The test sessions are currently under way and the driver merry-go-round revs up. The teams will not say much yet. However, the first drivers for the ATS Formula 3 Cup are getting ready to race, including Nicolai Sylvest and Hubertus-Carlos Vier. They will contest the series again in 2014, in order to complete the general qualification for motorsports. Meanwhile, the competitors from 2013 are taking the next step, completing test sessions for higher series. Performance Racing driver John Bryant-Meisner, who finished the 2013 season fifth in the overall standings, contested the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at two racing weekends since the end of the season. And successfully so! The Swede finished one race among the top ten. The European Championship is also a definite option for American Gustavo Menezes, who completed a few initial tests for this series in perfect weather conditions with his team, Van Amersfoort Racing, at the Red Bull Ring last week. “It really looks like Gustavo will take the leap and switch to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship with us. That was our plan right from the start,” says the pleased Team Principal Frits Van Amersfoort. “The championship could prove to be a real challenge. However, with a good preparation during the winter it should be possible.” The fourth-placed in the overall standings also gained his first experiences in an open sports car at the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta. The Swedish Performance Racing team of Bobby Issazhade completed tests in Silverstone last week. ATS Formula 3 Cup Champion Marvin Kirchhöfer will face an important test this weekend. The driver from Leipzig will be at the wheel of a GP3 car during the Formula One event in Abu Dhabi.
Germany’s fastest single-seater series is a magnet
JBR Engineering & Motorsports will make their debut in the ATS Formula 3 Cup in 2014. The team from Kirchheim, Thuringia will enter two drivers, one of them Dane Nicolai Sylvest, who made quite an impression as a two-time guest driver in 2013. The Bavarian TTCmotorsport team of Reinhard Vier will contest the cup again with his son, Hubertus-Carlos Vier. “We want to start testing next week,” said Reinhard Vier. “And we hope that the mild weather will continue, so that we can save us the trip across the Alps.” The third-placed in the Trophy ranking will not only complete the general qualification for motorsports in 2014, but his secondary school leaving examination as well.
The 2013 Champion of the ATS Formula 3 Cup Trophy ranking also took part in the tests for Van Amersfoort Racing in Austria. Sebastian Balthasar was at the wheel of the car previously used by Gustavo Menezes. Marvin Dienst also made a very good impression. “Marvin drove a Formula 3 car for the very first time and it was amazing,” says a pleased Van Amersfoort. “He was just as fast as Sebastian.” The 16-year old from Worms won the 2012 BMW Talent Cup title, finished the 2013 ADAC Formula Masters fifth and took the second place in the third scoring period of the Deutsche Post Speed Academy, right behind Marvin Kirchhöfer.