Max voted ADAC Junior Motorsport Athlete of 2016

Maximilian Günther has been voted ADAC Junior Motorsport Athlete of 2016. A distinguished panel of media representatives and ADAC officials conferred the award on the 19-year-old on Wednesday evening. He beat Mick Schumacher in the final round of voting. The panel paid tribute to Günther’s outstanding performances during the past season. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé finished as runner-up in the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

“I am incredibly proud to have been selected as ADAC Junior Motorsport Athlete of 2016,” said Günther. “It is a great honour for me to receive this special award. I would like to thank all the judges on the panel and also the ADAC for the support I have received over the years and the way they have encouraged me in my choice of career. This title is the perfect way to round off my most successful year yet in motor racing.”

ADAC Sport President Hermann Tomczyk said: “Maximilian Günther has now become Formula 3 championship runner-up with his talent and tenacity, having started out in ADAC kart championships before progressing on to the Formula ADAC. This is a fine performance that shows that our programme for juniors functions. Maximilian will go all the way to the top if he continues to work so consistently and receive the necessary support from the industry.”

The ADAC Motorsport Athlete has been awarded annually since 1980, with the ADAC Junior Motorsport Athlete of the Year being introduced in 1990. Günther follows in illustrious footsteps. Past winners of the ADAC Junior Motorsport Athlete of the Year have included four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel (2004), last year’s F1 world championship runner-up Nico Rosberg (2005) and Formula 1 driver Nico Hülkenberg (2008).

Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg was voted ADAC Motorsport Athlete of the Year 2016. The Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 driver will receive his trophy along with Günther at the grand ADAC SportGala on 17th December in Munich. Rosberg will be presented with a large St Christopher statuette made from Nymphenburg porcelain while Günther will be handed a smaller version.

Günther enjoys the backing of Mercedes-Benz and is one of the brightest prospects among the current crop of single-seater juniors in Germany. In his second year in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, which is one of the feeder series to Formula 1, he lifted the runner-up trophy. In the 30 races during the 2016 campaign, Günther registered four wins, seven pole positions, 13 podium finishes and four fastest race laps.