Vips Maintains Series Lead Despite Retirement
Felipe Drugovich (16, Van Amersfoort Racing) got an early birthday present to round off his race weekend at the Lausitzring. Two days before his 17th birthday, the Brazilian secured the first win of his career in the ADAC Formula 4, and in the sixth round of the season, became the sixth driver to win a race. Team-mate Frederik Vesti (15, Denmark) made this a one-two win for Dutch team, Van Amersfoort Racing. Winner of the first race at the Lausitzring Kim-Luis Schramm (19, Germany, US Racing) completed the party on the podium. The results of the ADAC Formula 4 at the Lausitzring are provisional pending appeal of Team US Racing.
“It was the perfect end to the weekend. We secured a one -two victory, which is really great for the team. I’m very happy. After two second places, I’ve finally taken my maiden win in the ADAC Formula 4. I hope there’ll be many more of them,” said a delighted Drugovich after his success: “I couldn’t wish for anything better for my birthday.”
After a dazzling start, Vesti shot up from fourth place into second place. With Vesti, polesitter Louis Gachot (17, UK) and Drugovich, Van Amersfoort Racing had three drivers in the leading positions until Schramm took the British driver’s place on the podium ten minutes from the end.
Gachot in P4 rounded off a great result for Van Amersfoort Racing. Winner of the second round Julian Hanses (19, Germany, US Racing) finished fifth. Andreas Estner (16, Germany, Neuhauser Racing), Michael Waldherr (20, Germany, Neuhauser Racing), Sophia Flörsch (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) and Nicklas Nielsen (20, Germany, Neuhauser Racing) , Denmark, US Racing) followed them home. In only his third race in the ADAC Formula 4, German driver Doureid Ghattas (15, Team Piro Interdental) secured the award of best rookie for the first time.
The race was action-packed with plenty of retirements right from the start. After a contact with Juan Manuel Correa (17, USA/Ecuador, Prema Powerteam), rookie Richard Wagner (17, Germany, Lechner Racing) came to a stop on the track, bringing out the safety car. Kami Laliberté (17, Canada, Van Amersfoort Racing) also came into the pits with a damaged car a little later and retired. On Lap 4, South African driver Jonathan Aberdein (19, Motopark) parked up next to the track, and two laps after that, the race was also over for Lirim Zendeli (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg eV) following a spin into the gravel bed.
Overall leader Juri Vips (16, Prema Powerteam) had an extremely tough day. The Estonian spun on the first lap and retired after a contact with team-mate Marcus Armstrong (16, New Zealand). However, Vips on 72 points still has a narrow lead in the overall standings on Drugovich, who has 69 points.
Racing will continue in Austria for drivers and teams in the high-speed school of the ADAC after a three-week break. Drivers will fight for more championship points in Races 7, 8 and 9 on the weekend of 9th – 11th June at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
Frederik Vesti (Second, Van Amersfoort Racing): “I’m really happy with this result. It’s my first year in the ADAC Formula 4, so this is excellent. I never would have expected this to happen at the start of the season. I’ve worked hard, so I’m really happy now.”
Kim-Luis Schramm (Third, US Racing): “I’m definitely satisfied by and large. Our car was perfect all weekend. I then drove well in the races and did everything right. Not much more was possible in the end today. My tyres were practically shot after I overtook Louis Gachot with five laps to go.”
Doureid Ghattas (P16 and best Rookie, Team Piro Interdental, ADAC Sports Foundation protege): “I slipped around a lot in the car towards the end but somehow still managed to keep in front of the man behind. I fought hard. It was very exhausting, but I’m now extremely relieved.”
Jeroen de Jong (Team Principal at Van Amersfoort Racing): “We’re obviously pleased to have booked first, second and fourth place. Felipe Drugovich has given himself a terrific birthday present today.”
