Today's 13th race of the 2013 season took place in perfect weather against the backdrop of the DTM at Lausitzring. This particular 3.478-km GP track version is only used this weekend. A total of 18 drivers from ten countries contested the ATS Formula 3 Cup race today. Emil Bernstorff left everybody behind, securing the top position on the podium. Sebastian Balthasar took the victory in the Trophy ranking.
Marvin Kirchhfer from Leipzig, Briton Emil Bernstorff, Artem Markelov from Russia (all Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), Austrian Thomas Jger (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) and Swede John Bryant-Meisner (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) formed the top group of the starting grid. All of them had a chance to secure a podium finish. Kirchhfer took a bad start, dropping to fourth place. Menezes pushed forward to third. Kirchhfer attacked and passed Menezes, subsequently trying to overtake Markelov. As a result, the race was then dominated by an exciting battle for second. The driver from Moscow proved to be a real challenge for the championship leader. However, in the 19th lap Kirchhfer grabbed the place from Markelov, who drove across the finish line in third place. Ahead of him Kirchhfer. Emil Bernstorff, who broke away from the field, finished first.
Victory for Balthasar in the Trophy rankingSebastian Balthasar from Cologne (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) drove a consistent race and took the chequered flag ahead of his competitors in the Trohy ranking. Hubertus-Carlos Vier from Inching (ADAC Team Nordbayern / Dallara F307 Mercedes) followed in second place, Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU-Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) in third. Since Balthasar grabbed the eighth place in the overall standings of the first race and due to the reversed-grid format, the 16-year old will be the pole-sitter in the second race.
Emil Bernstorff: I had a good start and saw that Artem kept close. I tried to break away from him and accelerated. There are so many laps that it feels like it will never end. Anyway, I hope to win a race this weekend.Marvin Kirchhfer: I made a mistake at the start which threw me back. Basically, you only have one opportunity for overtaking. I am still happy, because I scored important points for the championship.Artem Markelov: Since I took a podium place it is a good result for me. It was a solid race. My team-mate Marvin followed me almost throughout the entire race, but I tried for a long time to keep him behind me.Sebastian Balthasar: I really enjoyed myself today. The start was good; I watched out and managed to keep this position for the entire race. And I am looking forward to this afternoon, when I start from the pole position!
