Tales from the Lausitzring paddock

• Winners: Schramm, Hanses and Drugovich
• 67,500 fans come through the gates during Motorsport Festival weekend

Round 2 of the 2017 ADAC Formula 4: The next generation of motor racing stars once again had the opportunity to mingle with the pros of the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM at this year’s Motorsport Festival Lausitzring. Kim-Luis Schramm (19, Germany, US Racing), Julian Hanses (19, Germany, US Racing) and Felipe Drugovich (16, Brazil, Van Amersfoort Racing) were added to the winners’ list which now shows six different names after six races. A word of caution, though: the ADAC Formula 4 results from the Lausitzring are subject to an ongoing appeal lodged by the US Racing team. SPORT1 and SPORT1+ showed all three races live on free-to-air TV. The season continues in three weeks’ time (9th - 11th June) when the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg hosts races seven to nine.

A great backdrop: 67,500 motor sport fans provided an impressive backdrop at the Lausitzring over the weekend. The grandstands were packed and crowds were milling around the paddock, making good use of the information, entertainment and refreshment facilities. Many fans travelled to the venue with tents or caravans, and the impromptu parties and concerts made for a festive mood.

From one trophy ceremony to another: First he lifted the winner’s trophy and shortly thereafter handed over another. Lucas Auer, winner of Saturday’s DTM race and current championship leader, joined former Mercedes-Motorsport supremo Norbert Haug in presenting the trophies to the Top Three from the second ADAC Formula 4 race. Like Haug, Peter Mücke’s services as expert commentator were also called on by the TV broadcaster covering the weekend’s action. This was on top of his duties as team principal in both the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC Formula 4.

Never a dull moment: US Racing driver Kim-Luis Schramm’s busy schedule continues on Wednesday when the 19-year-old makes his debut in the ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (25th - 28th May). Schramm is thinking ahead to future career moves: “I am competing in some VLN races and also the 24-hour race to get myself accustomed to driving larger cars next year.” According to the victor of the first race at the Lausitzring, the focus is still on winning the ADAC Formula 4 title.

An explosion of feelings: Securing a maiden pole position in qualifying was enough in itself to get Julian Hanses from Hilden near Düsseldorf in a euphoric mood. When the US Racing squad member converted it into a maiden ADAC Formula 4 win, there was no holding back: “It was an explosion of feelings. I couldn’t contain my emotions – I had to cry. For the first time, all the hard work and preparations have at last paid off.” The first congratulations came in from his father, Lothar, who was unable to witness first-hand this debut victory after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the first race weekend at Oschersleben. Thanks to the live broadcast of the ADAC Formula 4 races on SPORT1, he was able to watch his son’s lights-to-flag victory from his sick bed.

Happy Birthday: Eleven days after his 15th birthday on the 9th of May, Doureid ‘Dodo’ Ghattas was able to fulfil his dream at the Lausitzring of at last competing in an ADAC Formula 4 race. And not only that - the ADAC Sport Foundation protégé also picked up his first trophy as Best Rookie in Race 3. Meanwhile, Felipe Drugovich was getting his own celebrations off to a great start in advance of his 17th birthday on 23rd May. The Brazilian not only got himself onto the podium for the third time this season but also won the third race, much to the delight of his family who had travelled to the Lausitzring to support him.

Putting a lid on it: This is Cédric Piro’s third year in single-seater racing. At the Meet and Greet session on Sunday, he confirmed that will continue his career in motorsport at the end of his stint in Formula 4. In answer to a question about his next move, Piro gave the following insight: “My car next year may well have a roof.”

Visit from on high: Matthias Dolderer, winner of the 2016 Red Bull Air Race and known to fans as ‘King of the Air’, called in on the students at the ADAC High-Speed Academy. He sees the Motorsport Festival as an inspiration: “From the junior talent in ADAC Formula 4 to the pros contesting the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM, I am particularly impressed by the diversity of this event. It gave me the chance to see how other forms of motorised sport are organised and to consider which elements we could perhaps adopt.” In September, Dolderer will be returning to the Lausitzring with the flying sport series for what will be his home race.

Prime viewing: Lirim Zendeli and Oliver Söderström of the ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg squad followed the weekend’s action from a lofty perch, namely the roof of their team truck. They watched the ADAC GT Masters race, in which their Mücke Motorsport team was represented by a former team-mate - Mike David Ortmann finished the 2016 ADAC Formula 4 in third place and subsequently made the step up to the ADAC GT Masters.