# 1989 German Formula Three Championship

The 1989 German Formula Three Championship (German: 1989 Deutsche Formel-3-Meisterschaft) was a multi-event motor racing championship for single-seat open wheel formula racing cars that held across Europe. The championship featured drivers competing in two-litre Formula Three racing cars which conform to the technical regulations, or formula, for the championship. It commenced on 16 April at Hockenheim and ended at the same place on 30 September after twelve rounds.
Krafft Walzen Team Marko RSM driver Karl Wendlinger became a champion. He won one of the tightest championship battle in the history of the German Formula Three, as top-three drivers in the drivers were divided just by one point. Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished as runner-up and had one more race victory than other drivers in top-three. Michael Schumacher was equal on points with Frentzen and victorious at Zeltweg and Nürburgring. Michael Bartels, Peter Zakowski and Frank Krämer were the other race winners. Franz Engstler clinched the B-Cup championship title.

## Teams and drivers

Entry List :
| Team | No. | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Rounds |
| Class A ||||||
| West WTS Racing | 1 | Frank Schmickler | Reynard 893/059 | Volkswagen | All |
| ONS Nachwuchsteam — WTS Racing | 2 | Michael Schumacher | Reynard 893/058 | Volkswagen | All |
| Volkswagen Motorsport | 3 | Frank Krämer | BSR 389/02 | Volkswagen | 1–9 |
| Volkswagen Motorsport | 3 | Marco Werner | BSR 389/02 | Volkswagen | 11–12 |
| Volkswagen Motorsport | 4 | Ellen Lohr | BSR 389/01 | Volkswagen | All |
| Cosy Informatik Systeme | 5 | Michael Roppes | Martini MK58/01 | Volkswagen | All |
| Zimmspeed Racing Team | 6 | Hanspeter Kaufmann | Dallara 389/025 | Volkswagen | 4–6, 8 |
| Bongers Motorsport | 7 | Michael Bartels | Reynard 893/055 | Volkswagen | All |
| Bongers Motorsport | 8 | Daniel Müller | Reynard 893/063 | Volkswagen | 1–8 |
| Team JSK Baumanagement | 9 | Frank Biela | Reynard 893/077 | Volkswagen | 1–4, 6–9 |
| Team JSK Baumanagement | 10 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Dallara 389/025 | Volkswagen | All |
| Opel Team Deutschland | 9 | Frank Krämer | Reynard 893/077 | Opel | 10–12 |
| Style Auto Racing Team | 11 | Wolfgang Kaufmann | Dallara 388/033 | Volkswagen | All |
| Mönninghoff Sympathik Racing | 12 | Ralf Kelleners | Reynard 893/079 | Volkswagen | 1–2 |
| Mönninghoff Sympathik Racing | 12 | Gerrit van Kouwen | Reynard 893/079 | Volkswagen | 4, 6–8, 10 |
| Mönninghoff Sympathik Racing | 12 | Klaus Panchyrz | Reynard 893/079 | Volkswagen | 11–12 |
| Peter Zakowski Racing | 13 | Peter Zakowski | Reynard 893/078 | Volkswagen | All |
| Krafft Walzen Team Marko RSM | 14 | Karl Wendlinger | Ralt RT33/797 | Alfa Romeo | All |
