It looked like rain but the weather played along at Lausitzring. The young talents contesting the ATS Formula 3 Cup battled for victory in the reversed-grid race in the support programme of the ADAC GT Masters in temperatures of almost 20 degrees Celsius. Malaysian Weiron Tan started from the pole position but Markus Pommer from Team Lotus succeeded in the end, followed by his team-mate Indy Dontje. Sam MacLeod from Van Amersfoort Racing grabbed the third place.
Columbian Andrés Méndez (Lotus) had a good start, moving from second place into first. Pole-sitter Weiron Tan from Malaysia (Van Amersfoort Racing) took it back immediately. The 19-year old finished this morning’s race with a good pace despite a punctured tyre. Markus Pommer (Lotus) passed the F1 Caterham protégé on the start-finish straight going into the second lap. Tan dropped down the order, when Dutchman Indy Dontje (Lotus) grabbed and defended the second position. Méndez caused a spin due to excess speed and rejoined the race at the very back as a result.
The order of the grid: Pommer, Dontje and Briton Sam MacLeod (Van Amersfoort Racing) were the spearhead at the top. In pursuit were Dane Nicolai Sylvest (JBR Motorsport & Engineering), Nikita Zlobin from Moscow (SMP Racing by ADM Motorsport), Tan and Nabil Jeffri from Kuala Lumpur (Motopark / all in Dallara F311 Volkswagen). Maximilian Hackl (Amkon Motorsport / Dallara F311 OPC) defended his place against the race driver from Bogotá. Jeffri gained another place shortly before the end of the race, but subsequently received a 30-second time penalty. As a result, he finished the reversed-grid race in second to last place.
Finishing first, Markus Pommer scored further championship points. Indy Dontje took two second places in two races in one day. Grabbing third, Sam MacLeod also scored another podium finish.
The last race of this racing weekend will take place tomorrow at 1.35 p.m. Pommer, MacLeod, Zlobin will be start into that race from the front.
Markus Pommer: “I am back! I had a bad start in the first race and crashed. However, we basically had some technical issues. Now, I was able to show my speed again. When I was two or three seconds ahead, I just tried to clock the fastest lap. Then I tried to preserve the tyres a little.”
Indy Dontje: “This was really good again. I have not finished outside the podium this season and that is a good feeling. I had a solid race and could follow Marcus, but he is experienced. The team gave me a great car and I want to say thank you.”
Sam MacLeod: “I did not have the best first lap and lost quite a few positions and then just came back through. I caught up to Indy, so I am on the podium. Place 3 is pretty good.”