Two Formel ADAC talents join McLaren junior programme

• Marvin Dienst and Benjamin Mazatis to be trained to Formula 1 level
• Formula 1 prodigy Kevin Magnussen started out in Formel ADAC
• Ex-Formel ADAC champions competing in F1 support programme

Munich: It won’t be long now until the 2014 Formel ADAC season gets underway. Marvin Dienst is preparing for his second year in the ADAC ‘High-Speed School’ and will have added incentive when he competes in the traditional season opener at the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (25th to 27th April), having just been recruited to the junior programme of the McLaren Formula 1 team.

Last week, Dienst visited the McLaren Performance Academy in Woking (England) for a three-day workshop, including fitness tests. “The weekend was incredibly interesting,” says the 17 year-old. “I picked up a lot of information, tips and tricks that will all come in very handy.”

In the upcoming Formel ADAC campaign, Dienst will be driving for reigning team champions Mücke Motorsport who are competing for the ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg. The Berlin-based outfit welcomes not one but two McLaren juniors into its ranks, the second being Benjamin Mazatis who was also recruited to the McLaren Performance Academy this year. The 16-year-old is due to spend the 2014 season as a trainee at Mücke Motorsport, with the prospect of graduating to Formel ADAC racing the year after.

Mazatis: “An indescribable feeling”

“It’s an indescribable feeling to be part of the McLaren family,” said a delighted Mazatis. “The competition to get into the Academy was huge, but after an extremely rigorous selection process, I was accepted. The three days in Woking were highly instructive and will certainly help me in my career.” The demanding programme included driver training as well as various fitness tests.

Dienst and Mazatis are the only two successful candidates from Germany for this year’s McLaren intake. There are currently 18 young drivers from around the world on the programme. One other name on the books is Sweden’s Gustav Malja who attracted attention in the 2012 Formel ADAC competition by finishing the season as runner-up.

The McLaren junior programme has produced several Formula 1 stars over the years, including Lewis Hamilton (world champion in 2008) and most recently Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen. The 21-year-old made his Formula 1 debut for McLaren-Mercedes at Melbourne and promptly secured second place. Magnussen also earned his single-seater racing spurs in the Formel ADAC series, making two podium appearances at the Nürburgring in the 2008 season.

Stepping stone for future motor racing stars

Formel ADAC has a long tradition of training up young talent and has been the starting point for many a successful career. Big names from Formula 1 such as four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hülkenberg and Nico Rosberg plus DTM stars such as Martin Tomczyk and Timo Glock started out in the ADAC junior open-wheel series.



Two ex-Formel ADAC champions, Daniel Abt and Marvin Kirchhöfer, will be contributing to this year’s support programme for Formula 1. Abt, who won the title in 2009, is about to contest his second season in GP2, which is generally regarded as the obvious springboard into the top flight of formula racing. Kirchhöfer, who claimed the title in 2012, is meanwhile making his debut in GP3, a series that also runs alongside Formula 1.