| HC Hessel Motorsport | 17 | Marc Hessel | Reynard 893/098 | Volkswagen | 1–11 |
| HC Hessel Motorsport | 18 | Georg Arbinger | Reynard 893/097 | Volkswagen | 1–7 |
| Eufra Racing | 21 | Víctor Rosso | Tark Aleko JK173/02 | Volkswagen | 1–6, 8 |
| Eufra Racing | 21 | Meik Wagner | Tark Aleko JK173/02 | Volkswagen | 5, 9–12 |
| Eufra Racing | 22 | Ralf Kelleners | Tark Aleko JK173/01 | Volkswagen | 3–12 |
| Gätmo Motorsport | 23 | Meik Wagner | Reynard 893 | Volkswagen | 1, 4–7, 9–12 |
| Gätmo Motorsport | 24 | Flurin Zegg | Reynard 893 | Volkswagen | 6 |
| Formel Rennsport Club | 25 | Gianni Bianchi | Dallara 389/010 | Volkswagen | 1–2, 5–6 |
| Wittwer Racing | 27 | Rolf Kuhn | Reynard 893/052 | Volkswagen | 1 |
| Rene Wartmann | 28 | Rene Wartmann | Dallara 389/010 | Volkswagen | 10–12 |
| Class B ||||||
| Rex Autopflege Nachwuchsteam | 50 | Thorsten Walz | Reynard 883/016 | Volkswagen | 1–3 |
| Rex Autopflege Nachwuchsteam | 50 | Franz Engstler | Reynard 883/016 | Volkswagen | 6–12 |
| Frank Beyerlein | 51 | Frank Beyerlein | Reynard 883/001 | Volkswagen | 1–3, 5–12 |
| Squadra Foitek | 52 | Jacques Isler | Dallara 388/002 | Volkswagen | 1–2, 6 |
| Ski Zell Sport Team | 53 | Franz Binder | Reynard 883/005 | Volkswagen | 1, 3–6, 8, 10–12 |
| Mönninghoff Sympathik Racing | 54 | Franz Engstler | Reynard 883/017 | Volkswagen | 1–5 |
| Mönninghoff Sympathik Racing | 54 | Klaus Panchyrz | Reynard 883/017 | Volkswagen | 6–8, 10 |
| Mönninghoff Sympathik Racing | 54 | Peter Schär | Reynard 883/017 | Volkswagen | 9 |
| Cosy Informatik Systeme | 55 | Peter Schär | Martini MK55/03 | Volkswagen | 1–8, 10–11 |
| Cosy Informatik Systeme | 55 | Michael Krumm | Martini MK55/03 | Volkswagen | 12 |
| Vienna Racing Team | 59 | Tom Kristensen | Reynard 883/052 | Volkswagen | 4–6 |
| MSC Scuderia Mitwitz | 60 | Justin Sünkel | Dallara 387/014 | Volkswagen | All |
| Richard Hamann | 61 | Richard Hamann | Reynard 873/051 | Volkswagen | 1, 6 |
| Rechsteiner Racing SA | 63 | David Luyet | Dallara 388/001 | Volkswagen | 3, 6, 8 |
| Svend Hansen | 65 | Svend Hansen | Reynard 883/040 | Volkswagen | 2 |
| Thomas Gellermann | 66 | Thomas Gellermann | Reynard 863/039 | Volkswagen | 1 |
| Walter Lechner Racing School | 69 | Mercedes Stermitz | Dallara 388/031 | Volkswagen | 6 |
| Walter Perfler | 70 | Walter Perfler | Ralt RT31/701 | Volkswagen | 5 |
| Team Hödlmoser | 71 | Mario Moser | Dallara 388/042 | Toyota | 5 |
| MSC Aschau | 75 | Josef Neuhauser | Reynard 873/045 | Volkswagen | 5 |
| Joachim Ryschka | 77 | Joachim Ryschka | Ralt RT31/707 | Volkswagen | 10–12 |
| Volkmar Löw | 78 | Volkmar Löw | Ralt RT30/530 | Volkswagen | 11 |
| MSC "12" München | 79 | Jaroslav Vorel | KDV 4/01 | Volkswagen | 11–12 |
| Johann Stelzer | 80 | Johann Stelzer | Reynard 883/004 | Volkswagen | 1 |
| Team Theuermann | 82 | Wolfgang Petutschnig | Ralt RT30/563 | Volkswagen | 5 |

