Grid is confirmed as 2008 racing debut looms

With little over a week to go, new drivers have also been confirmed. Returning from 2007, vice-champion Chris van der Drift will drive for J.D. Motorsport once more.

The New Zealand-born Dutchman, fresh from A1GP success at Brands Hatch last weekend where he topped the Rookie timesheets, has already shown his speed throughout the official testing sessions.

"It's great to be back racing with J.D. Motorsport," said the 22-year-old. "Although I drove in the Series last year, by the time we race in Valencia, most rookies will have caught up so the real advantage is how well you know your team. Luckily I know them very well and we are aiming for the title together. That's the only goal this year."

Also confirmed as returning drivers are Austria's Norbert Siedler, joining ADM Motorsport, as well as Italy's Alberto Costa and Giuseppe Terranova, driving for Cram Competition and Pro Motorsport respectively.

England's Tor Graves also returns for the 2008 season and will once again drive with Team JVA whilst Dominik Schraml will race for Scuderia Famà and rookie Daniel Mancinelli for Euronova Racing.

Fellow rookie Octavio Freitas, from Brazil, joins ADM Motorsport and, at just 16-year-old, is set to become Formula Master's youngest driver when he takes to the track in a week's time.

With only next week's official test in Valencia left to get accustomed to the car before the Series' first race of the year, Freitas can expect a challenge from Formula Master's high-quality field of 2008 drivers.

Following a decision by the FIA, the Anderstorp race weekend in Sweden will now be held at the renovated Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, Italy, on the same dates (20-21 September), subject to

re-homologation by the FIA. As with all other events this year, Formula Master will partner the FIA World Touring Car Championship at the Italian track.

Formula Master rounds one and two: Valencia Spain

Provisional entry list

1 Cram Competition Arturo Llobell Spain

2 Cram Competition Pablo Sanchez Lopez Mexico

3 Cram Competition Alberto Costa Italy

4 JD Motorsport Vladimir Arabadzhiev Bulgaria

5 JD Motorsport Sergey Afanasiev Russia

6 JD Motorsport Chris Van Der Drift Holland

9 Pro Motorsport Marcello Puglisi Italy

10 Pro Motorsport Carlos Iaconelli Brazil

12 Pro Motorsport Giuseppe Terranova Italy

14 Euronova Racing Fabrizio Crestani Italy

15 Euronova Racing Michael Meadows UK

16 ADM Motorsport Octavio Freitas Brazil

17 ADM Motorsport Norbert Siedler Austria

18 ISR Filip Salaquarda Czech Rep.

19 ISR Tim Sandtler Germany

21 ADM Motorsport Frankie Provenzano Italy

22 ADM Motorsport Michele Caliendo Italy

23 Jenzer Motorsport Fabio Leimer Switzerland

24 Jenzer Motorsport Matei Mihaescu Romania

25 Scuderia Famà Luca Persiani Italy

26 Scuderia Famà Dominik Schraml Germany

27 Iris Project Micheal Ammermüller Germany

28 Iris Project TBA TBA

29 Team JVA Josef Kral Czech Rep.

30 Team JVA Tor Graves UK

31 Trident Racing Harald Schlegelmilch Latvia

32 Trident Racing Kasper Andersen Denmark

33 Trident Racing TBA TBA

45 Euronova Racing Yuhi Sekiguchi Japan

46 Euronova Racing Daniel Mancinelli Italy

For more information, including driver profiles, please visit www.formulamaster.net  

Formula Master's inaugural season in 2007 delivered some of the year's best racing with the Series' concept of offering young, aspiring drivers the chance to establish themselves on an international stage proving a great success already.

- RSM -