PREMA Racing wins 2022 ADAC Formula 4 titles
PREMA Racing signed off the German Formula 4 Championship in spectacular fashion this weekend at Nürburgring. The Italian squad claimed the 2022 Driver Championship with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Team Championship, and the Rookie Championship with Rafael Camâra. The 16-year-old Italian didn’t have an easy qualifying on Friday but still stayed at the front before rebounding with two wins on Saturday to mathematically clinch the title.
After a full podium lockout with Camâra and James Wharton in Race 1, P3 by American Ugu Ugochukwu in Race 2 enabled PREMA to clinch the Team Championship, while a slight mistake for Camâra forced him to fight for the Rookie honors on Sunday’s Race 3.
The Brazilian, who had secured two poles for Race 1 and 2, maximised his pace from P10 and calmly fought back to the third place to finally seal the deal despite missing two full race weekends out of six. He ended up right behind Ugochukwu, who delivered a brilliant progression throughout the whole weekend, while Wharton ended up fourth, and Antonelli had to settle for P6.
After completing a clean sweep in Germany, PREMA Racing will now be fighting for the same achievements in next weekend’s Italian Formula 4 Championship finale at Mugello.
#12 ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI
“It was amazing to win the 2022 championship in such a successful weekend and I’m incredibly delighted. Honestly, it wasn’t easy in qualifying because I probably had too many expectations, but then for the race, everything went right. I’m so happy. I want to thank the team and everyone who supports me, my sponsors, and my family. For sure I will be celebrating, but I’m already thinking to the next weekend and the final race of the Italian championship.”
Qualifying 1: P2
Qualifying 2: P3
Starting Grid Race 1: P2
Starting Grid Race 2: P3
Starting Grid Race 3: P8
Fastest lap: 2:17.537
Fastest lap: 2:16.673
Race 1: P1
Race 2: P1
Race 3: P6
#13 JAMES WHARTON
“The ADAC championship is finished and the last round In Nürburgring was bittersweet. We got the Race 1 podium, then a mistake from my side in Race 2 cost us a podium. In Race 3, after losing half the front wing, we still managed to finish P4, a strong end to the season. Now onto Mugello!”
Qualifying 1: P3
Qualifying 2: P5
Starting Grid Race 1: P3
Starting Grid Race 2: P5
Starting Grid Race 3: P4
Fastest lap: 2:17.689
Fastest lap: 2:17.171
Race 1: P3
Race 2: P5
Race 3: P4
#16 UGO UGOCHUKWU
“Overall it was a solid weekend at Nürburgring as we improved throughout the races. I managed to achieve two podiums, finishing P3 in Race 2 and P2 in Race 3 in tricky conditions all weekend.”
Qualifying 1: P5
Qualifying 2: P2
Starting Grid Race 1: P8
Starting Grid Race 2: P2
Starting Grid Race 3: P6
Fastest lap: 2:18.242
Fastest lap: 2:16.619
Race 1: P5
Race 2: P3
Race 3: P2
#88 RAFAEL CAMARA
“It was an up-and-down weekend, the pole position shows that I was really fast, but it was a shame for the mistake I made in the second race. I’m still happy that we managed to get the points to win the rookie championship and make it to the top 3 overall. Congrats to all members of Prema who got a well-deserved Team Championship.”
Qualifying 1: P1
Qualifying 2: P1
Starting Grid Race 1: P1
Starting Grid Race 2: P1
Starting Grid Race 3: P10
Fastest lap: 2:17.054
Fastest lap: 2:16.019
Race 1: P2
Race 2: P10
Race 3: P3
Source | Photo: PREMA Racing