- 16 teams challenge for honours in 2016 ADAC junior formula series
- Teams from six countries among the line-up
Munich: ADAC Formula 4 is about to embark on its second campaign. After the successful debut season last year, the junior formula series will have another strong line-up in 2016. No fewer than 16 teams are entering 46 drivers for the 24 races to be staged at eight different venues in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Three newcomers will be joining the line-up of established teams in what is already a high-calibre international starter field. The 2016 season opens at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben on the weekend of 15th - 17th April. TV channels SPORT1 and SPORT1+ will be showing the races from the ADAC High-Speed Academy live. Profiles of the ADAC Formula 4 teams: Part 1.
ADAC BERLIN-BRANDENBURG e.V.
Since its inception in 1998, Berlin-based Mücke Motorsport have trained seven drivers who have made the move up into F1 – Sebastian Vettel, Pascal Wehrlein, Sergio Pérez, Robert Kubica, Sebastien Buemi, Markus Winkelhock and Christian Klien. In the first year of the ADAC Formula 4, the outfit won the title in the rookie standings with David Beckmann and took second place with Mike David Ortmann, getting away immediately to a good start, on which team principal Peter Mücke aims to build in 2016. “Wins are nice, but it's the training of young drivers that's paramount for us. Participating in the ADAC Formula 4 is the best thing you can do in that respect,“ said Mücke, who reckons that the series is among the best in the world and a brilliant step towards gaining entry into Formula 3. “The number of entrants this year proves its tremendous importance. “
JENZER MOTORSPORT
Jenzer Motorsport was founded in 1993 by Swiss driver Andreas Jenzer, who was still actively competing in motor racing at the time. In the years that followed, the well-established team won many championships in various European open-wheel series. Jenzer Motorsport have trained and supported a number of successful racing drivers, including current DTM drivers Bruno Spengler and Nico Müller. During the 2014 season, the team raced in a number of series, including the Italian Formula 4 championship, and increased its involvement in 2015 to encompass the ADAC Formula 4. “In my opinion, the ADAC Formula 4 is the most important junior formula series. The enormous interest shown by teams and drivers lining up this year demonstrates that,“ said Jenzer. “We're really excited about the start of the new season and our second year in the ADAC Formula 4. “
KUG-MOTORSPORT
Team KUG was set up in 1975 and is one of the oldest and best-known teams for young racing drivers in Germany. For more than 40 years, the outfit has supported both young talents starting out in motor racing and Formula 1 drivers like André Lotterer, Christian Klien, Timo Glock, Ralf Schumacher and DTM driver Martin Tomczyk, who have in the past all been trained by KUG Motorsport to become successful racing drivers. KUG Motorsport achieved their greatest success in the BMW Formula ADAC championship and in the German Formula König championship between 1989-2002. Founder and team principal Kurt Gewinnus then successfully brought the experience he had previously accumulated from 2007 to 2013 to bear on the Formel ADAC. KUG Motorsport GmbH are now headquartered in premises of more than 800 square metres in Kleinwallstadt/Lower Franconia which is located in the region between Frankfurt/Main and the Hockenheim grand prix circuit. This year, the experienced team are supporting three rookies as they start their driving careers in the ADAC Formula 4. “I see Formula 4 as a huge springboard for young talents. As an established team, we intend to be successful competitors during the 2016 season,“ said team principal Kurt Gewinnus.
LECHNER RACING
For decades, Lechner Racing from Austria have been the byword in training juniors in international motor racing, bringing on ex-Formula 1 drivers like Stefan Bellof and Roland Ratzenberger and two-time Le Mans winner Alexander Wurz among others. After achieving numerous successes and the championship title in the Porsche Supercup during the past ten years, the Salzburg-based team made a successful comeback in formula racing in the 2014 season. The outfit won the drivers' and team championships in Formula Renault 1.6 at their first attempt led by Robert and Walter Lechner. The next step then followed in 2015 with entry into the ADAC Formula 4. Team principal Robert Lechner is keenly anticipating the start of the season, as he told us: “In 2016, the ADAC Formula 4 championship will again be better and stronger than last year. Those who are successful in this series have a real future in motor racing.“
LIQUI MOLY TEAM ENGSTLER
The team, founded in 1996 and based in Wiggensbach, has evolved into a professional partner in national and international racing with many successes to its name. First-class technology, coupled with a strong team, good partners and sponsors, plus years of experience in racing make Engstler Motorsport an outfit that enjoys international success and are reliable partners. Franz Engstler has notched up numerous successes and titles during his career and is the lynchpin of the company. Youth training has a high priority – Engstler acts as mentor to the young drivers and enjoys passing on his experience and supporting them on their way to successful careers in motor racing. The team led by Engstler and sporting director Kurt Treml raced in the ADAC Formula 4 in 2015, its debut year. “The ADAC and their team have created the perfect platform. The high number of entrants speaks for itself,“ said team principal Franz Engstler. “The series has a very high profile in Germany and sets high standards for the quality of its drivers. This year, we need to build on the insights we gained in 2015.“
