Second win at Sachsenring: Mikkel Jensen clinches title ahead of time

• Mikkel Jensen becomes seventh champion in the history of the Formel ADAC series
• Igor Walilko secures maiden podium for JBR Motorsport & Engineering in home race
• Champion Jensen: “Now my dream has come true”

Hohenstein-Ernstthal. Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) has achieved what he set out to do. The Neuhauser Racing driver clinched the Formel ADAC title ahead of time by winning the second of three races at the Sachsenring. After claiming victory in the first race this morning, Jensen said he wanted to seal the title with a win. Jensen made good his pledge in rainy conditions. Starting from pole position, he comfortably notched up his ninth win of the season.

This was enough to crown the Dane as the seventh champion in the history of the series. Igor Walilko (17, Poland, JBR Motorsport & Engineering) and Tim Zimmermann (18, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) completed the podium in the fourth-to-last race of the 2014 season.

“My dream has now come true – I am Formel ADAC champion. When I crossed the finish line, I heard my team principal Hannes roar on the radio: We are the champions!” said Jensen. “It was an incredible feeling.” The 19-year-old leads the overall standings after the 20th race of the season on an unassailable 322 points. Jensen’s closest pursuer, Maximilian Günther (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) trails in second place on 215 points. Günther, who finished last year’s championship as runner-up, saw the chequered flag in eighth place and has no further mathematical chance of pipping Jensen to the title.

Fastest driver in Formel ADAC history

On his way to wrapping up the title, Jensen wrote his name into the record books for yet another reason: his time on Lap 10 was the fastest set in Race 2. Having posted ten fastest laps so far this season, he now leads the all-time list in this category.

Podium premiere for JBR Motorsport & Engineering in home race

Deriving almost as much satisfaction from the race as Jensen was Igor Walilko. The young Pole secured a first ever Formel ADAC Top Three finish for his team, JBR Motorsport & Engineering, in their home fixture. For Walilko too, it was a first-time appearance on the podium. The 17-year-old moved up to fourth soon after the start of the race behind the safety car. He then set off in hot pursuit of Dennis Marschall (18, Germany, Lotus). After a prolonged battle, Walilko prevailed over the Lotus rookie with a skilful passing manoeuvre on Lap 6.

Walilko kept plugging away and ultimately benefited from a safety car deployment triggered by a collision between Nico Menzel (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) and Kim Luis Schramm (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV). At the re-start on Lap 10, Walilko overtook second-placed Joel Eriksson (16, Sweden, Lotus) on the first corner and held firm until the end. Worse was to come for Eriksson later on when Zimmermann also came past, thus demoting him to fourth and depriving him of a second podium at the Sachsenring.

Another podium for Zimmermann

ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Zimmermann secured his second podium finish at this classically configured racetrack in Saxony. Despite falling back to fifth at one stage in the race, the Neuhauser Racing rookie fought back doggedly to third. Having so far made nine podium appearances, Zimmermann is the most successful series newcomer of the 2014 season.

ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Marschall crossed the line in fifth position ahead of sixth-placed Marvin Dienst (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.). Dienst was the best placed of the Mücke Motorsport drivers who compete under the aegis of ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. His team-mate, Maximilian Günther, skidded on the final lap, which relegated him from fifth to eighth. ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther now starts from pole position in the third and final race on Sunday (live stream coverage on www.adac.de/formel-adac starting at 4pm CEST).

Comments from the Top Three

Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing), Winner:
“My dream has now come true – I am Formel ADAC champion. When I crossed the finish line, I heard my team principal Hannes roar on the radio: We are the champions! It was an incredible feeling. I was able to tackle the race in quite a relaxed frame of mind. It was almost a certainty after race one, since I only needed a few points to take the title. Our car was just perfect today. I was nearly 1.5 seconds faster than my fellow competitors. Not even the safety car period or the sight of my lead melting away made me anxious. I knew I could pull away from the field immediately once again. Now, we’ve done it, but the season is not over yet. Since I always like to aim higher, I now intend to win all of this season’s remaining races.”

Igor Walilko (17, Poland, JBR Motorsport & Engineering), Second:
“I’m really pleased about this podium – that was the best race of my life. I had a huge grin on my face for the whole of the final lap. My race went perfectly. It’s not easy to move up three positions in the wet. Overtaking Dennis Marschall was very tricky initially. I was much faster, but he defended well. I didn’t do anything too risky, so as not to lock the front wheels and skid off track. I was able to put a good few metres between us when I finally passed him. Second place already seemed out of reach by then. Fortunately, though, the Safety Car period helped me to close the gap on second place and eventually overtake.”

Tim Zimmermann (18, Germany, Neuhauser Racing), Third:
“Conditions were quite difficult in the early stages of the race. I approached things calmly, watching the scrap in front of me. When visibility was good enough, I moved forwards to attack. I was faster than Igor over the whole race but did not want to take any unnecessary risks. I’m now aiming for second place in the standings and need every point. I would especially wish to congratulate my team-mate Mikkel on winning the championship – I’m so happy for him. He’s worked hard all year and is a great driver. I hope I can improve to take second place in the championship.”