New season gets underway: First ADAC Formula 4 race weekend at Oschersleben

• Strong field of drivers for second year of junior formula racing series
• Mick Schumacher & Co guarantee thrills galore and terrific racing
• TV reporting on SPORT1 and SPORT1+

Munich: Spectacular high-speed races, young motor racing talents on their way to the top. The second season of the ADAC Formula 4 is about to start. The junior formula series returns to the Motorsport Arena in Oschersleben after last week's round of testing there. Three races will be staged at Oschersleben during the first race weekend from 15th to 17th April. SPORT1 and SPORT1+ will broadcast all races live.

A strong ADAC Formula 4 field of almost 40 drivers will come together in two 30-minute free practice sessions on Friday morning before taking part in the first qualifying of the season against the clock that same afternoon at 15:20. While the fastest 22 will qualify directly for the weekend's three races, a newly introduced qualifying race on Saturday morning will determine grid positions 23 and above. Things will then really hot up on Saturday and Sunday when the drivers compete for points in the first three races of the season. During the season, there will be seven more race weekends at circuits in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands before the grand finale is held at the Hockenheimring towards the end of September.

Thrilling championship race

Before the season had even started, Mick Schumacher (Prema Powerteam) attracted the attention of fans and the media. The son of record-breaking Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher not only dominated official pre-season testing in Oschersleben but also threw down the gauntlet last weekend with a comfortable double victory in Italy. Other title contenders apart from Schumacher, who is starting his second season in the ADAC Formula 4, include the two ADAC Sports Foundation protégés Jannes Fittje (US Racing) and Mike David Ortmann (ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV).

Michael Waldherr (Lechner Racing), Kim Luis Schramm (US Racing) and Joey Mawson (Van Amersfoort Racing) also impressed with strong performances in testing, and then there are the four speedy ladies to consider -, Marylin Niederhauser (Racing Rössler), Carrie Schreiner (US Racing) and Sophia Flörsch from Team Motopark as well as Michelle Halder (Liqui Moly Team Engstler), who are both supported by the ADAC Sports Foundation.

Last year's victorious HTP F4 Junior Team UNGAR, led by team principal Gerhard Ungar, have been rebranded as US Racing this year following the move by ex-Formula 1 and DTM driver Ralf Schumacher to the team. Ungar also expects to see a competitive season and believes that results from the first test day might have given only a hint of which way the wind is blowing. "Some teams have certainly not yet put all their cards on the table. What counts is what happens in qualifying and during the first race weekend," he said.

The team owned by two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider will also return for their second season in the ADAC Formula 4. Team Timo Scheider will field the Brazilian Mauro Auricchio, the Norwegian Kenneth Gulbrandson and Julian Hanses from Germany.

The ADAC Formula 4 will again be an integral part of the ADAC GT Masters during race weekends in 2016. One of the highlights of the year that will definitely draw in motor racing fans this season will be staged in early June when the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM touring car series join forces for a combined race weekend at the Lausitzring (3rd-5th June). And of course, the ADAC Formula 4 will also be there, as will TV broadcaster SPORT1. Germany's biggest sports channel and SPORT1+ will televise all races live or as recorded highlights.

The ADAC Formula 4 will again rely on the services of tried and trusted partners during the 2016 season. Formula 4 racing cars powered by Abarth turbocharged engines and running chassis from Italian manufacturer, Tatuus, will be utilised. Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli, who are well-known from Formula 1, and wheel manufacturer Motec will supply the ADAC Formula 4. Suspension springs manufacturer Eibach and DEKRA, one of the world's leading bodies of experts, are partners to the series. Auto Zeitung newspaper will continue in its role as official media partner.