Giorgio Maggi[/caption]
Race 1 : Start/finish victory for Joel Eriksson in Spa-Francorchamps
Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark) has strengthened his claim to the championship with another supreme performance. The Motopark youngster won the first ADAC Formula 4 race at Spa-Francorchamps from pole position to further extend his overall lead. Guan Yu Zhou (16, CHN, Prema Powerteam) finished second and was also best-placed rookie. Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) made his podium debut in third position at the third race weekend of the 2015 season.
« It’s a brilliant feeling to win a race at my favourite track, Spa-Francorchamps, » said Eriksson after his start/finish victory at the 7.004 km circuit, which is the longest on the racing calendar. The 17-year-old was not upset by either of the two safety car periods. Eriksson withstood pressure from his main rival, Yu Zhou, after the restart on the eleventh and final lap of the race to cross the finish line with a lead of 0.670 seconds.
Yu Zhou takes lead in rookie standings
Yu Zhou secured his second podium of the year, taking the lead in the ADAC Formula 4 rookie standings from Jonathan Cecotto (15, VEN, Motopark) and Mick Schumacher (16, GER, Van Amersfoort Racing). The pair, both sons of racing drivers ended the seventh race of the season in P18 and P15 respectively.
Yu Zhou, the young talent from the Ferrari Driver Academy, overtook his opponent Shwartzman on the very first lap having started from grid position three and could not be caught subsequently. In the meantime, the young Russian had to fight hard for his first podium finish in the ADAC High-Speed Academy. Shwartzman had an exciting battle with Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam) for third place towards the middle of the race and eventually gained the upper hand.
Norris: Strong debut in ADAC Formula 4
Prema Powerteam driver Aron subsequently dropped back to sixth position. Fourth place went to Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), who is contesting his first race weekend in the ADAC Formula 4. The young British driver had already previously shown his talent by achieving P6 in the qualifying.
Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing) came home behind him in fifth place, securing more points towards the championship. Placed second overall in the standings, he had started from eighth place on the grid and worked his way up three places in the course of the race. Rookie David Beckmann (15, GER, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) and Janneau Esmeijer (18, NED, HTP Juniorteam) finished behind Aron to complete the top eight.
Eriksson again in pole position
Eriksson continues to lead the championship. The Swede tops the standings with 99 points and will line up again on pole in the second race on Sunday (live on SPORT1 at 13.25). Mawson benefited from the early retirement of Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam), who had been placed second overall. Mawson is now Eriksson’s main rival with 74 points. HTP Juniorteam driver Dienst is in in third place with 73 points.
[caption id="attachment_19805" align="alignright" width="300"]
Alain Valente[/caption]
Comments from the podium
Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark), Winner:
« It’s a brilliant feeling to win a race at my favourite track, Spa-Francorchamps. This circuit is really something special and totally unique. My start went very well and I immediately drew away from my opponents. The two safety-car periods did not disturb my concentration in any way. I had no problem after the restarts in quickly pulling out a lead again. My car ran perfectly. I’ve taken a very important step towards the championship with this win. I couldn’t feel any better at the moment. »
Guan Yu Zhou (16, CHN, Prema Powerteam), Second:
« This is the first time in my career that I’ve contested a race in Spa-Francorchamps. It’s just terrific to now stand on the podium and at the same time take the top spot in the rookie class. I got away to a good start and quickly overtook Robert Shwartzman. A win might even have been possible, but the second safety car period got in the way, unfortunately. After a difficult end to the last race weekend in Austria, I’m totally happy with P2. I would like to thank my team – the car was really super today. »
Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), Third:
« To achieve my maiden podium in the ADAC Formula 4 at this particular track is a momentous occasion for me. I’m really very pleased. A big thank you to my team – my car was set up perfectly in qualifying, giving me the chance to start the race from second on the grid. I had a few problems with grip on the initial laps, which enabled Ralf Aron to overtake me. I retook P3 as soon as I had got everything back under control. From that moment on, I was able to consistently catch up, but in the end the safety car made an attack impossible. Still, the result is super. »
Race 2 : Win No 2 for Joel Eriksson
Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark) and Spa-Francorchamps seem made for each other. After winning Race 1 on Saturday, the Motopark driver has now triumphed in the second of the three races on the legendary Ardennes rollercoaster, watched on this occasion by FIA President Jean Todt. The championship leader has thus emerged victorious from four out of the last five races.
Also putting in an impressive performance was Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport). On his first ever ADAC Formula 4 race weekend, the 15-year-old has now notched up a second-place finish. The single-seater series rookie was also competing at Spa-Francorchamps for the first time. Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) finished third to make it a successful afternoon for the kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport outfit.
