It looked like rain but the weather played along in the third race of the weekend at Lausitzring. 16 drivers from ten countries put in a fantastic performance at the 3.442-km track, even though one clearly stood out. Starting into the race from the last place, he carved his way through the field: championship leader Marvin Kirchhofer. However, Russian Artem Markelov scored the victory again. Sebastian Balthasar from Cologne continued to extend his lead after another win.
Artem Markelov from Moscow had a good start. The 18-year old passed pole sitter Emil Bernstorff (both Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) in the first turn after a closely fought manoeuvre. Swede John Bryant-Meisner (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) defended his third place and took Bernstorff for second later on. Marvin Kirchhofer from Leipzig (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine), who started from the last place following his earlier disqualification, was able to push forward into the middle of the field. He closed the gap to the fifth place behind American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) within four laps. Bernstorff did not keep up during the first tries to lap. Menezes and Kirchhofer slipped through. The driver from Leipzig passed the Californian, benefiting from his slipstream. Just one lap later he also overtook Bryant-Meisner. Markelov grabbed the first place in a heart-stopping finish, scoring his second victory of the weekend. Kirchhofer followed in second place. Bryant-Meisner drove across the finish line in third.
Balthasar triumphed in the Trophy rankingSebastian Balthasar from Cologne (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) had a good start and took the chequered flag ahead of his competitors. Austrian Christopher Hher (Franz Wss Racing / Dallara F307 OPC Challenge) grabbed another impressive second place. Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU-Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) claimed the third place.
Artem Markelov: I am even happier with my first place. I want to achieve the same at the next racing weekend. I trust my team. They do a brilliant job. Thank you for that.Marvin Kirchhofer: It was a tactical race with the push-to-pass system. Unfortunately, it was not enough for Artem. But I'd never have thought that I'd be able to push forward to second from the last place. Im very pleased!John Bryant-Meisner: It is great to be back on the podium. We had quite a few difficulties. Still, we were really fast this weekend and could have scored podium places every time.Sebastian Balthasar: I gained two places at the start. During the race I tried to be consistent and was only just over a second slower than the Cup cars ahead of me. We are very pleased with the weekend.
2013 SONAX Rookie rankingMarvin Kirchhofer remains in the lead of the SONAX Rookie ranking, having scored 398 points so far. Gustavo Menezes follows in second (239 points) and John Bryant-Meisner in third place (205 points).
ATS Formula 3 Cup team rankingThere is no change in the newly established team ranking either. Lotus is in the lead, having scored 400 points. Performance Racing remains in second place, 262 points. The Van Amersfoort Racing teams follows in third place, 261 points.
