(CNN) -- Germany has only produced two Formula One champions, but they are two of the greatest drivers the sport has ever known -- and they can thank one man for spotting their nascent talent. Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have won 11 world titles between them, winning renown across the globe for their record-breaking feats. And the story of their success started in the small town of Kerpen, where Gerhard Noack is known as the man who finds champions at the local go-kart club. It was at this innocuous circuit, carved out of an old gravel pit, that Noack first spotted the potential of Germany's two giants of motorsport.
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Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel were both nurtured by the same man
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They were guided in their junior careers by Gerhard Noack in the town of Kerpen
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Noack was introduced to karting through his friendship with the Schumacher family
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He says four-time champion Vettel will eclipse Schumacher's record seven titles
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Schumacher
Schumacher
"That way I also met @placeholder, and I enjoyed it so much, us both being in motorsport, that I stuck with it."
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Schumacher
Schumacher
@placeholder grew up in Kerpen, where he graduated from a homemade kart at the age of four to become the benchmark for F1.
Formula One
Schumacher grew up in Kerpen, where he graduated from a homemade kart at the age of four to become the benchmark for @placeholder.
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel
Vettel
Some of the drivers had changed to rain tires, @placeholder continued to drive with slicks (dry weather tires).
Formula One
"He was very dominant compared to the others even without rain tires, and that impressed me so much that I said I want to give it another go and see if I can manage this young driver to get into @placeholder.
Gerhard Noack
Noack
Gerhard Noack
Noack
@placeholder decided to temporarily rent out his business to help guide Vettel's career or, in his own words, "smooth the way for him."
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel
Vettel
Noack decided to temporarily rent out his business to help guide @placeholder's career or, in his own words, "smooth the way for him."
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Schumacher
Schumacher
This year Vettel became one of just four men to win the F1 world title four times, and Noack predicts his former charge could one day surpass all @placeholder has achieved.
Kerpen
Kerpen
"I'm looking after young drivers in the go-kart area," explained Schumacher, who occasionally returns to @placeholder to drop in on his racing alma mater.
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel
Vettel
"Other than that he is, in my view at least, still the same @placeholder that he was when he was eight years old.