- Return to Germany: Fourth race weekend at Lausitzring
- Home races for kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport
- Joel Eriksson has best chance of winning 'half-time' championship
Munich. ADAC Formula 4 returns to Germany after two race weekends abroad in Austria and Belgium. The young drivers will contest the fourth race weekend of the year at the Lausitzring, July 3rd-5th, 2015. The three races on the shortest track on the calendar will decide which driver enters the record books as the first 'half-time' champion in the history of the ADAC High-Speed Academy.
Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark) has the best chance of claiming the unofficial title. The Swede has won four of the last six races, taking the lead overall at the race weekend in Spa-Francorchamps with 136 points. He is 38 points up on Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing) in second place. Since there are 75 points to be awarded at the Lausitzring, Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam/83 points) and Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam/81 points) are also in the frame to win the 'half-time' championship.
Eriksson's goal: To lift the title
"I know the Lausitzring from last season in the Formel ADAC," said Eriksson. "The previous two race weekends went really well for me. Three out of four possible pole positions and four wins into the bargain - the bottom line could hardly look better. Obviously, my goal now is to win the ADAC Formula 4 championship. Securing the 'half-time' title would be a good step in that direction." Title rival Dienst from HTP Juniorteam also knows the Lausitzring very well. In 2014, the 18-year-old achieved two poles and two podiums there in the Formel ADAC which was the predecessor series to the ADAC Formula 4.
While Eriksson has been able to build up a clear lead overall, the rookie standings are being hotly contested. Six newcomers to formula racing have a chance to finish the twelfth race of the season on top. David Beckmann (15, GER, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) and Mike Ortmann (15, GER, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) are placed fourth and fifth respectively behind the trio in the lead composed of Jonathan Cecotto (15, VEN, Motopark), Ferrari Driver Academy youngster Guan Yu Zhou (16, CHN, Prema Powerteam) and Mick Schumacher (16, GER, Van Amersfoort Racing).
Home races for kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport and Mike Ortmann
The kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport pair intend to achieve a great deal in this home race for their Berlin-based racing team. "Obviously, the race at the Lausitzring is a huge highlight on the racing calendar for us," said Ortmann, whose home town of Ahrensfelde is just 150 kilometres away from the racetrack. "Our team has played an important role in motor sport for many years in our region, particularly where the training of young and promising talent is concerned. Our main focus this year is on the rookie championship. I've made up my mind to finish among the top three newcomers in this huge field of entries."
kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport have the wind behind them, as they head to this race weekend on home turf. The team from Germany's capital city took their maiden win in Spa-Francorchamps. British teenager Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) won one race and finished on the podium twice on his ADAC Formula 4 debut.
Team-mate Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) also showed his class on the circuit in the Ardennes. The Russian achieved a first in the ADAC Formula 4 by securing podiums in all three races. Shwartzman would like to continue his series of podium finishes at the Lausitzring. "Everything is now beginning to click into place after a tough start to the season," said the young Russian, who is currently placed seventh in the championship. "I know the Lausitzring from testing and am sure that we can again secure plenty of points in the races. Our many fans will certainly be there in the grandstands to cheer us on. That will give us an extra dose of motivation."
SPORT1 will broadcast all the races on free-to-air TV
Fans can watch all three ADAC Formula 4 races from the Lausitzring live on free-to-air television. TV partner SPORT1 will broadcast the first two races on Saturday, July 4th at 10:30 am and at 3:00 pm. SPORT1 will also screen the third race on free-to-air TV on Sunday at 10:30 am. In addition, all 24 ADAC Formula 4 races are available as live streams on www.SPORT1.de and adac.de/motorsport.