Nikita Bedrin defies the rain to win at the DEKRA Lausitzring

• Nikita Bedrin claims his first win of the season
• One-two for PHM Racing at the team’s home event
• Finland’s Rasmus Joutsimies on the podium for the first time

Lausitzring. Win number one of the season for Nikita Bedrin (ITA/PHM Racing): the 16-year-old Italian took victory in a wet ADAC Formula 4 race at the DEKRA Lausitzring, finishing ahead of Taylor Barnard (18/GBR/PHM Racing) who made it a one-two for Berlin-based PHM Racing at the team’s home event at the 3.478-kilometre racetrack. Rasmus Joutsimies (19/FIN/Jenzer Motorsport) came home third to claim his first podium and first place in the Rookie competition. “It feels awesome to win. My race went entirely to plan and the pace was unbelievable, despite the rain. I had a very good start, which was key to the success. It allowed me to focus on my pace and not take too many risks,” said Bedrin.

With the rain falling and the track wet throughout, spectators at the Family & Friends Festival witnessed an entertaining race on the support programme for the ADAC GT Masters. Bedrin made the best start in temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius and was first to arrive at turn one. The eventual race winner soon opened a gap ahead of Barnard, and was able to maintain this for the rest of the race. Barnard followed him over the finish line in second place. “The track was very wet, which is why I did not get away ideally at the start. These conditions were completely new to me. As the race progressed, I decided to make sure of second place and consciously opted not to chase Nikita,” said the two-time race winner.

Joutsimies gained two places at the start of the 13th race of the season, climbing from fifth to third. The rookie defended this position for ten entire race in an exciting three-car battle with Kacper Sztuka (16/POL/US Racing) and Michael Sauter (17/Sauter Engineering + Design). “I am delighted with my first podium in ADAC Formula 4. The pressure from the two drivers behind me was extremely intense. Despite this, I managed to keep calm in the key moments and have picked up my first trophy,” said Joutsimies.

Sztuka finished fourth. Sauter launched his fightback from ninth on the grid: the Swiss came home fifth to claim his best result of the season so far. Zachary David crossed the finish line in sixth place. This weekend, the 15-year-old from US Racing, the team run by Ralf Schumacher and Gerhard Ungar, becomes the first Philippine driver to race in the ADAC’s junior series. Jonas Ried (17/Ehingen/PHM Racing) was the best-placed German in seventh. Samir Ben (19/SUI/Jenzer Motorsport), Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (16/THA/Jenzer Motorsport) and Ruiqi Liu (16/US Racing) rounded off the top ten. The Chinese driver was making his ADAC Formula 4 debut in Lower Lusatia.

A double dose of racing action awaits the stars of tomorrow on Sunday. Barnard starts race two from pole position at 10:05. The reverse grid rule means the first eight in race two will start the 15th race of the season in reverse order at 15:35. All the races are streamed live and free of charge at motorsport.tv.