Maiden victory in the Formel ADAC for Joel Eriksson

• Joel Eriksson wins third race at Red Bull Ring as Formula 1 gears up for Spielberg return
• Third podium in Austria for ‘half-time champion’ Mikkel Jensen
• Neuhauser Racing take over the lead in the team standing at home fixture

Spielberg – Formel ADAC provided the perfect prelude to Formula 1’s return to Austria in two weeks’ time with a thrilling final race at the Red Bull Ring. This Sunday afternoon, Joel Eriksson (16, Sweden, Lotus) took the win in the third race of the ADAC High Speed Academy from Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) and Ralph Boschung (16, Switzerland, Lotus).

“Everything went like a dream once I’d got the lead – I can still hardly believe it,” said Lotus rookie Eriksson after his first major success in single-seater racing and his second podium this weekend. The series rookie from Sweden kept his nerve during an action-packed start phase and a safety car period on the first lap that was caused by an accident involving Philip Hamprecht (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.). Eriksson started from second place, took over the lead from Kim Luis Schramm (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) at the restart on the fourth lap to clinch his maiden victory.

‘Half-time champion’ Jensen extends overall lead

Jensen crossed the finish line in second place with a deficit of seven tenths of a second. The Neuhauser Racing driver had a very successful weekend at his team’s home fixture in front of around 10,000 spectators; Jensen won the first two races at the Red Bull Ring from pole position, thereby becoming Formel ADAC ‘half-time champion’.

Jensen extended his championship lead even further with this third podium finish in Spielberg. He leads the overall standings on 183 points ahead of the fifth race weekend in Slovakia (August 8th-10th). He is 27 points up on Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.). The reigning vice-champion placed fourth in the third race.

Neuhauser Racing take overall lead

Jensen had to work hard for his podium success. The Neuhauser Racing driver began the race from eighth position on the grid and was already in third place by the end of the sixth lap. The 19-year-old secured second place, following an overtaking manoeuvre on Schramm two laps later. Boschung won through against Schramm on the same lap, moving into P3 to secure his third podium this weekend.

Tim Zimmermann (17, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) crossed the finish line in fifth place behind ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther. The Neuhauser Racing rookie thus helped his outfit take the lead in the team standings. After the twelfth race of the season, the crew from Zell am Ziller have a lead of five points on Mücke Motorsport, who compete under the aegis of ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.

Comments from the top three

Joel Eriksson (16, Sweden, Lotus), Winner:
“My first victory in the Formel ADAC – this is just amazing. I am absolutely over the moon. I led the entire race with the exception of the first two laps. I immediately caught and overtook Nico Menzel thanks to getting off the line well. I then had a tricky moment just after the safety car period, when my front wheels locked up and I ran wide briefly. Everything went like a dream once I’d got the lead, though, I can still hardly believe it.”

Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing), Second:
“This second place is the culmination of a nearly perfect weekend. Things could hardly have gone better at my team’s home track which is also my favourite. I was even heading for victory at one point in this third race, because the car’s speed was incredibly good. Unfortunately, the safety car coming out put paid to that. If the race had been two laps longer, then my third victory on the trot would definitely have been possible.”

Ralph Boschung (16, Switzerland, Lotus), Third:
“I’m very happy with third place – three podiums in three races are fine pickings for this race weekend. My start was not ideal, but I immediately overtook two cars on the first few laps. Unfortunately, I misunderstood an instruction on the pit radio, which lost me two positions. But my car was really fast today, so I fought my way back up to the front. I’m also pleased for my team-mate Joel, who secured his maiden win – he did an excellent job and deserves this success.”