Maximilian Günther secures maiden win in Formel ADAC

• Maximilian Günther and Alessio Picariello win home race for their team, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.
• Günther: third-youngest winner ever in Formel ADAC
• First rookie victory of 2013 in the junior series
• ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther: “A real milestone in my career”

Lausitzring – Success at the 16th attempt: Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) has secured his first victory in the Formel ADAC. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé won through in the first of three races at the Lausitzring and presented ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. with a home victory. “Achieving this success in my team's home race represents a real milestone in my career,” said a very pleased Günther.

After Saturday’s double pole – poles number five and six – Günther converted his pole position into a win for the first time. Previously, he had been beaten four times in a row by team-mate Alessio Picariello (20, Belgium, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.). Günther is the first rookie to win a race this season, and is, after Pascal Wehrlein and Willi Steindl, the third-youngest winner ever in the history of the ADAC High-Speed Academy.

Two ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. drivers on the podium

Overall championship leader Picariello had to be content with second place in the first race. Günther comfortably defended his pole position at the start and successfully fended off an attempt by the Belgian to overtake on the second lap. Günther drew away from the others in hot pursuit on the subsequent laps, achieving his maiden victory with a lead of 2.2 seconds at the finish line.

Jason Kremer (18, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) came home twelve seconds behind the two ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV drivers, joining the party on the podium in third place. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé benefited from an incident on the final lap: local driver Hendrik Grapp (19, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) was on his way to his fourth podium finish of the season but collided with Marvin Dienst (16 Germany, Neuhauser Racing) just before the end of the race. Grapp fell back to ninth position following a spin. Dienst was handed a drive-through penalty after the race ended, which was subsequently converted into a 30-second penalty. As a result, he dropped down from P5 to P15.

Beitske Visser (18, Netherlands, Lotus) was moved up from sixth to P5, behind Nicolas Beer (17, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing). The Red Bull junior had begun the race from ninth position on the grid and steadily improved her performance over the course of the 18 laps. Visser had a thrilling scrap with Ralph Boschung (15, Switzerland, KUG Motorsport), who was subsequently overtaken by Visser, the most successful female driver ever in the Formel ADAC, on the twelfth lap in Turn One. The Swiss teenager ultimately had to settle for sixth place. The two series newcomers Fabian Schiller (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) and Stefan Riener (18, Austria, Neuhauser Racing) finished ahead of Grapp in P7 and P8 respectively. Indy Dontje (20, Netherlands, Lotus) secured the remaining point in tenth position.

Battle for title enters decisive phase

Picariello continues to lead the championship after the 16th race. The Belgian tops the standings on 270 points having achieved nine wins this season. Günther has reduced the deficit somewhat with his first Formel ADAC success. Placed second overall, he is 83 points adrift with eight races to go.

Günther is also on pole in the second race on Sunday at 10:55am (live stream: www.adac.de/motorsport). He shares the front row with ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. team-mate Picariello for the seventh time this season. Kremer is in third position on the grid, and Grapp in P4 for the 17th race of the season.

Comments from the Top Three drivers

Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), Winner:
“My first win in Formel ADAC. It’s just amazing. Achieving this success in my team’s home race represents a real milestone in my career. The race went perfectly from the very first lap. I found my rhythm and shook off Alessio. My lead grew steadily, but I had to remain highly focused until the final turn. Only when I’d reached the finish line did I realise that I had secured my first win in my rookie season. I am so happy and want to thank my team – the car was perfect today. I will attack again tomorrow and try to get maximum points once more.”

Alessio Picariello (20, Belgium, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), Second:
“I would have preferred to have won the race, of course, but have secured vital championship points, which is ultimately the most important thing. I can’t win every race and always be perfect. I tried to attack Maximilian at the start, but then I realised he was dead-set on winning and drew back with thoughts of the championship uppermost in my mind. I focused on nursing the tyres for the upcoming races and will attack again on Sunday.”

Jason Kremer (18, Germany, Schiller Motorsport), Third:
“This podium comes as a bit of a surprise. I saw my two opponents scrapping in front of me and hoped to be able to make a move on them. I came up trumps in the end and left the pair behind. I tried to attack Hendrik Grapp at the beginning of the race, but overtaking in the first turn is not really possible because of tyre wear and after that, Hendrik defended his position well. And so, with an eye to the championship standings, I decided not to risk a collision.”