## Calendar

| Round | Location | Circuit | Date | Supporting |
| 1 | Hockenheim, West Germany | Hockenheimring | 16 April | AvD/MAC Rennsport-Festival |
| 2 | Nürburg, West Germany | Nürburgring | 30 April | 51. ADAC Eifelrennen |
| 3 | Berlin, West Germany | AVUS | 28 May | ADAC-Avus-Rennen |
| 4 | Brno, Czechoslovakia | Masaryk Circuit | 11 June | Grand Prix Brno |
| 5 | Zeltweg, Austria | Österreichring | 18 June | Preis des Aichfeldes |
| 6 | Hockenheim, West Germany | Hockenheimring | 2 July | ADAC-Preis Hockenheim |
| 7 | Wunstorf, West Germany | Wunstorf | 9 July | 22. ADAC-Flugplatzrennen Wunstorf |
| 8 | Hockenheim, West Germany | Hockenheimring | 29 July | German Grand Prix |
| 9 | Diepholz, West Germany | Diepholz Airfield Circuit | 6 August | 22. ADAC-Flugplatzrennen Diepholz |
| 10 | Nürburg, West Germany | Nürburgring | 3 September | ADAC Großer Preis der Tourenwagen |
| 11 | Nürburg, West Germany | Nürburgring | 24 September | XVI. ADAC Bilstein Super Sprint |
| 12 | Hockenheim, West Germany | Hockenheimring | 30 September | DMV-Preis von Hockenheim |

## Results

| Round | Circuit | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Winning driver | Winning team | B Class Winner |
| 1 | Hockenheimring | Michael Bartels | Michael Bartels | Frank Krämer | Volkswagen Motorsport | Frank Beyerlein |
| 2 | Nürburgring | Michael Bartels | Michael Bartels | Michael Bartels | Bongers Motorsport | Frank Beyerlein |
| 3 | AVUS | Frank Schmickler | Frank Krämer | Karl Wendlinger | Krafft Walzen Team Marko RSM | Franz Binder |
| 4 | Masaryk Circuit | Michael Bartels | Frank Biela | Michael Bartels | Bongers Motorsport | Franz Engstler |
| 5 | Österreichring | Michael Schumacher | Karl Wendlinger | Michael Schumacher | ONS Nachwuchsteam — WTS Racing | Franz Engstler |
| 6 | Hockenheimring | Karl Wendlinger | Karl Wendlinger | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Team JSK Baumanagement | Jacques Isler |
| 7 | Wunstorf | Wolfgang Kaufmann | not recorded | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Team JSK Baumanagement | Franz Engstler |
| 8 | Hockenheimring | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Karl Wendlinger | Krafft Walzen Team Marko RSM | Franz Engstler |
| 9 | Diepholz Airfield Circuit | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Michael Bartels | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Team JSK Baumanagement | Franz Binder |
| 10 | Nürburgring | Peter Zakowski | Peter Zakowski | Peter Zakowski | Peter Zakowski Racing | Klaus Panchyrz |
| 11 | Nürburgring | Michael Schumacher | Peter Zakowski | Michael Schumacher | ONS Nachwuchsteam — WTS Racing | Frank Beyerlein |
| 12 | Hockenheimring | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Klaus Panchyrz | Michael Bartels | Bongers Motorsport | Franz Engstler |

