ATS Formel 3 Cup – Balthasar is champion in the Trophy ranking

Many of the 70,500 spectators took the opportunity after the end of the DTM to watch the third ATS Formula 3 Cup race of the weekend in Oschersleben. 14 drivers from eight countries battled for crucial points shortly before the end of the season in 16 degree weather under a cloudy sky. The champion in the Cup ranking was already determined yesterday. And Marvin Kirchhöfer also won the race today. Sebastian Balthasar followed suit, winning the championship title in the Trophy ranking.

Marvin Kirchhöfer from Leipzig (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) was able to break away from the field right after the start. American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) stayed on the champion’s tail. Russian Artem Markelov (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) had to fight hard again and lost two places after the start. Swede John Bryant-Meisner (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) and Briton Emil Bernstorff (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) passed the race driver from Moscow. After he continued to extend the gap, the champion also won the third race of the weekend with a 13-second lead. Behind him, Menezes drove across the finish line second, with Bryant-Meisner following.

Sebastian Balthasar is champion in the Trophy ranking
The Trophy pole sitter Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU-Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) had difficulties in the warm-up lap, causing an aborted start. Taking the lead, championship leader Sebastian Balthasar from Cologne (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) defended his place against his team-mate until the end of the race. As a result, the 17-year old became the new 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup Trophy champion. Killensberger took the second place. Andreas Germann from Pirmasens (CR Racing Team / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) was back on the podium again, finishing third.

Marvin Kirchhöfer: “I had quite a good start and improved a lot compared to the event last year. I broke away from the field, controlled my pace and it worked out pretty well.”
Gustavo Menezes: “I think it was a little bit better than yesterday. We took some risks, which worked out well. Our pace was o.k. Unlike to the guys behind us we were lacking a little bit to Marvin. We worked harder and will hopefully get to the top soon.”
John Bryant-Meisner: “I had a good start and was really close to Gustavo. But to catch him was not possible, so I defended my position in all the traffic and tried to overtake him at the right place, but it didn’t happen. We had pretty much the right speed. The race was good.”
Sebastian Balthasar: “I am really happy, the season was great! Thank you to my team, GU-Racing. I especially liked that we demonstrated that I am very well able to keep up with the Cup cars. On some tracks we were pretty close despite the differences in power.”

2013 SONAX Rookie ranking
Marvin Kirchhöfer already won the 2013 SONAX Rookie championship title at Lausitzring at the last racing weekend. Now he extended his lead even further, with 458 points. Gustavo Menezes put in a good performance this weekend. He secured his second place, scoring 275 points. John Bryant-Meisner remains in third place, with 244 points.

ATS Formula 3 Cup team ranking
Lotus also celebrated their victory of the newly established team ranking at the last racing weekend, having scored 460 points until now. The vice champion is still to be determined. Performance Racing has a narrow 301 point lead over Van Amersfoort Racing with 298 points in third place.

Points scored in 24 races of the 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup (top 10):
1. Marvin Kirchhöfer / DEU 450
2. Artem Markelov / RUS 301
3. Emil Bernstorff / GBR 291
4. Gustavo Menezes / USA 207
5. John Bryant-Meisner / SWE 189
6. Thomas Jäger / AUT 117
7. Matteo Cairoli / ITA 104
8. Nabil Jeffri / MYS 71
9. Tomasz Krzeminski 61
10. Sebastian Balthasar / DEU 53

Off the track
It was the second chance this season for the young talents of the ATS Formula 3 Cup to get a taste of touring car action. The DTM is new in the racing calender for the Formula 3 Association. “We felt really welcomed,” says the Head of Organisation of the F3, Sebastian Wittrisch. “The DTM is a very good platform for presenting the ATS Formula 3 Cup in an international setting with thousands of spectators.” The ATS Formula 3 Cup vehicles were not the only Formula cars in Oschersleben. The Formula BMW Talent Cup was also part of the support programme. “The entire Formula 3 Association would like to congratulate Robin Hansson from Sweden for winning the championship,” says the First Chairman, Bertram Schäfer.
The racing season of the ATS Formula 3 Cup is fast heading to a close and everybody is looking ahead to 2014. Race drivers and teams are getting together for tests between the racing weekends, like John Bryant-Meisner, who tried out a Dallara F312 for Fortec Motorsport in Hockenheim and will contest the last two events of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Several drivers have proved that they successfully completed their general qualification for motorsports and that they are ready for the next step on their way to success.

By the way: a plan will be put into action. All races of the 2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup will take place in the support programme of the ADAC GT Masters!