ATS Formel 3 Cup – Start/finish victory for Emil Bernstorff

Lots of off-track moments in the middle of the field, a well-ordered top group and excitement in the Trophy. That is how the first race of the weekend at Nürburgring could be summarised. 17 drivers from ten countries battled for essential points at the 3.618-km track in 21 degree weather and sunshine. Starting from the pole position, Briton Emil Bernstorff secured the victory in the Cup ranking. Swiss Thomas Amweg grabbed the win of the Trophy ranking in the final lap.

Three Lotus, two Performance Racing vehicles – that was the starting grid for today’s first race; or more precisely: Briton Emil Bernstorff, Marvin Kirchhöfer from Leipzig, Russian Artem Markelov (all Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), Swede John Bryant-Meisner and Thomas Jäger from Vienna (both Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine). American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) changed things considerably by working his way up from the sixth start position and passing the Performance Racing team from Silverstone. The Lotus drivers secured all of the podium places. Bernstorff took the victory, Kirchhöfer placed second and Markelov third.

Scoring the fastest lap in the first race (1.20.987min), championship leader Marvin Kirchhöfer beat the previous record of French driver Tom Dillmann (Dallara F305 Volkswagen) from the year 2010.

Heart-stopping finish in the Trophy ranking
Sebastian Balthasar (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) scored the pole position in the qualifying despite his summer flu. Therefore his sole goal was to defend the place and perhaps pass a few Cup drivers. He succeeded in his plan regarding the Cup drivers. However, shortly before the end of the race, Swiss Thomas Amweg (CR Racing Team / Dallara F307 Mercedes) grabbed the victory. Both scored additional points based on the fact that they finished among the top10. Amweg finished eighth and will start into the second race from the pole position. Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU-Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) took the third place on the podium.

Emil Bernstorff: “It went very well! Marvin got really close at the end. But I had one push-to-pass more left and my tyres had pretty much deteriorated until the final three laps. It was hard but worked out well for me.”
Marvin Kirchhöfer: “It was a little annoying. I thought maybe it would be enough but I did not have a chance. In the end I scored points. It is a good result.”
Artem Markelov: “There was a big gap ahead of me behind Marvin and I tried for a long time to close it. But somehow, it did not work out. I am still pleased with the result, since I scored a place on the podium.”
Thomas Amweg: “Three laps before the end of the race I was aware that my car went better than that of the driver in front of me. I had to be tactical and clever. Then I found the better line, got closer and passed. What a tough battle.”