Race 2 Grid
1st – No. 3, Louis Gachot, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing
2nd – No. 5, Lirim Zendeli, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V
3rd – No. 98, Cedric Piro, GER, Team Piro Sport Interdental
4th – No. 2, Frederik Vesti, DEN, Van Amersfoort Racing
5th – No. 1, Felipe Drugovich Roncato, BRA, Van Amersfoort Racing
6th – No. 9, Marcus Armstrong, NZL, Prema Power Team
7th – No. 18, Julian Hanses, GER, US Racing^^
8th – No. 44, Juri Vips, EST, Prema Power Team
9th – No, 83, Kami Moreira-Laliberté, CAN, Van Amersfoort Racing
10th – No. 28, Kim Luis Schramm, GER, US Racing^^
11th – No. 99, Charles Weerts*, BEL, Motopark
12th – No. 79, David Malukas, USA, Motopark
13th – No. 81, Michael Waldherr, GER, Neuhauser Racing
14th – No. 80, Andreas Estner, GER, US Racing
15th – No. 7, Oliver Söderström, SWE, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V
16th – No. 11, Mick Wishofer*, AUT, Lechner Racing
17th – No. 42, Leonard Hoogenboom, NLD, Motopark^
18th – No. 25, Doureid Ghattas*, GER, Team Piro Sport Interdental
19th – No. 10, Richard Wagner*, GER, Lechner Racing
20th – No. 6, Tom Beckhäuser*, CZH, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V
21st – No. 27, Nicklas Nielsen, DEN, US Racing^^
22nd – No. 68, Juan Manuel Correa, USA, Prema Power Team^
23rd – No. 4, Sophia Flörsch, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V^
24th – No. 26, Laurin Heinrich*, GER, Laurin Heinrich^
25th – No. 13, Fabio Scherer, SUI, US Racing^ ^^
26th – No. 33, Jonathan Aberdein, GBR, Motopark^
^ Cars No. 4, 13, 26, 33, 68 – Following race director’s decision, allowed to start.
^^ Cars No. 28, 27, 13 and 18 – Result subject to decision of court appeal
Race 3
1st – No. 1, Felipe Drugovich Roncato, BRA, Van Amersfoort Racing, 21 laps, 31:15.889
2nd – No. 2, Frederik Vesti, DEN, Van Amersfoort Racing, Gap: 1.183
3rd – No. 28, Kim Luis Schramm, GER, US Racing, Gap: 4.560^
4th – No. 3, Louis Gachot, GBR, Van Amersfoort Racing, Gap: 9.844
5th – No. 18, Julian Hanses, GER, US Racing, 13.769^
6th – No. 80, Andreas Estner, GER, Neuhauser Racing, Gap: 17.353
7th – No. 81, Michael Waldherr, GER, Neuhauser Racing, Gap: 22.841
8th – No. 4, Sophia Flörsch, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V, Gap: 23.170
9th – No. 42, Leonard Hoogenboom, NLD, Motopark, Gap: 25.470
10th – No. 27, Nicklas Nielsen, DEN, US Racing, Gap: 25.689^
11th – No. 68, Juan Manuel Correa, USA, Prema Power Team, Gap: 26.551
12th – No. 79, David Malukas, USA, Motopark, Gap: 27.421
13th – No. 13, Fabio Scherer, SUI, US Racing, Gap: 27.478^
14th – No. 7, Oliver Söderström, SWE, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V, Gap: 28.051
15th – No. 9, Marcus Armstrong, NZL, Prema Power Team, Gap: 28.230
16th – No. 25, Doureid Ghattas*, GER, Team Piro Sports Interdental, Gap: 35.293
17th – No. 99, Charles Weerts*, BEL, Motopark, Gap: 35.820
18th – No. 26, Laurin Heinrich*, GER, Laurin Heinrich, Gap: 47.137
19th – No. 6, Tom Beckhäuser*, CZH, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V, Gap: 47.421
20th – No. 98, Cedric Piro, GER, Team Piro Sport Interdental, Gap: 1 lap
Not Classified
No. 5, Lirim Zendeli, DEU, ADAC Berlin-Brandenberg e.V, Lap 6
No. 33, Jonathan Aberdein, GBR, Motopark, Lap 5
No. 11, Mick Wishofer*, AUT, Lechner Racing, Lap 4
No, 83, Kami Moreira-Laliberté, CAN, Van Amersfoort Racing, Lap 1
No. 44, Juri Vips, EST, Prema Power Team
No. 10, Richard Wagner*, GER, Lechner Racing
Fastest Lap
No. 2, Frederik Vesti, DEN, Van Amersfoort Racing, Lap 16, 1:23.595, 149.7 kph
^ Result subject of decision of court appeal concerning cars no. 28, 27, 13 and 18
^^ Following race director decision drive through penalty in exchange for a time penalty of 30 seconds for Car No. 33
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