Start-finish victory for Maxi in Zandvoort

Good cause to celebrate

Success at the second attempt: Maximilian Günther (16, Germany, ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.) won the second race at Zandvoort from pole position. The reigning Formel ADAC vice-champion crossed the finish line on Sunday morning with a lead of 1.2 seconds on runner-up Fabian Schiller (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport). Ralph Boschung (16, Switzerland, Lotus) completed the party on the podium in third place.

“That was a very good race for me. The speed was there right from the start,” said ADAC Sports Foundation protégé Günther after his second win of the season. The 16-year-old had been in pole position for the first race on Saturday but dropped out after a collision at the start.

Günther stays focused

Günther’s road to victory was not easy. He opened up a comfortable lead of nearly five seconds over the first six laps after a strong start on a wet track. The field bunched together again after a safety car phase was triggered after a spin by Nico Menzel (16, Germany, Schiller Motorsport). Günther held his nerve at the restart and secured his lead.

The Mücke Motorsport driver, who competes under the aegis of ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V., did not let a second period of disruption on Lap Ten unsettle him and finished the race behind the safety car as the winner. Mikkel Jensen (19, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) was the biggest loser of the second safety car period. The championship leader had just been overtaken by Schiller, then lost third place to Boschung a little later but had no chance to attack in view of the safety car period that lasted until the end of the race. And so, Jensen had to settle for fourth place.

“That was a very good race for me,” said Maxi. “The speed was there right from the start, and I kept drawing away from the rest and already had a comfortable lead when the safety car came out. I didn’t let that upset my race but just tried to make the best of the situation. It was important to stay focused and prepare for the restart, and I got away very successfully on the restart. Securing maximum points is now a cause for celebration after not finishing in the first race on Saturday. I still expect to do well in the third race, despite starting from grid position eight. We are well positioned no matter how conditions turn out, although it’s more likely that rain will fall. Overtaking in Zandvoort has gone well so far and is even slightly easier in the wet.”

Foto: ADAC Formel Masters