ATS Formel 3 Cup – Kirchhöfer sets fastest times again

The ATS Formula 3 Cup season opener at the end of April took place in Oschersleben, and today 14 drives from nine countries came back to the Magdeburger Börde region to contest in the support programme of the DTM for the second time this season. The first session at the 3.696-km track kicked off in cool temperatures of 16°C and occasional drizzle . Championship leader Marvin Kirchhöfer put in a fantastic performance in today’s qualifying, scoring a double pole. Freddy Killensberger was fastest in the Trophy ranking.

The qualifying session was declared a “wet practice”. And it started to rain in the second lap. Marvin Kirchhöfer (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), who heads the standings, had set the fastest time until then. Unlike his competitors, American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) continued his session in the rain, setting the second fastest time. Since the track dried quickly, the drivers set even faster times in the second part. In the end, the driver from Leipzig scored a double pole position (1:20.233 min.). His competitor from California will be right beside him on the starting grid of the first race. He set a fastest time of 1:20.604 min. Only a bit slower and therefore in third place at the start will be Swede John Bryant-Meisner (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) with 1:20.604 min.

Killensberger gains ground
Second in the Trophy ranking, Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) had it easy. His biggest competitor, team-mate Sebastian Balthasar (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes), who heads the Trophy ranking, did not manage to repair his car after damaging it in the free practice session. As a result, the Bavarian grabbed the pole position (1:25.262 min.) with Italian Luca Iannaccone (Rennsport Rössler / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) following behind. Andreas Germann from Pirmasens (CR Racing Team / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) scored the third fastest time in the Trophy ranking.

Marvin Kirchhöfer: “I had a good lap at the start. Then the rain changed everything. I made a mistake and had my first burnout in the Formula 3, otherwise I would have gone into the gravel. After the yellow phase I pushed as hard as possible. I wanted the double pole!”
Gustavo Menezes: “It was a little difficult. It was wet. Therefore we were not able to improve our performance. Still, we managed to bring out the best in the last two laps. The car was great. We worked really hard.”
John Bryant-Meisner: “We waited a moment at the start and then it started to rain. But the track was slower at the start anyway. There was a lot of traffic and then the yellow flags. And I set the second fastest time. Gustavo was faster in the end, but I am pleased.”
Freddy Killensberger: “Everything worked out well at the start. My time was great. But we went back on the track after the rain, in order to try something. And everything went well.”