ATS Formel 3 Cup – What is the latest on the champions?

He outdid his competitors in the 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup and completed the general qualification for motorsports with honours. Marvin Kirchhöfer won the German Formula 3 series in a commanding manner and is regarded as one of the most promising young talents. However, the rows behind him also saw future professionals who made fantastic progress in the last year contesting 27 races at seven different racetracks in Germany and Belgium. Sebastian Balthasar, the Trophy champion, has also achieved success. The winners of the championship and runner-up titles succeeded in taking their careers to higher motorsports series.

Pole position, debut victory and fastest race lap: Marvin Kirchhöfer achieved a phenomenal triple success in the fourth round of the 2014 GP3 Series in the support programme of the Formula 1 event at Hockenheimring. Having claimed his first podium finish at Silverstone just two weeks previously, the 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup champion took a dominant lights-to-flag victory in his home race on Saturday. “Winning my home race is very special. I’m overjoyed. I aimed for a podium finish this weekend. However, having scored the pole position, the victory and the fastest lap is just incredible. It is the ultimate achievement,” said a happy Kirchhöfer.

Sebastian Balthasar also displayed impressive form in the GP3 Series at Hockenheim. Despite a few problems, the 17-year old, who won the 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup Trophy ranking, clocked the fastest lap at one point in the race, impressing both fans and experts. “I had a lot of fun in the home race at Hockenheim. It was a very special experience. I definitely want more of that. I feel more and more comfortable with the car, which was clearly visible here,” says the young talent.

Stepping stone ATS Formula 3 Cup
Several more previous ATS Formula 3 Cup contestants are stirring things up in the GP3 Series. The 2012 champion, Swede Jimmy Eriksson, is in second place in the overall ranking, with Kirchhöfer following right behind him. The 2013 runner-up, Briton Emil Bernstoff, holds fourth place. Fifth is the 2011 ATS Formula 3 Cup champion, New Zealander Richie Stanaway. Four former ATS Formula 3 Cup contestants in the top 5 of the GP3 Series!

From 2013 on to 2014
Markus Pommer, the current leader of the overall ranking of the 2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup is also contesting the Auto GP World Series. However, he has had a bit of bad luck recently. Still, the driver from Neckarsulm, Germany currently holds a respectable fifth place in the overall ranking. And another fact underlines the good training within the ATS Formula 3 Cup: The current leader of the overall ranking is Kimiya Sato, who finished the 2012 ATS Formula 3 Cup third.