Start-finish victory for Maximilian Günther in Zandvoort

• Maximilian Günther wins second race in the Netherlands
• Drivers from three different teams on podium
• Günther: “I’ve got good cause to celebrate after not finishing in the first race.”

Zandvoort – Success at the second attempt: Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) won the second race at Zandvoort from pole position. The reigning Formel ADAC vice-champion crossed the finish line on Sunday morning with a lead of 1.2 seconds on runner-up Fabian Schiller (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport). Ralph Boschung (16, Switzerland, Lotus) completed the party on the podium in third place.

“That was a very good race for me. The speed was there right from the start,” said ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther after his second win of the season. The 16-year-old had been in pole position for the first race on Saturday but dropped out after a collision at the start.

Günther stays focused

Günther’s road to victory was not easy. He opened up a comfortable lead of nearly five seconds over the first six laps after a strong start on a wet track. The field bunched together again after a safety car phase was triggered after a spin by Nico Menzel (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport). Günther held his nerve at the restart and secured his lead.

The Mücke Motorsport driver, who competes under the aegis of ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V., did not let a second period of disruption on Lap Ten unsettle him and finished the race behind the safety car as the winner. Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) was the biggest loser of the second safety car period. The championship leader had just been overtaken by Schiller, then lost third place to Boschung a little later but had no chance to attack in view of the safety car period that lasted until the end of the race. And so, Jensen had to settle for fourth place.

Schiller fights for a podium

Schiller, who started in third place, had an exciting race. He lost two positions to begin with but then clawed his way forwards once more. Taking advantage of slipstreaming, he overtook Boschung on the ninth lap at the end of the start/finish straight, consigning the Swiss driver to third place.

Marvin Dienst (17, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) finished the race behind Jensen in fifth place. The 17-year-old moved four places up the field over the eleven laps and had some exciting scraps with Tim Zimmermann (17, Germany, Neuhauser Racing). Zimmermann had to admit defeat, though, after a deft overtaking move directly after the restart on the ninth lap. The Neuhauser Racing driver finished the race in sixth position.

Jensen still leads championship

Kim Luis Schramm (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) and Philip Hamprecht (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) completed the top eight. Series rookie Hamprecht starts from pole position in the final race at the dunes circuit (visit: www.adac.de/formel-adac for Live-Stream, from 2:25 pm onwards).

Jensen on 86 points continues to lead the championship after the fifth of 24 races. The Dane has a 15-point lead over second-placed Günther on 71 points. Jensen’s team-mate Zimmermann is third with 57 points.

Comments from the top three

Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), winner:
“That was a very good race for me. The speed was there right from the start, and I kept drawing away from the rest and already had a comfortable lead when the safety car came out. I didn’t let that upset my race but just tried to make the best of the situation. It was important to stay focused and prepare for the restart, and I got away very successfully on the restart. Securing maximum points is now a cause for celebration after not finishing in the first race on Saturday. I still expect to do well in the third race, despite starting from grid position eight. We are well positioned no matter how conditions turn out, although it’s more likely that rain will fall. Overtaking in Zandvoort has gone well so far and is even slightly easier in the wet.”

Fabian Schiller (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport), second:
“I’m very happy with second place, because it did not look like it would be possible after the start. My wheels spun and I immediately lost a few positions. But I felt good in the car right from the first lap, even though my tyres got pretty hot in the early stages of the race. Only during the safety car period was I able to let them cool down a bit and then overtake my fellow competitors. Unfortunately, there was some light contact with Ralph Boschung towards the end. I was already driving slower on account of the safety car signs when I saw him on my outside. That surprised me and I also accelerated a bit, coming off my line a touch.”

Ralph Boschung (16, Switzerland, Lotus), third:
“My start today was almost perfect and I was able to move up two places. Unfortunately, I didn’t do so well on the restart after the first safety car period and lost position to Fabian Schiller, who came out of the slipstream to overtake me. I can certainly improve in this respect. I fought back to close on Fabian, and there was a contact, for which he was warned by the race stewards. An attack might still have been possible towards the end, but I didn’t get a chance because of the safety car period. I’m hoping for another podium finish in the third race this afternoon and some vital championship points.”