## Championship standings
### A-Class

* Points are awarded as follows:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Pos | Driver | HOC1 | NÜR1 | AVU | BRN | ZEL | HOC2 | WUN | HOC3 | DIE | NÜR2 | NÜR3 | HOC4 | Points |
| 1 | Karl Wendlinger | DNS | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 164 |
| 2 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | 11 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Ret | 2 | 163 |
| 3 | Michael Schumacher | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 163 |
| 4 | Michael Bartels | 20 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Ret | 5 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 150 |
| 5 | Wolfgang Kaufmann | 9 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 3 | DNS | 4 | 2 | 8 | 138 |
| 6 | Peter Zakowski | 7 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 5 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 132 |
| 7 | Ellen Lohr | 2 | 9 | Ret | 10 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 112 |
| 8 | Michael Roppes | 5 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 8 | Ret | 8 | 10 | 108 |
| 9 | Frank Krämer | 1 | 7 | 4 | Ret | 19 | Ret | DNS | 10 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 95 |
| 10 | Ralf Kelleners | 6 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 14 | 10 | | 6 | Ret | 6 | 6 | 20 | 75 |
| 11 | Frank Schmickler | 4 | Ret | 17 | Ret | 6 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 11 | 17 | Ret | 7 | 74 |
| 12 | Franz Engstler | 13 | 17 | Ret | 13 | 10 | Ret | 6 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 65 |
| 13 | Frank Biela | 10 | Ret | 6 | 3 | | 6 | Ret | Ret | 6 | | | | 64 |
| 14 | Marc Hessel | DNS | 16 | 11 | 21 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 10 | Ret | | 58 |
| 15 | Daniel Müller | DNS | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Ret | Ret | 7 | | | | | 56 |
| 16 | Klaus Panchyrz | | | | | 7 | Ret | 9 | Ret | | 12 | 9 | 6 | 52 |
| 17 | Peter Schär | 18 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 28 | 16 | Ret | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | | 44 |
| 18 | Gerrit van Kouwen | | | | 7 | | 9 | 7 | Ret | | 11 | | | 42 |
| 19 | Frank Beyerlein | 8 | 11 | 15 | | 16 | Ret | Ret | 15 | Ret | Ret | 12 | 17 | 39 |
| 20 | Franz Binder | 14 | | 9 | 18 | 20 | 13 | | 13 | | Ret | 14 | 15 | 37 |
| 21 | Justin Sünkel | 19 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 16 | Ret | 16 | 32 |
| 22 | Víctor Rosso | DNS | 2 | Ret | 11 | 17 | Ret | | 18 | | | | | 29 |
| 23 | Marco Werner | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 5 | 23 |
| 24 | Jacques Isler | 22 | 15 | | | | 5 | | | | | | | 18 |
| 25 | Georg Arbinger | 15 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 25 | Ret | Ret | | | | | | 14 |
| 26 | Hanspeter Kaufmann | | | | 14 | 21 | 12 | | Ret | | | | | 12 |
| 27 | Meik Wagner | 21 | | | 20 | 22 | 17 | Ret | | Ret | Ret | 18 | 12 | 10 |
| 28 | David Luyet | | | 10 | | | Ret | | DNS | | | | | 9 |
| 29 | Thorsten Walz | 16 | Ret | 13 | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| 30 | Rene Wartmann | | | | | | | | | | Ret | 11 | Ret | 8 |
| 31 | Tom Kristensen | | | | 15 | 15 | DNS | | | | | | | 8 |
| 32 | Rolf Kuhn | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| 33 | Michael Krumm | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | 6 |
| 34 | Svend Hansen | | Ret | | | | | | | | 14 | | | 5 |
| 35 | Richard Hamann | Ret | | | | | 15 | | | | | | | 4 |
| 36 | Joachim Ryschka | | | | | | | | | | 18 | 16 | Ret | 4 |
| 37 | Gianni Bianchi | 17 | 18 | | | 23 | 21 | | | | | | | 3 |
| 38 | Jaroslav Vorel | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | 19 | 2 |
| | Josef Neuhauser | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Günter Aberer | | | | | 26 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Mario Moser | | | | | 27 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Wolfgang Petutschnig | | | | | 29 | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Walter Perfler | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Thomas Gellermann | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Mercedes Stermitz | | | | | | Ret | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Johann Stelzer | | | | | DNS | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Flurin Zegg | | | | | | DNS | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Volkmar Löw | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | HOC1 | NÜR1 | AVU | BRN | ZEL | HOC2 | WUN | HOC3 | DIE | NÜR2 | NÜR3 | HOC4 | Points |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |