Highlight of year: Formula 1 hosts ADAC Formula 4

• Pourchaire and Krütten head standings level on points
• Arthur Leclerc with brother, Charles: “This is going to be an awesome weekend”
• SPORT1 and SPORT1+ will broadcast both races live from Hockenheim

Munich: The highlight of the year is fast approaching. The young talents from the ADAC Formula 4 all share the dream of competing in Formula 1, and they will have a chance to get close to their dream of the premier class this weekend at the Hockenheimring as the ADAC Formula 4 contests its races under the banner of the Mercedes-Benz German Grand Prix. Two races will feature on this weekend’s star-studded programme for them, the first on Saturday at 5.00 pm and the second on Sunday at 10.25 am. SPORT1 and SPORT1+ will broadcast the two races on TV. They can also be watched online at adac.de/motorsport and on the ADAC Formula 4 Facebook page.

As you would expect, the ADAC Formula 4 drivers are really looking forward to their guest appearance alongside superstars like Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Co, especially since Vettel is a patron of the ADAC Formula 4. “This is going to be an awesome weekend. I’m mega pleased to be racing with Formula 1,” said Arthur Leclerc (18, Monaco, US Racing CHRS), whose brother, Charles (21), drives for Ferrari in F1 alongside Vettel. “But my goals will stay the same. I intend to give 100% as always – that’s what’s important!”

Leclerc is third in the overall standings. Currently, only Niklas Krütten (17, Germany, Van Amersfoort Racing) and Théo Pourchaire (16, France, US Racing CHRS), who are level on points at the head of the standings, are better placed. “It’s going to be the highlight of the year, I’m really looking forward to Hockenheim,” said ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Krütten. “The track should really suit us.” Krütten is hoping to achieve a decent result, “so that we can remain ahead in the championship standings.”

The first six races of the year at Oschersleben and at the Red Bull Ring have produced six different winners. Ferrari Junior Gianluca Petecof (16, Brazil, Prema Powerteam), Krütten, rookie Roman Stanek (15, Czech Republic, US Racing CHRS), Dennis Hauger (16, Norway, Van Amersfoort Racing), Pourchaire and rookie Paul Aron (15, Estonia , Prema Powerteam) have all taken wins. As a result, the gaps between drivers in the championship standings are small. Aron in fifth place is just ten points behind leaders, Krütten and Pourchaire. Four guest entrants will join the ADAC Formula 4 field at Hockenheim with Giorgio Carrara (18, Argentina), Johnny Edgar (15, Great Britain) and Axel Gnos (16, Switzerland) from Team Jenzer Motorsport, plus Filip Ugran (21, Romania, BVM Racing).

There will also be a big reunion of former drivers from various ADAC series for juniors at Hockenheim. In more than 25 years of ADAC involvement in promoting young talents in single seater racing, 14 of them have managed to move up into Formula 1, most recently, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who contested the ADAC Formula 4 in 2015. From the current crop of Formula 1 aces, four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hülkenberg, Sergio Pérez and Kevin Magnussen all began their careers in a variety of different ADAC formula racing series.

Ralf Schumacher won six races during his time in F1 and was the first driver from an ADAC formula racing background to make the big move up into the premier class of motorsport. Schumacher will be in action this weekend at Hockenheim as Team Principal for ADAC Formula 4 racing outfit, US Racing CHRS, and as a pundit on Sky TV. 20-year-old Mick Schumacher, 2016 ADAC Formula 4 championship runner-up, will also be at the Hockenheimring. He will take out a Ferrari F2004, as driven by his father, Michael, when he secured his seventh and last world championship title, to post demo laps on Saturday and Sunday.