The last racing weekend of the 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup season sees 22 drivers from 11 countries contesting. They competed for the fastest lap time at the 4.574-km Hockenheimring in Friday's qualifying session under sunny skies. Since the champions of the ATS Formula 3 Cup were already determined, all eyes were on the battle for second place in the Cup ranking and third place in the Trophy ranking. The result of the qualifying session was a promising start to an exciting racing weekend. The new champion, Marvin Kirchhöfer, was fastest in the Cup ranking, Freddy Killensberger will start from the front in the Trophy ranking.

Familiar faces took turns in setting the fastest laps again in the qualifying session. Briton Emil Bernstorff, the current champion, Marvin Kirchhofer from Leipzig (both Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) and Swede John Bryant-Meisner (Performance Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) were on top. However, American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) and Russian Artem Markelov (Lotus / Dallara F311 Volkswagen Power Engine) also played among the leaders. Kirchhöfer set the fastest time in 1:33.647 min., Bernstorff will be alongside him on the second place (1:34.271 min.) in the starting grid for the first race. Markelov scored the third fastest time in 1:34.770 min. and will compete against the Briton, who resides in Portugal, for the runner-up title.

Killensberger: pole sitter in the Trophy rankingSebastian Balthasar from Cologne (GU-Racing / Dallara F311 Mercedes) has already secured the championship title in the Trophy ranking and set the fastest lap. However, shortly before the end of the qualifying session the car had technical issues. And the runner-up in the ATS Formula 3 Trophy ranking, Freddy Killensberger from Wortelstetten (GU Racing / Dallara F307 OPC-Challenge) was able to set the fastest time in 1:37.556 min. Balthasar was the second fastest. Swiss Thomas Amweg (CR Racing Team / Dallara F307 Mercedes) took the third position on the Trophy starting grid.

Marvin Kirchhofer: “We will do our best to maintain our speed for the races tomorrow. I think it will be interesting considering the long straights. There were some exciting battles already. I am really looking forward to the races. It will not be easy.”

Emil Bernstorff: “I was pretty quick so far but only had a clear lap right after the start. It just did not work out. My pace was fast enough to be first. But I had bad luck with the traffic.”

Artem Markelov: “I’m very happy. I will start from the third position and will fight hard with Emil. I think I will overtake him.”

Freddy Killensberger: “Everything worked out perfectly. The car ran pretty well. I am quite pleased. Today was great.”