Victor Smialek celebrates first win of the season

Drexler Formula Cup - Hockenheim

Sandro Zeller (Jo Zeller Racing) still likes the Hockenheimring. At the 5th race weekend of the Drexler Formula Cup, the Swiss driver won the 1st race after a tough fight ahead of Benjamin Berta (Franz Wöss Racing). Zeller set the fastest time in qualifying with a 1:34.781 min and distanced Berta by 0.0017 seconds. The second row of the grid was shared by Francesco Galli (G-Motorsport) and Victor Smialek (Franz Wöss Racing), who were all within a second of each other.

After the start of the first race, Sandro Zeller was unable to defend his lead and had to let Benjamin Berta pass him. The Hungarian immediately sought to escape to the front on the 4.574 kilometre Hockenheimring and kept Zeller behind him, followed by Galli and Smialek, as well as the strong driving Kurt Böhlen (Jo Zeller Racing). At first, things seemed to be going better for Berta as he pulled out a lead of a few metres. But Zeller did not let the gap get too big and followed Berta more and more in the slipstream. In the hairpin bend, Zeller made a successful overtaking manoeuvre and passed the Hungarian on the 11th lap. Whilst Zeller now had nothing left to lose, Francesco Galli came off the track at the entrance to the Motodrom on the final lap and was ultimately classified in seventh place. Galli had put all his eggs in one basket right to the end and wanted to finish at least third. But nothing came of it. Victor Smialek took third place, his fifth podium finish of the season. Marcel Tobler (Jo Zeller Racing) had no rival in the Formula 3 Trophy classification. He took a commanding victory ahead of Robert Rowe (Team Hoffmann Racing) and Thomas Zeltner (Speed Centre Team). Frenchwoman Sarene Ziffel won the Formula Light category with similar superiority ahead of Dennis Hübl (Speed Center Team) and Dr Norbert Groer (Team Hofmann Racing). In the second race, it once again seemed to come down to a duel between Benjamin Berta and Sandro Zeller. At the start, Berta almost pushed the Swiss driver off the track and turned in first after the first corner. Victor Smialek got off to a good start and managed to stay ahead of Francesco Galli, who then exerted pressure on the Canadian over the next few laps, resulting in a successful overtaking manoeuvre on lap 4. Four laps later, Smialek returned the favour and overtook Galli again. Benjamin Berta continuously extended his lead until the middle of the 16-lap race. Sandro Zeller then damaged a tyre during an overtaking manoeuvre and had to pit for a wheel change. While Berta defended his lead right to the finish, Galli was able to close the gap to Smialek to 2 seconds. As Benjamin Berta crossed the finish line, the Hungarian seemed to have a premonition. The stewards penalised Berta with a 30-second penalty for an offence at the start, which dropped him back to fourth place. Victor Smialek was therefore classified as the winner, relegating Francesco Galli and Kurt Böhlen to the places behind him. This was certainly a great success for Victor Smialek, as the first win of the season in the Drexler Formula Cup is always special and has underpinned his upward trend. Sandro Zeller lost points in the end with eighth place. Marcel Tobler was the measure of all things in the Formula 3 Trophy, just like in the first race. He won ahead of Andre Petropoulos and Thomas Zeltner. Frenchman Sarene Ziffel also celebrated a double victory in the Formula Light class. Dennis Hübl finished second ahead of Dr Norbert Groer, who secured valuable points with third place.
RS.25.07.2024
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