The first race of the ATS Formula 3 Cup within the support programme of the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race took place under sunny skies this evening, after the weekend had started off under mixed weather conditions. Many of the 21 drivers did not really have a chance for practice at the 4.638-km Grand Prix track of the Nürburgring. Starting from the pole position, British driver Emil Bernstorff managed to defend his lead until the end. Hubertus-Carlos Vier from Inching won the Trophy ranking.
Briton Emil Bernstorff, Artem Markelov from Moscow (both Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) and Thomas Jäger from Vienna (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) were at the top of the grid. And that did not change for quite a long time. Starting into the race from the fourth place, the leader of the overall standings, Marvin Kirchhöfer (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), put pressure on the Austrian. Initially it seemed that the team of the driver from Leipzig had not been able to fix the technical issues from the qualifying. However, the 19-year old was gradually carving his way through the field. The rookie overtook the 18-year old Russian shortly before driving across the finish line in second place behind Bernstorff. Just like at the previous race in Spa, the Lotus team took all of the places on the podium again.
Suspense in the Trophy ranking
Local favourite, Sebastian Balthasar from Cologne (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) was in the lead of the Trophy drivers for a long time, putting pressure on the Cup drivers. Behind him followed Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU-Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) and Hubertus-Carlos Vier from Inching (ADAC Team Nordbayern / Dallara F307 Mercedes). After overtaking the field in the final laps, the 18-year old emerged in the lead of the Trophy. Killensberger grabbed the second place, Balthasar the third.
Emil Bernstorff: “It was a good race, I had a bit of a gap early on and I saw I was quicker than Artem and could save a bit for later. Marvin then was gaining a little bit on me. But in the end it all worked out.”
Marvin Kirchhöfer: “Even though I did not win, it was definitely one of my greatest races. I gambled a little at first and a third place would have been alright. However, when I realised that I had closed the gap to my team-mate, of course I had the ambition to overtake him.”
Artem Markelov: “I had a problem with the tyres. I just pushed too much and the tyres were done. Marvin overtook me. But I am not sad. I scored my points, that was my goal. I want to thank my team for this great event here.”
Hubertus-Carlos Vier: “At first, I observed how the drivers in front of me handled the Cup cars. I kept my cool. It was a challenge but I managed to overtake them!”