Eleven drivers from nine countries travelled to Sachsenring to take part in the qualifying session of the penultimate racing weekend of the ATS Formula 3 Cup in hot and dry weather. Markus Pommer from Neckarsulm, who contests for Team Lotus, handled the 3.645-km track best and is well on his way to score the title early. Briton Sam MacLeod from Van Amersfoort Racing scored the second fastest time, followed by Malaysian Nabil Jeffri from Team Motopark. Pommer will have the opportunity to already clinch the title in the first race of tomorrow.
It was a familiar scene. It does not matter if it is a race or a qualifying session, the leader of the championship, Markus Pommer from Neckarsulm (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen), breaks away and does not give anyone a chance to attack for first place. In today’s qualifying session, the 23-year old did not only try to claim the pole position but an early championship title as well. He could already secure the win of the championship in the first race.
Malaysian Weiron Tan (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen) initially followed and set a time which was very good for him. However, after he went off track without serious consequences he did not continue to set faster times. His compatriot Nabil Jeffri (Motopark / Dallara F311 Volkswagen), Briton Sam MacLeod (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen) and guest driver Pipo Derani (ADM Motorsport / Dallara F311 Volkswagen), who is thoroughly testing the vehicle for the Italian team, were in pursuit. The Brasilian put in a good performance and was only defeated by Dutchman Indy Dontje (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen).
In the end, Markus Pommer took the pole position, having scored a time of 1:13.772 min. He will share the first row for race one with Sam MacLeod. Nabil Jeffri followed in third. MacLeod will have a clear view in race 3, with Pommer alongside him. Jeffri will be third again.
Live timing and live streams will be available for race 1 on Saturday at 1.35 p.m., race 2 at 5.40 and race 3 on Sunday at 3.05 on www.formel3.de. Visitors to the track will also have a chance to meet the drivers at the ADAC Hospitality at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday.
Markus Pommer: “I did not have a clear lap, which is frustrating. I had to go through the grass to avoid crashing. That should have gone better. I think tomorrow should work out fine if everything goes well at the start.”
Sam MacLeod: “It is a shame that we were not the quickest. Still, it was a solid race. We were the quickest in sectors two and three and we will have to analyse why were weren’t in sector 1. We lost tenths of seconds there on Markus.”
Nabil Jeffri: “I am not entirely happy because the gap to Markus is too big. We will have to check the set-up because I can be as fast as him. We will see tomorrow.”