The Volkswagen racer from New Zealand crowned his dominating performance in Germany’s top formula racing series with an early title tin. At the penultimate race weekend at Assen (NL) the 20-year-old only needed a second-place finish in the 15th race to become the new champion. After the title win by Felipe Nasr (Brazil) in the British Formula 3 Championship this marks the second overall victory of the year for Volkswagen.
“’Well done’ to Richie Stanaway and the Van Amersfoort Racing team. They dominated the championship this year. Richie is the deserving champion of the ATS Formula 3 Cup,”says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “With his dominating title win he has shown that he ranks among the great talents in motorsport. At the same time, his dominance proves that in Formula 3 the whole package consisting of the driver, team, car and engine has to perfectly harmonize.”
“Of course I’m very happy about the title win; it’s been a very good season,”said a pleased Richie Stanaway. “Looking back, I’ve got to say that contesting the ATS Formula 3 Cup this year has been the best decision for me. I was able to learn a great deal. I’d always take this decision again.”
Stanaway made his mark on the season right at the opening event at Oschersleben. There, the Formula 3 rookie started into the new year with two victories and immediately took the lead of the standings which he has been extending with an impressive string of successes ever since. At the past 15 races the New Zealander, who lives in Berlin and belongs to the squad of drivers being supported by the FIA, has clinched ten victories and three second places. In addition to the overall title, Stanaway secured the rookie classification for the best newcomer to the series. Last year the fitness fan had commandingly won the ADAC Formel Masters with twelve victories “powered by Volkswagen”. After the victories by Laurens Vanthoor in 2009 and Tom Dillmann in 2010, this is Volkswagen’s third consecutive title win in the ATS Formula 3 Cup, with a track record of 43 victories achieved in 69 races. Since the manufacturer’s return to Formula 3 in 2008 the engines from Wolfsburg have clinched seven championship wins and two victories at the legendary Macau Grand Prix, the annual contest of the Formula 3 elite.
In the coming season a new era will start for the ATS Formula 3 Cup as the universal Formula 3 engine from Volkswagen will make its debut. The 230-HP four-cylinder unit reduces engine costs by almost two thirds and uses an innovative push-to-pass system which boosts the power output by 20 HP by pushing a button. This principle has been very successfully used in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup and is now bringing additional suspense into formula racing. The drivers can place overtaking maneuvers in a much easier way, thus making the races even more exciting.
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