2014 Team champions in profile: Neuhauser Racing

• Title win in the team standings ahead of time at the Hockenheimring
• First championship success for Formel ADAC founder members Neuhauser Racing
• The road to success: 10 wins, 24 podiums, 9 pole positions and 12 fastest race laps in the 2014 season

Hockenheim. First the drivers’ title, then the team championship. The 2014 Formel ADAC season was one string of successes for Neuhauser Racing. The well-established team from Austria secured the title in the team standings during the last race weekend at the Hockenheimring. Having notched up 577 points, the team beat off competition from second-placed team, Mücke Motorsport (484 points), who compete under the aegis of ADAC Berlin Brandenburg e.V. Mathematically speaking, Neuhauser Racing cannot be caught in the two remaining races at Hockenheim, making Neuhauser Racing the last team champions in the seven-year history of the junior series; ADAC Formula 4 replaces Formel ADAC as from the 2015 season.

The outfit led by team boss Hannes Neuhauser was one of the founder members of the ADAC High-Speed Academy. The Tyrolean team have been producing impressive performances in the junior series since 2008. In the six previous seasons, the team’s best results were three runner-up positions.

Successful pair of drivers and record performance

In 2014, their two drivers, Mikkel Jensen and Tim Zimmermann succeeded in putting the team out in front. Danish driver Jensen flourished in his second Formel ADAC season, securing the championship ahead of time with nine wins. Team-mate Zimmerman progressed over the months to become the most successful rookie of the year.

The two drivers, who are good friends away from the race track, jointly achieved: ten wins, 24 podiums, nine pole positions and twelve fastest race laps. On his way to the title, Jensen achieved an historic success. Having posted ten fastest race laps, the 19-year-old heads the table of all-time greats in this category in the Formel ADAC.

Like a second family

“I regard the team as my second family, and it’s like coming home every race weekend,” said Jensen, praising the excellent atmosphere within the team. “I also speak a lot with my mechanic and with my team boss Hannes Neuhauser away from the race track.” After twice achieving the position of runner-up in a row, Hannes Neuhauser has now accomplished a dream with this double victory. Neuhauser, who at 29-years-old is the youngest team boss in the Formel ADAC, has been seriously involved in junior motor racing for years and in the past has brought on a number of hopefuls, including ADAC GT Masters race winner Dominik Baumann.

Neuhauser himself was formerly a successful race driver. In 2002, the Austrian placed third overall in the Formel BMW ADAC championship and secured the Austrian Formula 3 championship. Further successes in German Formula 3 as well as in the Formula 3 Euro series followed. In 2008, after racing in various Porsche Cup series as well as competing in endurance racing, Neuhauser decided to switch his attentions from the cockpit to the pit wall in the family racing stable. Neuhauser finds it easy to empathise with junior racing drivers thanks to his motor racing past.

Working towards a goal with absolute conviction

“I know exactly what it feels like to sit in a car at that age,” he said with a chuckle. “No one needs to tell me that they feel nervous at the start. It’s certainly a big advantage that, thanks to my age and my background in motor racing, I have a good connection to my drivers. Emotional support is an important factor for the juniors.” Neuhauser gives all his drivers this piece of advice as they make their way in the sport: “You have to believe in yourself and work towards a goal with absolute conviction. Only when you do your absolute utmost can you then achieve success.”

On the race track, the Formel ADAC powered by Volkswagen racing cars deployed by the team really stand out on the grid. In previous years, almost all of the team’s racing cars have been painted yellow, which is the racing stable’s trademark. “Traditionally, we line up in yellow cars. Even my dad used to race sporting this colour as it was the livery of his sponsor at the time. We simply stayed with yellow, not least of all because we know it so well,” said Hannes Neuhauser, filling in the background. His father, Josef, has been active in motor racing since 1969, successfully taking part in various series, including Formula 3 and autocross. Neuhauser Racing – a family who really live for their motor sport.