Markus Pommer wins half-time title in ATS Formula 3 Cup

Even though Markus Pommer did not score any points in one of the races this weekend the driver from Neckarsulm, who contests for Team Lotus, secured the half-time title. The 23-year old claimed the victory again in today’s race. Motopark driver Nabil Jeffri grabbed second place in an exciting race. Third on the podium is Nicolai Sylvest. The Dane, who contests for Team JBR Motorsport & Engineering, started from seventh place and finished third. The racing weekend at the 4.574-km Hockenheim in the support programme of the “Stuttgarter Rössle” was the fourth of eight rounds in the 2014 season.

Neckarsulm-based driver Markus Pommer (Lotus) started into the race from pole position and remained in the lead. Nabil Jeffri from Kuala Lumpur (Motopark) stayed on his tail, driving into the first turn just about a second behind. Dutchman Indy Dontje (Lotus) did not manage to defend his third position. The 21-year old from Schoorl, Malaysian Weiron Tan (Van Amersfoort Racing / all in Dallara F311 Volkswagen) and American Santino Ferrucci (Eurointernational / Dallara F311 Mercedes) crashed in the first lap and had to pit.
Dane Nicolai Sylvest (JBR Motorsport & Engineering) benefited from the situation. Having started from seventh he moved up to third place. Behind him followed Nikita Zlobin from Moscow (SMP Racing by ADM Motorsport), Columbian Andrés Méndez (Lotus) and Briton Sam MacLeod (Van Amersfoort Racing / all in Dallara F311 Volkswagen). The winner of the second race was able to close the gap but could not take Sylvest for third place.

Pommer defended his position against Jeffri, who continued to put him under pressure, and drove across the finish line first, claiming his eighth victory of the season. The 20-year old from Kuala Lumpur is second after putting in a consistent performance throughout the race. Nicolai Sylvest grabbed third place, scoring his second podium finish as well as valuable points in the rookie ranking.

Markus Pommer: “This was the first time that the start was not perfect. I’m not sure what happened. I have to analyse this. I was really fast in the first few laps. The car began to deteriorate a little in lap 10. I don’t know if this is due to the crash yesterday. I knew that overtaking is difficult here. Well, I succeeded.”
Nabil Jeffri: “I am really happy with my race today. It was better than yesterday. And it is great to be the half-time runner-up. I will come back stronger after the summer break. I still intend to win the championship and I am looking forward to exciting duels with Markus.”
Nicolai Sylvest: “I cannot explain how great third place feels. I had a bad start and then the drivers in front of me crashed. That was my chance to pass. I saw MacLeod in my rear mirror a little later but managed to keep my pace. It is just great.”

2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup rookie ranking
Sam MacLeod is back on the podium and scored valuable points in the rookie ranking. Almost always claiming a podium finish, Indy Dontje remains the clear front runner. Having scored 207 points so far, the Dutchman is in the lead, with the Briton following in second place (167 points). Having claimed third place today, Nicolai Sylvest is third in the rookie ranking again.

2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup team ranking
Van Amersfoort Racing does not let up, remaining in second place (157 points) behind Team Lotus (220 points). Team Motopark is third in the team ranking, having scored 146 points so far.

Points scored in the first twelve races of the 2014 ATS Formula 3 Cup (top 10):
1. Markus Pommer / GER 218
2. Nabil Jeffri / MYS 151
3. Indy Dontje / NDL 146
4. Sam MacLeod / GBR 129
5. Nicolai Sylvest / DNK 85
6. Weiron Tan / MYS 72
7. Andrés Méndez / COL 61
8. Nikita Zlobin / RUS 45
9. Santino Ferrucci / USA 33
10. Maximilian Hackl / DEU 30

Off the track
The first half of the racing season is over; the half-time title has been awarded. Markus Pommer wins, but is put under a lot of pressure by his competitors. Sam MacLeod, Indy Dontje and Nabil Jeffri are in for the battle. The young talents contesting the ATS Formula 3 Cup will surely not sit back during the summer. Another important event will take place at Zandvoort at the beginning of July: the Masters of Formula 3. Jeffri, Dontje, MacLeod and Nikita Zlobin will have to prove themselves at the Dutch dune circuit. And that is not the only event which Jeffri, Dontje and MacLeod have set their sights on. They are also planning to take part in the British Formula 3 at Spa. Pommer will do his best to claim further podium finishes at the Auto GP; Santino Ferrucci will make his debut in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship next weekend. Dino Zamparelli will fight for points in the GP3 Series. The team-mate of the reigning ATS Formula 3 Cup champion Marvin Kirchhöfer prepared for a race to take place in July at Hockenheim this weekend and used the opportunity to make himself familiar with the track. Several of the race drivers will fly home to contest local races, as is the case with Andrés Méndez in Columbia. Thomas Amweg will take part in the Swiss Hill Climb Championship and also battle for points in the Remus Formel 3 Pokal.
News and updates will be available through the social media channels of the ATS Formula 3 Cup at www.facebook.com/formel3cup and www.twitter.com/formel3cup. And perhaps, fans will also get to see the occasional vacation picture from the drivers contesting the ATS Formula 3 Cup.