Mikkel Jensen wins opening race in Zandvoort

• Mikkel Jensen wins first of three races in the Netherlands
• Tim Zimmermann secures a podium: Double victory for Neuhauser Racing
• Leader overall in standings Jensen: “I must extend my lead.”

Zandvoort – Danish driver Mikkel Jensen (19, Neuhauser Racing) is the winner of one of the most curious Formel ADAC races ever. The Neuhauser Racing driver secured victory in the first race at the Dutch track in Zandvoort after just four laps. Jensen’s team-mate Tim Zimmermann (17, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) and Luis Kim Schramm (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) completed the party on the podium.

Rain was falling and track conditions were difficult when a crash involving several cars occurred just after the start. The race was initially interrupted, but the clock continued ticking with 22 minutes left. Nine of the 14 cars remaining in the field started behind the safety car after a 16-minute break. There were approximately six minutes left on the re-start.

Double win for Neuhauser Racing

With pole-setter Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) having to retire after the mass pile-up at the start, Jensen led off the subsequent sprint race from first place, a position that he successfully defended after the safety car lap and for the remaining two laps. Zimmermann crossed the finish line in second place with a deficit of 2.204 seconds. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé achieved his third podium finish in his debut season in the ADAC High Speed Academy.

Schramm came home about a second behind the Neuhauser Racing duo to secure his first podium finish of the season. Swiss driver Ralph Boschung (16, Lotus) was fourth, Marvin Dienst (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) finished fifth and rookie driver Dennis Marshall (17, Germany, Lotus) placed sixth.

The three series newcomers, Igor Walilko (16, Poland, JBR Motorsport & Engineering), Philip Hamprecht (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) and David Kolkmann (17, Germany, JBR Motorsport & Engineering) rounded off the remaining points.

Jensen increases championship lead

On 74 points, Jensen heads the overall standings after the opening race in Zandvoort. The Danish driver has a 25 point lead on Zimmermann in second place. Reigning championship runner-up Günther is third overall with 46 points. Günther will start from pole position in the second race at the Dutch track on Sunday (visit www.adac.de/formel-adac for live stream, starting at 9:55 am). Race winner Jensen shares the front row on the grid.

Comments from the top three

Mikkel Jensen (19, DEN, Neuhauser Racing), winner:
“I’m pleased with my win – these were perhaps the easiest points of my career so far. My start was excellent and I was able to avoid the chaos behind me. After the restart, conditions were similar to those in qualifying, but there were a few slippery sections. I’m very pleased with my 25 points but still need to extend my lead because the tide may yet turn in the coming races.”

Tim Zimmermann (17, Neuhauser Racing), second:
“My fourth race in the Formel ADAC and my third podium position – I can scarcely believe it. As a rookie driver, I didn’t expect to achieve such good results right at the start of the season. Unfortunately, the race was very short, but I’m very pleased with my performance. I didn’t know which line to choose at the start because there were many cars in the way after the accident. In fact, I had a bit of contact, but my car was undamaged, surprisingly. My pace was very good after the restart, but not good enough to attack Mikkel.”

Kim Luis Schramm (16, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), third:
“I’m satisfied with third place, but a small piece of good luck played its part too. The start was really strange. I had some wheelspin and didn’t get away well, and then I saw what was happening in front of me. I just tried to avoid making contact with anyone and emerge unscathed. After the restart, I was immediately able to open up a lead on Ralph and close on Tim. Unfortunately, I made a small mistake at the end of the first lap, which caused me to drop back.”