The ATS Formula 3 Cup champion was already determined after today’s first race. The reversed-grid race was about scoring valuable points in the battle for the vice-championship title. There were quite a few dark clouds above the 3.696-km track in Oschersleben. However, it stayed dry with temperatures of 18°C during the race, which saw 14 drivers from eight countries contesting the ATS Formula 3 Cup. Emil Bernstorff won the Cup ranking. Sebastian Balthasar secured the victory in the Trophy ranking.
The Pole sitter, Italian Matteo Cairoli (ADM Motorsport / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), had a very good start and was then put under pressure from Briton Emil Bernstorff (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine). Malay Nabil Jeffri (Eurointernational / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) behind him defended his place, followed by American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) who had Champion Marvin Kirchhöfer (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) on his tail. The driver from Leipzig passed the Californian and then attacked the young talent from Kuala Lumpur. Cairoli had no push-to-pass uses left five minutes before the end. Consequently, he lost his lead to Bernstorff on the start-finish straight. Kirchhöfer followed suit. Bernstorff finished first, Kirchhöfer second and Cairoli third.
It was not Artem Markelov’s day (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine). The vice-championship title contender went off and stranded in the gravel in both races, which resulted in his early retirement. It was particularly bitter for the driver from Moscow, who secured a double victory at the last racing weekend and celebrated his 19th birthday this week. Perhaps, Oschersleben will not be Markelov’s favourite track any more in the future.
First podium for Germann
After losing a few places at the start, Sebastian Balthasar from Cologne (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) remained in the lead of the Trophy ranking and was able to defend it until the end of the race. Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU-Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) drove across the finish line in second place. Andreas Germann from Pirmasens (CR Racing Team / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) finished second, scoring his first podium place in the ATS Formula 3 Cup.
Emil Bernstorff: “I had a really good start and positioned myself behind Cairoli. Therefore, I saved my push-to-pass uses for later on. And then he had no push-to-pass uses left.”
Marvin Kirchhöfer: “I passed a few competitors, but then I did not get a chance any more to close the gap to Emil. I am very pleased for him after his bad luck at the previous racing weekend.”
Matteo Cairoli: “I’m very happy with the race. I was able to defend my place almost until the end. Only then, Emil Bernstorff passed me. I am third and I am really happy. I have to thank my team and my father.”
Sebastian Balthasar: “The start was quite good. I found my rhythm again and drove consistently until I grabbed the victory.”