An exciting race weekend has just come to an end at the Nürburgring for the ADAC Formula 4 drivers. While US Racing CHRS swept the board in their home fixture with three wins altogether for front-runner, Theo Pourchaire and rookie Roman Stanek, Russian driver Michael Belov from R-ace GP took his maiden podium. Keep on reading for our tales from the paddock in the Eifel!
Good haul of points: Theo Pourchaire from US Racing CHRS didn't turn 16 until Tuesday but had plenty to celebrate at the weekend. The French teenager dominated the fifth round of the ADAC Formula 4 at the Nürburgring, claiming two wins. After finishing eleventh in the final race on the legendary circuit, he is 53 points up on closest rival and team-mate, Arthur Leclerc, in the overall standings. Only once has Pourchaire failed to score points so far this season and can approach the season's last six races with confidence. "I'm very pleased to have secured two home wins for our outfit and am extremely happy for the team and, of course, for myself," said the teenager: "It was a perfect weekend!" The good wishes for his 16th birthday were the only thing missing.
Still waiting: Three wins in one weekend? That's never happened before in ADAC Formula 4 history. Although Pourchaire got close and triumphed in the first two races, he 'only' finished eleventh in the third race on Sunday evening. As a result, we must continue our wait to see who becomes the first to have a 'perfect' weekend. By the way, two drivers have already got pretty close. Both 2015 champion Marvin Dienst and his 'successor' Joey Mawson had weekends where they achieved two wins and a second place.
Parting is such sweet sorrow...: Actually, 16-year-old Niklas Krütten wanted to attack again in the race for the ADAC Formula 4 title, but things turned out differently in the end. He is now seeking a fresh challenge in motorsport and will not be finishing the ADAC Formula 4 season at Van Amersfoort Racing. Although not on the grid for his home race, Krütten was still at the track. On Sunday, he helped commentator, Swen Wauer, by giving his take on the racing.
Weather roulette: The young drivers experienced a moment of déjà-vu as regards the weather. Last time out at Zandvoort in the Netherlands, the races had been affected time and again by the changeable weather with wind, rain and sun, and now, bad weather also struck at the Nürburgring. Friday remained dry, but it began to rain just before the opening race on Saturday. However, unlike last week, all the drivers stayed on slicks, which proved to be the right choice, because the track quickly dried again. A strong wind with steady rain blew through the Eifel on Sunday, making conditions difficult both in the morning and in the afternoon especially when the field had to start behind the safety car.
Back-to-back: The juniors now have two exciting and exhausting weeks behind them with six races in just one week. First off, at the circuit in the dunes at Zandvoort in the Netherlands during the second weekend in August, and then back-to-back at the Nürburgring. This is only the second time in ADAC Formula 4 history that the series has had an 'English week', but still, it was really worth it, as more than 18,000 spectators came to the legendary circuit in the Eifel. "It's been exhausting, but I love a challenge," said rookie Roman Stanek: "I prefer it when we're on the go all the time - I can't abide standing around, doing nothing."
Making his peace: 16-year-old Norwegian Dennis Hauger from Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing had a strong showing in practice and qualifying on Friday, but things turned out differently in the race to the way he'd hoped. He was stopped in Race 1 by a technical defect while in the lead. He showed his class on Sunday morning with grid slot two and was heading for the podium before he spun, destroying all hopes of victory. He finished second in the race in the wet that afternoon, making his peace with the legendary circuit. "It's not over yet by a long chalk, and as long as we're still in with a chance of the title, we'll go on fighting with everything we can muster," he said.
Maiden podium: 18-year-old Russian Michael Belov took his maiden podium in the second race of the weekend. He had an error-free drive on Sunday morning and pulled off some spectacular overtaking manoeuvres. "It was terrific. I moved up from eighth place to second. The start was great. I quickly moved into fifth," said the R-ace GP driver after pulling off this major feat. "Of course, I got lucky when Hauger made a mistake, but my pace was really good. I overtook Ghiretti and Leclerc and am pleased to have had this good showing in the German series."
Birthday boy: The Israeli Ido Cohen from Van Amersfoort Racing celebrated his 18th birthday on Friday as the race weekend in the Eifel got under way. To mark the special occasion, Cohen was fifth in the first and eleventh in the second practice session. He qualified sixth for Race 1 and was ninth on the grid in the second race over the 3.63-km circuit.