Alessio Picariello extends lead in overall standings ADAC Sports Foundation proteges Jason Kremer and Maximilian Gunther finish on podium Picariello: "I intend to win the title."

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most demanding motor racing circuits in the world and always presents a great challenge to drivers. In addition, the junior Formel ADAC drivers were confronted with a wet track for this first race of the weekend. Alessio Picariello (19, Belgium, Mucke Motorsport) dealt best with the tricky conditions and drove to a convincing victory. "I'm absolutely delighted about this win on my home track. The race went perfectly", said the local driver after his third success of the season. Due to the wet track conditions, the race was started behind the safety car. Shortly after the safety car pulled in, Picariello powered past pole-sitter Jason Kremer (18, Germany, Schiller Motorsport) in La Source and quickly drew away from the rest of the pack, driving to a comfortable win in front of his home crowd. Spectacular three-way-battle for podium The Belgian Mucke Motorsport driver crossed the finish line 18 seconds up on Kremer. In the second half of the race, Kremer, an ADAC Sports Foundation protg had been involved in an exciting three-way scrap with Nicolas Beer (17, Denmark, Neuhauser Racing) and Maximilian Gunther (15, Germany, Mcke Motorsport), but clung on to his second place at the finish. Gnther in third position took the final podium place. The ADAC Sports Foundation protg earned his podium place after a tough head-to-head battle with Neuhauser Racing driver Beer that continued right into the final turn. The Formel ADAC youngsters also provided exciting motor racing behind the top four with Hendrik Grapp (19, Germany, Mucke Motorsport) gaining six positions during the course of nine laps to finish fifth. After hard but fair head-to-head scraps that lasted many laps, the Mucke driver won through against the two series newcomers, Ralph Boschung (15, Switzerland, KUG Motorsport) and Fabian Schiller (15, Germany, Schiller Motorsport). Indy Dontje (20, Netherlands, Lotus) worked his way up the field from tenth position on the grid to finish in P8. Mikkel Jensen (18, Denmark, Lotus) and Stefan Riener (17, Austria, Neuhauser Racing) were the last to finish in the points behind the Dutchman. The two rookies benefited from a collision on the penultimate lap between Callan O'Keeffe (16, South Africa, Lotus) and Florian Herzog (19, Germany, KUG Motorsport), who had been in positions nine and ten respectively up until that point. Herzog was subsequently forced to retire from the race. Beitske Visser (18, Netherlands, Lotus) and Stphane Kox (19, Netherlands, KUG Motorsport) also failed to take the chequered flag in the first of three races to be held this weekend. The two young ladies collided with each other on Lap 1. Picariello maintains his lead After the first of this weekend's three races, Picariello continues to lead in the overall standings. The local driver is on top with 82 points after the fourth race out of this year's twenty four races in total. Beer (49 points) and Gnther (46 points) are in second and third position. Comments from the Top Three drivers Alessio Picariello (19, BEL, Mucke Motorsport), Winner: "I'm absolutely delighted about this win on my home track. The race went perfectly. The car felt really good and was fast throughout. But on the last few laps, I eased off slightly. To be honest, I was surprised by the extent of my lead, but it's true that we tend to be quite fast in the rain. We need to find a few more improvements in time for Sunday, because I would like to win these races as well. I've established a clear lead in the championship, but I won't be resting on my laurels. I intend to win the title by a huge margin, and I'll be going all out to achieve that." Jason Kremer (18, Bonn, Schiller Motorsport), Second: "I'm satisfied with second on the podium because the conditions were very difficult today. At the start of the race, I wasn't very happy about the rain, because I had been so much faster in the dry. At first, it looked as if I had second place in the bag, but without someone in front to slipstream behind, the pursuing pack kept getting closer on the straights. Anyway, I'm pleased that I managed to hold on to second. They're forecasting dry conditions for Sunday, so that's bound to reshuffle the pack." Maximilian Gunther (15, Rettenberg, Mucke Motorsport), Third: "P3 is a super result for me. Obviously, the conditions weren't ideal, but after the first lap, I was posting respectable lap times and in hot pursuit of Jason Kremer. From the midway point in the race, Nicolas Beer was piling on the pressure and getting closer and closer. When he finally got into my slipstream, he attacked and passed me several times. But on the last lap, I pulled off the decisive passing manoeuvre just after Eau Rouge and came out ahead. The scrap with Nicolas was tremendous fun, and luckily, I had the better of it. I'm very happy about that."