Catch the racing stars of tomorrow, thanks to BMW's sponsorship of ADAC events.

The BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup and the BMW Formula ADAC Championship racing series give 16 to 18 year-olds the opportunity to race Formula cars powered by BMW motorcycle engines. 

The ADAC series supports talented young drivers. These events have already paved the way for successful drivers like BMW-Williams F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Ralf's car racing career began in 1992 when he made his debut in BMW Formula Junior.

Formula 1 and Formula Junior racers

Ralf Schumacher has fond memories of his apprenticeship in the championship, in which he finished second in 1993. "I competed in my first Formula Junior race three days before my 17th birthday. Then I hadn't even considered making a career of motor racing. It's not really my thing to pressure myself into making plans for the future.

"Formula Junior did the job of preparing me for F3 perfectly. The car is basically a smaller version of an F3 racer. The cars use slick tires and have adjustable front and rear wings so you get the essential working methods you need for F3 and later F1." 

The view from the cockpit

The BMW Formula ADAC Masters series and the BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup provide talented young drivers the chance to prove their skills. 

The series has become established as the leading starter formula in Europe, introducing new driving talent to the sport for the last nine years. 

The formula hosts two classes - the BMW Formula Junior Cup for beginners aged 16-18, and the BMW Formula ADAC Championship for more advanced drivers. The cars for both are miniature carbon-fiber single-seaters powered by BMW motorcycle engines; 1-liter for the Cup cars, and 1.1-liter for the ADAC versions. 

BMW's involvement with ADAC forms the basis of an all-encompassing junior driver training program. 

Aspiring drivers attend the BMW ADAC Formula School where chief instructor Marc Surer - a BMW F1 driver of the 1980s - oversees the learning process of the pupils. 

As well as learning what to do inside the cars, the pupils also receive valuable advice on fitness, psychological preparation, publicity work and sponsor support. Once this has been completed, the young drivers are eligible for the Junior Cup competition. 

"Our program is geared towards closing the gap between kart racing and the first professional formula entries," says Gerhard Berger. "During this phase parental encouragement is no longer sufficient, neither in terms of financial backing nor professional training. In our school the juniors can let their talent develop and equip themselves for their future careers." 

For Grand Prix champions of the future, this program - the only one of its kind in Europe - is the perfect first step on a career at become a championship racing driver ... perhaps another Ralf Schumacher!

More Racing Action:

Motophoto (Germany) has pictures of the BMW Formel ADAC Championchip Junior Cup in September 1999 in Oschersleben. 

German teenage racing sensation Andre Lotterer is a former BMW Formula ADAC champion. Click here for a fan page. The young German made the move to cars in 1998, winning the BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup with 14 wins from 20 races. This won him a berth with the BMW Formula Rookie Team for the Formula ADAC Championship and with the RC Benetton junior team in the Formula Renault Eurocup. Lotterer dominated BMW Formula ADAC, winning 15 of 18 races, and took a race win in the Formula Renault Eurocup at Salzburg.

Complete BMW-Williams F1 article on Ralf's participation in ADAC events.

Speedvision article on BMW racing and the ADAC series.