ADAC Formel Masters
Slovakia Ring, Race 2
In addition to having an impressive grid, the German entry-level series ADAC Formel Masters was a reliable source of entertainment in 2013, with plenty of closely contested races and numerous teams fighting at the front. And, despite the majority of its rounds being based on home soil, it was Slovakia Ring that produced the championship’s most memorable race.
Championship leader Alessio Picariello lined up on row one alongside poleman Nicolas Beer and was looking at a rather decent chance of securing the title right there and then, needing to not be outscored by teammate Maximilian Gunther.
Having consistently made the most out of front row starts throughout the year, Picariello got the better of the Dane, but did not inherit the lead ? as it was lightning starter Ralph Boschung who jumped into first into turn one.
The opening lap was appropriately chaotic and, while Picariello wound up surrendering second to Marvin Dienst, his title was no longer under threat ? as Gunther found himself tagged out in a mid-pack collision.
A lengthy safety car period followed, effectively boiling the race down to a fifteen-minute sprint. The real action, thus, began after the restart.
With Boschung, Dienst, Picariello and Jason Kremer emerging as the leading group after the green flag waved, the audience was treated to a relentless fight for first. It was Dienst who kicked things off with a bold move on Boschung but, as the duo compromised each other’s lines, the newly-crowned champion was there to overtake them both. However, Picariello could not create even a tiny gap and was dethroned by Dienst a lap later in a three-wide move into turn one.
The four shortly ran in very close formation as the Belgian wheel-to-wheel master was back into the lead yet again. Within the minute, the lead would change hands twice over before finally returning to the Neuhauser racer.
As Dienst finally started pulling away and eventually took the flag for his rookie victory, Picariello kept the fighting duo of Kremer and Boschung at bay to secure a very impressive second, crossing the line as the new champion. The rest of the pack, meanwhile, set the stage for for another show ? a multi-car fight for fifth, which saw Beitske Visser steal the spot from Beer with a dummy overtake on the final lap.
Valentin Khorounzhiy