“So far, the weekend has gone perfectly for me,” said Spa double winner Eriksson. After the runaway victory on Saturday, the Swedish youngster allowed his opponents to make him sweat a little today. In the closing laps and with the track still wet, he fought a spectacular duel with Norris. The series newcomer, who had started from sixth on the grid, clung on tenaciously and made several attempts to overtake. However, Eriksson kept his nerve and crossed the finish line with a gap of around half a second.
Norris exploits confused situation at the start
Having finished fourth the day before and only just missed out on a podium in his first ADAC Formula 4 race, Norris got off to a magnificent start, thereby laying the groundwork for his subsequent success. Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam) starting from second, Janneau Esmeijer (18, NED, HTP Junior Team) from third and Guan Yu Zhou (16, CHN, Prema Powerteam) from fifth all failed to get off the line smartly in difficult weather conditions, allowing Shwartzman and Norris to take up the chase behind Eriksson.
The race leader built up a comfortable gap and looked untroubled even at the restart after a safety car deployment on the sixth lap. A minor deviation from the line by Eriksson two laps later present an opportunity to Norris who had in the meantime overtaken Shwartzman. But even when the teenager from Bristol set the fastest lap time of the race on the final lap, this still wasn’t enough to deprive the more experienced Eriksson of victory.
[caption id="attachment_19804" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Moritz Müller-Crepon[/caption]
Best result yet for Harrison Newey
Behind the Top Three, Aron pretty much drove his own race to cross the finish line in fourth place. This result took the Prema Powerteam driver up to second in the championship. Harrison Newey (16, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing), whose father, Formula 1 designer Adrian, watched the proceedings live in the team garage, came fifth, his best result in ADAC Formula 4 so far. The Van Amersfoort Racing youngster took the position off Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Junior Team) after the safety car period and then successfully held off the challenge from the current third-placed driver in the championship.
Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing) and Janneau Esmeijer completed the Top Eight in the eighth round of the 2015 season. Marek Böckmann (18, GER, Jenzer Motorsport) claimed his first points of the season with a ninth-place finish which also puts him into pole position for the final race on Sunday afternoon (starts 17:00, with live coverage on SPORT1).
Eriksson continues to extend lead
Race winner Eriksson was thus able to build on his lead in the championship. Having so far scored a maximum 50 points out 50 in Belgium, his lead has now grown to a formidable 124 points. Meanwhile, the battle for second is being closely fought. There are only three points separating Aron (83), Dienst (81) and Mawson (80) in positions two to four respectively
Comments from the podium
Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark), Winner: “So far, the weekend has gone perfectly for me. My start was very good, and I immediately built up a lead in order to stop the opposition benefiting from my slipstream. My car was super today, and I was able to pull away from the rest of the field without any problem. After the safety car period, I soon built up another gap and decided to go a bit slower so as not to take any risks. However, I came off the line on Turn 3 and suddenly found that my pursuers were close behind. I was watching Lando in my rear-view mirror and knew exactly where he would mount an attack, so I had no problem in responding and defending P1.”
Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), Second: “This is only my second ADAC Formula 4 race, so I’m absolutely delighted to have finished on the podium. I feel I could have done even better. As soon as I had overtaken Robert, I attacked the race leader. It was an intense battle fought over several laps. I made one attempt on the final corner which unfortunately didn’t come off. My speed was superior to his, but overtaking was difficult. This weekend is the first time I have competed at Spa-Francorchamps, and I’ve hardly experienced any laps in the rain. So as you can imagine, I’m all the more satisfied with this result.”
Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), Third: “I’m really happy about my second podium of the weekend. I’ve never driven in the wet here before. I got off to a really great start, and after one lap, I was already up to P2. I was putting pressure on the race leader and pulling out a gap on the pursuing group. But unfortunately, the safety car then bunched us all up together again. My team-mate Lando was directly behind me. At first, I managed to defend my position. But in these conditions, it was better to let him go past and be sure of finishing third.”
[caption id="attachment_19803" align="alignright" width="300"]
Nikolaj Rogivue[/caption]
Race 3 : Win for Lando Norris on ADAC Formula 4 debut
Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) made an almost perfect debut in the ADAC Formula 4 series, winning the third race at Spa-Francorchamps. After finishing second in the earlier Sunday race, the 15-year-old went one better in the late afternoon. The runner-up behind surprise winner Norris was Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing). Third-placed Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) rounded off a strong weekend with podium finish number three at the legendary Ardennes rollercoaster circuit.
