With just six races left in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship there are three favourites to take the 2017 title. The Sachsenring Circuit host the penultimate round this weekend with the final round in Hockenheim a week later.
Juri Vips (17, Estonia, Prema Powerteam), his team-mate Marcus Armstrong (17, New Zealand, Prema Powerteam) and Felipe Drugovich (17, Brazil, Van Amersfoort Racing), who has taken four wins from the last six races, are favourites to win the championship. Just 23 points separate them as we approach the final rounds where there are 150 points still to be won. All three of them have shown already on many occasions this season that they are hungry for the title.
Marcus Armstrong is currently second in the standings but has considerably less experience as he heads to the Sachsenring circuit. “I tested there in July and really enjoyed it. Challenging sectors alternate with passages where it’s easier to make up time,” commented Arstrong, who has enjoyed a very successful first season in the ADAC Formula 4. In the best case scenario, the 17-year-old could even clinch two championships this autumn, as he is currently at the top of the table in the Italian counterpart to the ADAC Formula 4.
Juri Vips is at the top of the table despite having secured the fewest number of wins of the three. The Estonian has consistently finished in the points more times than the others. Only once – in the third race at the Lausitzring – did he miss finishing in the Top Ten. However, the 17-year-old still has a score to settle at the Sachsenring. He crossed the finish line only once last year at the roller-coaster of a circuit and only scored four points in the second race. “This is a nice, high-speed circuit and one of my favourites on the calendar,” said Vips, who is especially keen on the technically demanding passage in the first sector.
Brazilian driver Felipe Drugovich has so far racked up the most victories (four) and led the field for the greatest number of laps (62). He also intends to improve on his rather poor showing from last year (one point from the three races), which he should easily do. “I like the track with its many extremely fast left-handers and only a few slow right-hand turns. The fast passages are really challenging, but I feel confident,” said Drugovich, who is in third place overall.
Drivers face free practice and qualifying on Friday with one race on Saturday and two races on Sunday.
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