team Lotus, who are contesting their home race in Oschersleben. Fabian Schiller (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) and Ralph Boschung (16, Switzerland, Lotus) share the fourth row in the opening race of the season on Saturday afternoon.

Once again this year, the ADAC is providing a live stream for fans unable to be at the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben to watch the three races in person. This free service is available on the official ADAC Motorsport website at www.adac.de/motorsport.

Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing), Pole Race 1:
“My first pole position in the Formel ADAC feels great. The car worked perfectly today. The huge amount of work we did yesterday has paid off, as we fixed the problems that surfaced in practice. We waited quite a long time in the pits at the beginning of the session, so as not to run into traffic on the flying laps. Unfortunately, our strategy did not work perfectly as the yellow flags were out in the last turn on my run. I repeatedly posted best time of anyone on the first sectors but had to slow up on the final section. I’m now looking forward to the race and hope to convert my maiden pole position into my first win. I don’t feel any twinges of nervousness at the moment, just enormous anticipation.”

Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), Pole Race 2:
“What a cracking start to the new season. I’m very pleased to have become the most successful qualifier in Formel ADAC history. Through working consistently well, we have been able to secure excellent grid positions for the race again and I’m pleased that it’s reflected in the statistics. My thanks to the team who have once again provided me with a super car. I’m also very happy with my own performance, even though a better result might have been possible. Unfortunately, the yellow flags coming out towards the end of the session stopped me from taking best time of anyone overall. I’m now looking ahead to the race and will certainly try to take the lead as quickly as possible.”