Ma-con Motorsports Emil Bernstorff drew the plaudits at Valencias Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo Circuit this weekend (29/30 September), with three top eight finishes as the FIA European Formula Three Championship completed the penultimate round of its ten race calendar.
Qualifying for Europes most prestigious Formula Three championship took place on a drying circuit after a downpour at the Spanish venue. With the racing line dry and the remainder of the track wet, there was no room for error as Bernstorff attempted to put himself in contention with the front-runners.
The 2011 McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award finalist posted a fastest lap time in the session of 1:29.557, that saw him line up in seventh position for race one of the weekend.
A good start in race one enabled Bernstorff to immediately jump Carlins William Buller for sixth position, whilst Carlins Carlos Sainz Jnr left his braking too late into turn 2 making contact with Bernstorffs ma-con teammate Tom Blomqvist, which soon promoted the 19 year-old to fifth as the young Spaniard lost out in the altercation.
2011 ADAC Formula Masters Vice Champion Bernstorff, pushed hard and soon found himself in fourth position where he would stay to the chequered flag due to Felix Rosenquist incurring a drive-through penalty for an incorrect starting position.
Race two saw Bernstorff line up fifth on the grid, and making another textbook start, the youngster soon attacked Buller into the first corner. Constantly pushing Buller during the opening stages of the race, Bernstorff looked for a way past the Englishman for eight laps.
Bernstorff finally saw his opportunity at the conclusion of the eighth lap when Buller ran wide, and after running side-by-side down the pit straight the pairing bogged each other down allowing Blomqvist to capitalise on the action in front to snatch fourth.
Prema Powerteams Daniel Juncadella attempted to join in on the party soon after but a feisty Berntstorff fended off the championship front-runner to complete the race in sixth position.
Bernstorff maintained position at the start of the final race of the weekend in Valencia, holding on to his seventh position as Blomqvist pressured Sainz Jnr ahead. As Blomqvist capitalised on an error from Sainz at Curva Aspar to take fifth, Bernstorff was left frustrated behind the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Champion in seventh position at the conclusion of the race.
Its great to see that we have made some big improvements this weekend, explained Bernstorff. The team has been working hard and the car has felt a lot better throughout the duration of the weekend showing a big difference in pace.
Im pleased with our results and Im feeling very optimistic ahead of the final round at Hockenheim. My main aim is to go there and keep closing the gap on the optimum pace, if we achieve that then it would be nice to leave with a few podiums.
The final round of the FIA European Formula Three Championship will get underway at Hockenheim at support to the DTM in three weeks time.
