Seven race weekends in the context of the ADAC GT Masters. ADAC High-Speed Academy to make its debut in the Netherlands.

It's full speed ahead for a second season. After a successful debut year, ADAC Formula 4 is getting set for 2016. The talented youngsters of the ADAC High-Speed Academy will be competing next year seven times in the framework of the ADAC GT Masters, including what must surely count as the highlight of the year when they share the same venue as both the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM. An eighth event on a German circuit is planned.

All five permanent race tracks in Germany - etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Sachsenring, Lausitzring, Nürburgring and Hockenheimring - feature on the calendar, as well as the Red Bull Ring in Austria, plus for the first time the Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Fans are in for a special treat on the weekend of 3rd - 5th June at the Lausitzring where ADAC Formula 4 links up with the ADAC GT Masters and the DTM to stage a mega racing fest. In its debut season of 2015 too, ADAC Formula 4 made a guest appearance alongside the world's most popular international touring car series.

ADAC Formula 4 gets its second season underway on the weekend of 15th - 17th April at the etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. In addition to the season opener, the ADAC Formula 4 drivers will be competing at four more racetracks in Germany: the Sachsenring (29th April - 1st May), the Lausitzring (3rd - 5th June), the Nürburgring (5th - 7th August) and at the season finale in Hockenheim (30th September - 2nd October). The junior series will be making two foreign excursions in 2016, to the Red Bull Ring Formula 1 circuit in Austria (22nd - 24th July ) and, for the first time, Zandvoort in the Netherlands (19th - 21st August).

"The debut year for the ADAC Formula 4 was a great success, and we have managed to put together another attractive package for 2016," says ADAC Sport President Hermann Tomczyk. "In 2015, ADAC Formula 4 reached a very high level and underwent a great sporting development. I am convinced that we can continue in this direction."

ADAC Director of Motorsport and Classic Motoring, Lars Soutschka adds: "After the huge success of ADAC Formula 4 in its debut season, we are very confident that we will be again offering the ideal platform for entry into professional motorsport in 2016. The environment of the ADAC GT Masters and DTM could not be more attractive for our talented newcomers."

The ADAC Formula 4 will again rely on the services of tried and trusted partners for the 2016 season with Formula 4 racing cars with chassis from Italian manufacturer Tatuus and Abarth turbocharged engines. Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli, who are well-known from Formula 1, and Motec will supply the ADAC Formula 4. Eibach spring and suspension manufacturers and DEKRA, one of the world's leading expert organisations, are also partners to the series. Auto Zeitung will continue as official media partners. TV partner SPORT1 has secured the live TV rights to the ADAC Formula 4 up to and including 2017 well ahead of the deadline and will broadcast the races live on free-to-air TV as well as online and on mobile devices.

The ADAC formula racing youth development programme has long been the starting point for future motor racing stars. In the past, Formula 1 drivers such as four-time world champion and ADAC Formula 4 patron Sebastian Vettel, world championship runner-up Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg and Ralf Schumacher, plus DTM stars such as Pascal Wehrlein, Martin Tomczyk and Timo Glock all started their successful careers in various ADAC formula racing series for juniors.

ADAC Formula 4: Provisional race calendar for 2016*

15/04/16 - 17/04/16 etropolis Motorsport Arena Oschersleben

29/04/16 - 01/05/16 Sachsenring

03/06/16 - 05/06/16 Lausitzring

22/07/16 - 24/07/16 Red Bull Ring (Austria)

05/08/16 - 07/08/16 Nürburgring

19/08/16 - 21/08/16 Circuit Park Zandvoort (Netherlands)

30/09/16 - 02/10/16 Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg

* one more event planned