Nabil Jeffri is the runner up in the 2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup

Champion Markus Pommer from Team Lotus won the second ATS Formula 3 Cup race of the weekend in the support programme of the ADAC GT Masters. However, the real winner was Nabil Jeffri, since the Malaysian from Team Motopark took the runner-up title in the 2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup. A third place was enough for the Petronas protégé, who saw Dutchman Indy Dontje from Team Lotus cross the finish line in front of him. The reversed-grid race at the 4.574-km Hockenheimring was the penultimate race of the current ATS Formula 3 Cup season.

ATS Formula 3 Cup newbie Nicolaj Rogivue (Franz Wöss Racing / Dallara F311 OPC) started from pole position based on the fact that Dane Nicolai Sylvest (JBR Motorsport & Engineering / Dallara F311 Volkswagen) was disqualified in race 1 due to a technical infringement. The Swiss made a great start just like Maximilian Hackl from Ruderting (Amkon Motorsport / Dallara F311 Volkswagen), who was alongside him in the first race. However, Markus Pommer from Neckarsulm (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen) benefited from the lack of experience of his competitor ahead of him and moved from fifth to the top. The ATS Formula 3 Cup champion broke away from the field. Behind him, Rookie Champion Indy Dontje (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen) put pressure on Hackl. The Dutchman also moved up to the front of the grid from sixth and overtook the Bavarian, who then crashed with Malaysian Weiron Tan (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen). This incident resulted in a disappointing early retirement for the driver from Kuala Lumpur, who had a very different goal after yesterday’s debut win.

Consequently, Pommer, Dontje and Russian Konstantin Tereschenko (ADM Motorsport / Dallara F311 Volkswagen), who also made his debut in the ATS Formula 3 Cup, were at the top. The driver from Moscow was able to defend his place initially but later had to give in. The young race driver finished sixth in the end, which was a phenomenal result for him. Ahead of him, newcomer Nicolas Beer (Eurointernational / Dallara F311 Volkswagen) drove a solid race, fighting an all Danish battle with Nicolai Sylvest.

In the end, Pommer won ahead of Dontje and Malaysian Nabil Jeffri (Motopark / Dallara F311 Volkswagen), who claimed the 2014 runner-up title as a result.

Markus Pommer: “There was a lot of traffic in turn two. I switched to second gear, because those in front of me fought a little. I waited a bit in the slipstream and ran wide at the last moment. I overtook several cars in one manoeuvre.”
Indy Dontje: “It was a good start and a great first lap. I managed to keep up with Markus and I’m really happy with my pace and the result of this race.”
Nabil Jeffri: “Runner-up in the ATS Formula 3 Cup, that’s just unbelievable. I would like to thank my team and my sponsors, especially Petronas. This has only been my second year in Europe. And finishing second is just amazing.”