Tales from the Oschersleben paddock

• Live TV coverage of ADAC Formula 4 on SPORT1 to continue until 2017
• Successful home races for Oschersleben-based Team Motopark
• ADAC High Speed Academy gets high-profile TV exposure

Oschersleben: The etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben hosted the seventh round of the 2015 ADAC Formula 4 championship in the context of the DTM race weekend (11th - 13th September). 66,000 spectators came through the turnstiles to watch the three races staged by the ADAC High Speed Academy. Official broadcasting partners SPORT1 und SPORT1+ showed all of the races on live TV.

Contract renewed: SPORT1 has moved to secure live TV rights to the ADAC Formula 4 series up to 2017 ahead of the expiry of the current agreement. For the next two years, the races of the ADAC High Speed Academy will continue to be shown live and in full on free-to-air SPORT1, on the pay-TV channel SPORT1+, online and as a mobile live stream on SPORT1.de as well as on www.adac.de/motorsport.

Successful guest debut on DTM weekend: For first time in its short history, ADAC Formula 4 has formed part of the support programme to the DTM. Fans attending the event showed great interest in the ADAC High Speed Academy and mingled with the teams as they worked in their garages. The ADAC Formula 4 season finale at the Hockenheimring will once again be twinned with the ADAC GT Masters.

Star names pay their respects: The Formula 4 youngsters welcomed some surprise visitors in the ADAC Hospitality Suite on Friday evening. Former Mercedes-Benz Head of Motorsport and current DTM TV expert Norbert Haug, reigning DTM champion Marco Wittmann and Formula 1 test driver / DTM championship contender Pascal Wehrlein spoke about the promotion of young talent in German motorsport. The entire ADAC Formula 4 line-up listened attentively before rounding off the evening with a barbecue. There was another prominent visitor to the paddock on Saturday and Sunday: Olympic, World and European medallist in table tennis Dimitrij Ovtcharov called in on Carrie Schreiner and was given a glimpse behind the scenes of ADAC Formula 4.

Pole position on the screen: Young motorsport fans can look forward to a real TV highlight early next year. Starting on 30th January 2016 at 17:20, the children’s channel KiKa (jointly run by ARD and ZDF) will be broadcasting a documentary by the name of ‘Pole Position’. Over the total of ten episodes, the TV crew will be following the fortunes of ADAC Formula 4 juniors Jannes Fittje (16, Motopark) from Langenhain, Michelle Halder (16) from Messkirch, ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Sophia Flörsch (14) from Grünwald, Doureid Ghattas (13) from Bonn and kart driver Patricija Stalidzane (13) from Langenfeld as they embark on a career in motorsport. At the invitation of regional broadcaster SWR and the ADAC, the ADAC Formula 4 drivers together with numerous media representatives and other guests watched an exclusive 25-minute trailer in the ADAC Hospitality Suite.

Home fixture made to order: Successful home race for Motopark. The Oschersleben-based outfit were delighted to see their driver Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark) claim two victories on home turf. The Swedish teenager kept alive his hopes of winning the first championship in the history of ADAC Formula 4. Eriksson goes into the grand finale at the Hockenheimring (2nd - 4th October) in second place on 280 points, 30 behind current leader Marvin Dienst (18, HTP Junior Team) from Lampertheim. Australia’s Joey Mawson (19, Van Amersfoort Racing) is also still in the running on 256 points.

Bavarian TV Trio: Luca Engstler (15, Engstler Motorsport) from Wildpoldsried, Benjamin Mazatis (17, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) from Bruckmühl and Kevin Kratz (18, Lechner Racing) from Haimhausen will soon be appearing on TV in millions of German homes. The public broadcaster BR (Bayerischer Rundfunk) will be airing a documentary about the three talented youngsters on its popular sports programme ‘Blickpunkt Sport’. Viewers will be given an insight into the lives of the Bavarian trio, both on and off the track. Transmission is scheduled for 5pm on 3rd October.

Friendly advice from Bruno: Three members of the HTP Junior Team squad were lucky enough to be made welcome by DTM star Bruno Spengler in his garage. Current championship leader Marvin Dienst, Carrie Schreiner (17) from Völklingen and Janneau Esmeijer (18) from the Netherlands were given some valuable tips by 2012 DTM champion. Spengler had already called in on the HTP Junior Team during the ADAC Formula 4 race weekend at the Nürburgring.

Sign here, please: On Sunday afternoon, the budding ADAC Formula 4 stars were surrounded by a large crowd of fans in the paddock. They signed autographs and were happy to pose for selfies in front of the ADAC Hospitality Suite.

Scheider to the power of two: Timo Scheider was wearing two hats at Oschersleben. The two-time DTM Champion contested two races in the touring car series whilst also managing his own ADAC Formula 4 team. "My involvement in the DTM was clearly the number one priority," said Scheider, "but I also did my best to take care of the guys in my ADAC Formula 4 team. It was a busy and exciting weekend."

Happy Birthday, Kami: Could there possibly be a better place for a birthday party than the ADAC Formula 4 paddock? Kami Laliberté (16, CAN, Van Amersfoort Racing) celebrated his 16th birthday on Sunday at Oschersleben. Also present was Kami’s father, Guy Laliberté, founder of the world-famous Cirque du Soleil. The birthday boy was presented with a cake by his Van Amersfoort Racing crew and by team-mates Mick Schumacher and Joey Mawson.