He is the champion 2009 of the ADAC Formula Masters.
With a second place and victory in the decisive race the 16-year old driver from
Kempten clinched the ADAC Formula Masters title at the penultimate round of the
season and, in doing so, celebrated the greatest success of his still young
career. With a 49 point lead the youngster holds an unassailable lead before the
final race weekend. It was the eighth victory that allowed Daniel Abt to
celebrate the greatest success of his career to date: 2009 ADAC Formula Masters
Champion. And as befits a genuine champion he presented the spectators lining
the Sachsenring with an exciting fight among his rivals on the way to the title,
and proved his class in the process.
"I’m overjoyed,” said a jubilant
Daniel Abt after spraying the champagne on the Sachsenring podium. Initially,
however, it appeared to be anything but a walkover for the championship leader
who could only qualify second and third on the grid. Nonetheless with second
place in Saturday’s race he created the perfect basis for the showdown on Sunday
afternoon.
"It was a turbulent race which didn’t look
that good to start,” reports Daniel Abt. The championship lead was only in third
place. "Things started to get closer and closer at the front and I had a
fantastic three-way fight with Kevin Friesacher and Richie Stanaway. It was
really incredibly close, but I was able to squeeze past.” Victory means that
Daniel Abt now has 219 points to his credit and therefore 49 points more than
his closest rival Klaus Bachler from Austria. As there are only 46 points to be
awarded at the finale at Oschersleben (16th
to 18th October) the
youngster from the Allgäu also holds a mathematical unassailable lead.
Abt’s team mate Rene Binder finished fourth and ninth at the
Sachsenring. The Austrian once again making his valuable contribution to the
team’s success, which is also now official: ABT Sportsline is winner of the Team
Championship before the finale.
"It goes without saying that there will
be a proper championship party this evening,” announces the
youngest member of the successful motorsport family. There are enough reasons:
It is the first time for exactly a decade that the name Abt goes down in German
motorsport championship history. Then it was uncle Christian Abt after winning
the STW Championship. The 2009 ADAC GT Masters Championship title could be the
next. "I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Christian so that we have even more to
celebrate this year,” says Daniel Abt. Although several motorsport aficionados
get shivers down their spines at the thought of a joint championship party
involving two Abt family members.