“My first ADAC Formula 4 weekend could hardly have gone any better, especially as I’ve never competed at Spa-Francorchamps before,” said series newcomer Norris, whose results over the weekend have immediately taken him up to fifth in the championship.
Norris exploits super start
A strong start was the basis for the ultimate success of the kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport youngster. Placed seventh on the grid, Norris neatly avoided getting caught up in several collisions during the opening lap on a wet track. By the end of Lap 1, Norris was already up to second position. On the fourth lap, he overtook Marek Böckmann (18, GER, Jenzer Motorsport) who had until then managed to defend his pole position.
Mawson, who has now moved up to second in the championship, had to fight hard for his third podium of the 2015 ADAC Formula 4 campaign. From sixth on the grid, the Australian gradually worked his way up the field, eventually securing second place at the midway point in the race. After a safety car period, a thrilling four-way battle developed between Mawson, championship leader Joel Eriksson (17, SWE, Motopark), Shwartzman and Kim Luis Schramm (17, GER, Neuhauser Racing). Mawson finally prevailed to claim the runner-up spot.
Triple podium success for Shwartzman
Shwartzman appeared to have lost third place on the final lap as first Schramm and then Eriksson went past. After the safety car had been sent out, the stewards decided to red-flag the race. The decision was triggered by an accident involving Jannes Fittje (15, GER, Motopark) who lost control of his car after sustaining damage to the front wing and ploughed into a barrier. Fittje was taken to the Medical Centre for a check-up but was later released. In line with the regulations, this meant that the race positions on the previous lap were deemed final. Shwartzman’s P3 was thus restored, making him the only driver on the weekend to have had three podium appearances.
Slotting in behind the Top Three was Eriksson whose fourth place brought in even more points towards the title. The Swedish junior won the first two races at Spa-Francorchamps, making it four out of the most recent six. After a difficult weekend, Schramm made a creditable comeback from grid position 14 to finish fifth. Neuhauser Racing team-mate Tim Zimmermann (18, GER, Neuhauser Racing) also improved during the race by seven positions to cross the line in sixth. Rookie David Beckmann (15, GER, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport) and Michael Waldherr (18, GER, Motopark) completed the Top Eight.
Eriksson heads for Lausitzring as championship leader
Spa double winner Eriksson leads the championship after the third race weekend of the season on 136 points. The gap on his closest pursuer, Joey Mawson, is a daunting 38 points. The next two places are occupied by Ralf Aron (17, EST, Prema Powerteam) and Marvin Dienst (18, GER, HTP Juniorteam) on 83 and 81 points respectively. The fourth event of the 2015 ADAC Formula 4 season will be hosted by the Lausitzring on the weekend of 3rd – 5th July.
Comments from the podium
[caption id="attachment_19806" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Marylin Niederhauser[/caption]
Lando Norris (15, GBR, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), Winner:
“A win, a podium and a P4 finish: My first ADAC Formula 4 weekend could hardly have gone any better, especially as I’ve never competed at Spa-Francorchamps before. I got off to a great start because, fortunately, I was on the dry side of the track. I immediately moved up into third, and after a few more laps, I was leading the race. Then I got involved in a battle with Joey, but he made an error and fell back. It was looking odds on for the win until the safety car came out. Fortunately, I managed the restart well, and when the race was eventually abandoned, I was well in the lead.”
Joey Mawson (19, AUS, Van Amersfoort Racing), Second:
“This was ultimately a great race for me, although it didn’t get off to the best of starts. There was a collision ahead of me which I had to swerve to avoid. That cost me several positions. The main thing was to stay calm and use my straight-line speed to advantage. I wanted to win the race of course, but the safety car put paid to that. I at least managed some damage limitation with this second place in my pursuit of Eriksson. He is now very far ahead in the championship, but I have scored some important points and have now clearly established my claim to second place.”
Robert Shwartzman (15, RUS, kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport), Third:
“I’ve had podium finishes in all three races at Spa, so it’s been a great weekend. However, my start in the final race wasn’t perfect. I had some problems with my front wheels, and four or five cars immediately sailed past. After a few laps, I finally found a good rhythm and was getting faster all the time. I went past the opposition one by one. The safety car period finally got me within striking distance of thirdplace and I made my passing manoeuvre on the start/finish line. Shortly afterwards, one of my wheels locked on Turn 1 and I started to lose ground. Fortunately, this didn’t matter, as the race was then abandoned and I retained my podium position.”
Press release ADAC Formel 3
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