Scherer wins at Sachsenring - Armstrong new championship leader

• Marcus Armstrong is second and takes the place of Juri Vips at the head of the table
• Sophia Flörsch in P3 achieves her maiden podium
• Kim-Luis Schramm will be on pole in third race

Hohenstein-Ernstthal: Fabio Scherer (18, Switzerland, US Racing) won the 17th ADAC Formula 4 race of the season, taking his first victory of the season. The Swiss driver, who had already finished second yesterday, took P1 from the new leader in the overall standings, Marcus Armstrong (17, New Zealand, Prema Powerteam), and from Sophia Flörsch (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV). Flörsch notched up the best result of her career to date, becoming the first female driver ever to finish on the podium of the ADAC Formula 4.

Armstrong now has a 5.5-point lead on the previous leader Juri Vips (17, Estonia, Prema Powerteam), who finished seventh. Their main rival, Felipe Drugovich (17, Brazil, Van Amersfoort Racing), retired at an early stage and is now 38.5 points down on Armstrong. There are still four races to be run in the ADAC High-Speed Academy.

Fabio Scherer: "I've fought hard these past few weeks, and things have gradually improved. I've now finally achieved my full potential. The car was sensational. Amazingly fast. I was in full control. This was my second time on the podium. Perhaps I can do it again this afternoon. "

Rookie champion Nicklas Nielsen (20, Denmark, US Racing) took P4 from Frederik Vesti (15, Denmark, Van Amersfoort Racing), Lirim Zendeli (17, Bochum, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany) and Juri Vips, who is now on 198.5 points. His team-mate Armstrong has 204 points, Drugovich 165.5.

Michael Waldherr (20, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) finished third ahead of Jonathan Aberdein (19, South Africa, Motopark) and Andreas Estner (17, Germany, Neuhauser Racing). Mick Wishofer (17, Austria, Lechner Racing), was again best rookie after securing eleventh place.

Scherer started the race from P3 and got away really well. The Swiss driver went into the lead over the first few metres, and Armstrong also overtook pole-sitter Julian Hanses (20, Germany, US Racing). There was a contact further down the field between Felipe Drugovich and Kim-Luis Schramm (20, Germany, US Racing), which resulted in both of them retiring from the race. The safety car came out for five minutes, and Scherer maintained his lead from Armstrong and Hanses on the restart.

Hanses, who won yesterday, spun off the track a little later and found himself down in P19 after taking a trip through the gravel. The 20-year-old was forced to park up a little later, so Sophia Flörsch moved up into third place. She kept her nerve and defended her position to the end.

The safety car came back out for another five minutes when rookie Tom Beckhäuser (18, Czech Republic, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) retired, and the field bunched up once more. But even after the ensuing restart with another ten minutes on the clock, the three drivers in the lead successfully fended off attacks from their opponents. The race ended with another safety car period as Cedric Piro (19, Germany, Team Piro Interdental) retired two minutes before the finish.

The sixth ADAC Formula 4 race meeting will end with the third race on Sunday afternoon at 3.45 pm. Artem Petrov (17, Russia, Van Amersfoort Racing) will be on pole after placing tenth in the first race. The championship will now be decided during the grand finale of the ADAC Formula 4 at the Hockenheimring next weekend.

More comments from the ADAC Formula 4

Marcus Armstrong (Second, Prema Powerteam):
"It's great to be in front! I'm very pleased. The race was great. Now I want to have as much fun as possible in the third race and score as many points as possible."

Sophia Flörsch (Third, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV):
"I'm the first woman ever to finish on the podium! I've already shown my speed at plenty of tracks this season, but unfortunately, it never quite worked out. There were always small things that didn't go properly for me, but now, it's finally come good. I could shout for joy. I never expected it at the Sachsenring of all places, which makes it even more terrific. And, of course, to achieve a podium as a woman is another factor. But that's a secondary consideration, because I aim to beat the men. It feels amazing. It's taken a big load off my shoulders."

Mick Wishofer: (P11 and best Rookie, Lechner Racing):
"I'm pleased. It wasn't easy in the cool temperatures, but I managed quite well. Everybody will want to give it a try once again in the third race, but I feel really confident. Things are looking good in the Rookie classification. I intend to hang on to my position now."