DE
EN
At the third race weekend of the ADAC Formula 4 in the Belgian Spa / Franchorchamps (from the 19th to the 21st of June) the "Neuhauser Racing" team from Zillertal in Austria had to be content with their also-ran placing. However, Tim Zimmermann from Langenargen and Kim Luis Schramm from Wümbach showed spirit and in the last race of the weekend collected points for the overall evaluation.
FIA President Jean Todt selected Tim Zimmermann's official vehicle on his visit to Spa / Franchorchamps (from the 19th to the 21th of June). He smiled into the lens whilst sitting on car number 2 in the group photo with all of the ADAC Formula 4 drivers. But this coincidence didn't bring luck to Zimmermann or his team colleague Kim Luis Schramm. The team, owned by Hanne Neuhauser, was awarded points on only two occasions, not enough to mount the podium. "The weekend was of course a setback after the success in the Red Bull Ring“, said team boss Hanne Neuhauser. "Kim Luis and Tim simply had a lot of bad luck.“
The drama began as early as the Qualifying stage. Schramm was held back by the rain and finished in the middle of the field. Zimmermann also got caught in the rain after good times in his Qualifying group and unfortunately collided with a competitor. He had to leave his car and watch the competition, powerless to stop them coming in with best lap times on the now dry asphalt. Finally he was able to begin the first race in 34th place, and in the second race in 38th place. "That's motor sport“, said a contrite Hannes Neuhauser. "The fact that we are faster than the results show is an obvious fact.“
Tim Zimmermann took this to heart in his first race and overtook more than ten drivers on the first lap, coming in in 13th place. Kim Luis Schramm, who comes from Wümbach, also struggled and came in in 14th place. "Even if we didn't get any points, this was a very good performance“, said Neuhauser, praising his drivers. "Even if we really should have been placed in tenth, which would have been theoretically possible".
The second race provided a similar story. Schramm und Zimmermann ploughed through the field and made good ground. This time, however, Zimmermann, who comes from Langenargen, spun off the track in the rain, managing to return to the race shortly afterwards. Kim Luis Schramm also had problems and did not achieve better than 18th place. Both drivers were on zero points after two races. But this was destined to change in the final race.
Zimmermann was, at the start, directly in front of Schramm and was forced out wide on the first curve. His team colleague used his chance and overtook him. With Zimmermann in tow, Schramm refuelled and made his way through the field, and found himself in 3rd five minutes before the end. However, a bad accident on the track meant that the race had to be abandoned, and race officials evaluated the race with the result based on the last lap that the drivers had been able to complete. Schramm was awarded 5th place and missed out on his first podium placing due to this interpretation of the rules. Zimmermann was rated in 6th place. "This was a pity really, Kimmi really had earned a champagne shower after this great performance“, said an angry Hannes Neuhauser. "It just seemed to fit in with then bad luck we had all weekend.“
"Neuhauser Racing" will hope for a little more luck in two weeks in the 4th ADAC Formula 4 race weekend (from the 3rd to the 5th of July) at the Lausitzring.