Today’s International Formula Master’s (IFM) free practice sessions at Oschersleben tested drivers’ ability to adapt as rain frequently interrupted the 30-minute sessions.
J.D. Motorsport’s Kasper Andersen and Promotorsport’s Salvatore Gatto came out best in the Formula S2000 with Andersen posting a time of 1:22.219 in the first session and Gatto coming in first at 1:24.646 in the second.
Happy with his earlier performance Andersen, who is currently fourth on the Series’ leaderboard, decided to sit out of the afternoon’s second session at the German circuit. He is trailing Series’ leader, Jerome D’Ambrosio, by 39 points and the Cram Competition driver was right on his tail in Free Practice one, with a time of 1:22.300.
In the day’s second session D’Ambrosio cooled off, finishing 13th fastest and Gatto, who is third in the Series title chase, took the lead using just nine laps to post his fastest time before red-flags were waved for an incident that saw Claudio Cantelli Jr.’s car spin into the gravel.
Second fastest in Free Practice Two was J.D. Motorsport’s Chris Van der Drift with a time of 1:24.999. His competitive start was not hindered by the fact that he did not have any time in the car earlier in the day after technical difficulties. Juho Annala from Jenzer Motorsport was third fastest.
Austrian driver Norbert Siedler (ADM Motorsport), the only driver in the field whose mother-tongue is German, was ninth quickest around the German track.
In his first-ever IFM outing, 21-year-old Russian Daniil Move set the 10th and 11th quickest times in the two sessions. The busy youngster has taken time out of his World Series by Renault schedule to compete at the German circuit this weekend.
The IFM qualifying will get underway tomorrow (Saturday) at 08:15, with the first race of the weekend going ahead at 12:30.
Kasper Andersen, J.D. Motorsport "It was raining from the start of the morning but not for very long. The track dried up pretty quickly and in the end the car was driving very good. I feel it’s pretty good for me here because I won here earlier and I set pole position here as well. It feels good so far."
Salvatore Gatto, Promotorsport "The car is better and I could’ve gone faster but I had to be gentle with the car in these conditions. "This is the second time I come here. The first I was with F3 and it was so-so. I hope that will be better tomorrow because it’s very important for me to be better now. We are near the end of the season."
Chris Van der Drift, J.D. Motorsport "When we did the fast time, then it started to rain a lot. On the last lap it was getting dryer and dryer so the conditions were really tricky. The first and second corners, in particular, dried really quickly and over the other side it was still soaking wet so it was strange. I’ve never driven here in the rain, so it will be an interesting experience."
Daniil Move, Alan Racing "I think if everything is ok we can fight for the win tomorrow. I still have to improve and we can work a bit with the set-up, but it looks like we are really good now."
International Formula Master - Oschersleben Free Practise – One
1. Marcello Puglisi (ITA), Promosport, 1:22.756
2. Nick De Bruijn (NED), ISR, 1:22.926
3. Kasper Andersen (DEN), J.D. Motorsport, 1:23.083
4. Nicolas Maulini (SWI), Iris Project, 1:23.275
5. Rahel Frey (SWI), Jenzer Motorsport, 1:23.407
6. Massimo Torre (ITA), Scuderia Fama, 1:23.410
7. Arturo Llobell (ESP), Cram Competition, 1:23.468
8. Jerome D’Ambrosio (BEL), Cram Competition, 1:23.529
International Formula Master - Oschersleben
Free Practise – Two
1. Salvatore Gatto (ITA), Promosport, 1:24.646
2. Chris Van der Drift (NED), J.D. Motorsport, 1:24.999
3. Juho Annala (FIN), Jenzer Motorsport, 1:25.284
4. Nick de Bruijn (NED), ISR, 1:25.288
5. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Alan Racing, 1:25.312
6. Pierre Ragues (FRA), Euronova Racing, 1:25.823
7. Arturo Llobell (ITA), Cram Competition, 1:25.966
8. Nicolas Maulini (SWI), Iris Project, 1:26.785
Eurosport’s coverage of IFM’s sixth race weekend will begin Saturday 25 August with race one shown live at 12.15 on Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific with delayed coverage on Eurosport from 00.30 (CET) onwards. Race two on Sunday will be broadcasted live from 10.15 (CET) on Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Asia-Pacific.
Live streaming will be available on http://e2ma.net/go/642708444/538700/18385190/goto:http:/www.eurosport.com/ and http://www.formulamaster.net/
As an exciting new single-seater series, IFM offers young, aspiring drivers the chance to prove themselves on an international stage (as it is part of the FIA World Touring Car Championship race weekend package), training and preparing them for the highest echelons of single-seater racing in front of a global TV audience provided by Eurosport.
Featuring N.Technology’s Formula S2000 race car with electric gearshift and clutch paddles and advanced aerodynamics, the car weighs just 550kg including the driver and runs on control tyres by Yokohama. It has already secured 2008 FIA homologation approval – a world first – and has generated excitement from all sectors thanks to its dynamic styling, light-weight body and powerful engine.
- RSM -
photos on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - FIA WTCC
