Luke confirms ADAC Formula 4 move for 2021
Reigning British F4 champion Luke Browning is to move up to the international stage for the 2021 season after confirming a move into the German ADAC Formula 4 series.
The talented 19-year-old from Kingsley in Cheshire secured the British F4 crown in dramatic fashion during the 2020 season finale at Brands Hatch back in November after hard-fought season on track that included seven wins and a total of 16 podiums from 26 starts.
It marked the first championship win of his career for Luke, who had previously been a race winner in both the Junior Saloon Car Championship, and the Ginetta Junior Championship.
A driver in demand on the back of his success on track last year, Luke has spent the winter months carefully evaluating his options for the year ahead and has now put pen to paper on a deal to move into German F4 with the US Racing team, headed by former F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher and ex-Mercedes DTM boss Gerhard Ungar.
US Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of ADAC Formula 4 and won the inaugural title with Marvin Dienst under its previous name of HTP Junior Team back in 2015.
Rebranded as US Racing for 2016 after Schumacher came onboard, the team went on to secure the championship crown again in 2018 with Lirim Zendeli, and then defended it the following year with Théo Pourchaire.
Both drivers would use their title success as a springboard to move onto the Formula 1 package in FIA Formula 3, and are spending the current season in FIA Formula 2.
Luke is the latest in a long line of British F4 racers – including current McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris – to make the move into the German series, and will get his championship campaign underway at Red Bull Ring in June.
The seven-event season, comprising a total of 21 races, will also visit Oschersleben, Zandvoort, the Nürburgring, Hockenheim and the Sachsenring before returning to Hockenheim in October for the final event of the campaign.
Alongside a full season in Germany, Luke will also contest selected rounds of the Italian F4 series, with further details to be confirmed in due course.
Luke Browning, US Racing ADAC Formula 4 driver, said:
“I am so happy to finally announce that I will be driving for US Racing in ADAC Formula 4. I love working with the team, as have already done some tests together. I now feel well prepared for the upcoming season opener at Red Bull Ring.”
Ralf Schumacher, US Racing co-owner, said:
“Luke is a structured and focused race driver with great potential. I’m very much looking forward to working with Luke in ADAC Formula 4.”
Gerhard Ungar, US Racing co-owner, said:
“We watched Luke already in last years British F4 Championship, where he did a really good job. What Luke showed so far in the car was really good and impressed me. I’m sure we will have some exciting races with Luke coming up.”