As the ADAC Formula 4 prepares for its sixth round of the season at the Nurburgring, team owner Ralf Schumacher assesses his teams chances. At their home circuit, the Schumacher’s will be hoping to leave with a strong haul of points.
Going into the weekend, Joey Mawson leads the standings with 244 points. Sadly for Mick Schumacher, a poor weekend at the Red Bull Ring has seen him drop further behind his rival. Despite this, Schumacher is still in touch of the points lead.
As one of the key owners of the US Racing team, Ralf Schumacher is listing this weekend as the teams home fixture, putting pressure on the teams usual front runners Kim-Luis Schramm and Jannes Fittje.
“We will obviously try to build on previous successes,” said Ralf Schumacher. “I always enjoy going to the Nürburgring and have always really liked the circuit. It’s where I took my first tentative steps in motor racing a long time ago in the ADAC Formel Junior series. It will certainly be nice to be back.”
“I certainly hope that we can reel them in a bit, but you have to admit that with his experience, Joey Mawson is in a league of his own. He has driven flawlessly this year and hasn’t put a foot wrong. He is more experienced and older than most of the others,” he continued.
“Every single year’s difference in age matters an awful lot. You have to say, though, that the guys, whether we’re talking about our team or whether we mean Mick, are doing a really terrific job. If not much goes wrong for him, then I think Joey is the top favourite, but Mick can still be a thorn in his side as can we.”
Schramm and Fittje, US Racing’s front running drivers, currently sit fourth and fifth in the standings. Neither are mathematically out of the title fight either and will hope for a strong end of season.
After Friday practice it was the Prema Powerteam rookies of Juri Vips and Juan Manuel Correa who topped the time sheets. Schumacher and Mawson became competitive after a poor opening session, though qualifying could still shake up the order.
