IFM round nine's top three on track today in their Formula S2000s
Dry weather held for today’s International Formula Master race in Anderstorp, Sweden; with J.D. Motorsport’s Kasper Andersen taking the win in front of the attending crowds.
After a stunning start, which saw the Dane Andersen overtake both his team-mate Chris van der Drift and ADM Motorsport’s Frankie Provenzano, Andersen settled into the race in second place and waited for the right moment to overtake pole-setter Marco Bonanomi.
The opportunity came on lap 12 with the Italian retiring, leaving Andersen free to race to the chequered flag closely followed by Cram Competition’s Jerome D’Ambrosio and Alan Racing’s Pablo Sanchez Lopez.
Andersen’s team-mate Chris van der Drift was unlucky; the Dutchman retired on lap two after an incident with Provenzano at Turn 3.
Austria’s Norbert Siedler also retired early in the race; the Porto race winner took Turn 7 faster than he had anticipated and ended up in the gravel after only six laps of racing.
Macanese driver Adolfo Avila drove a solid race, climbing from eighth to fourth in the 19-lap round as did J.D. Motorsport’s Claudio Cantelli Jr and Jenzer Motorsport’s Oliver Campos Hull. The pair started their race in 26th and 28th respectively, making up 15 places during the ensuing 35 minutes to finish 11th and 13th.
IFM’s only female driver, Rahel Frey will start tomorrow’s race in second place completing the front row alongside Team JVA’s Tor Graves.
Kasper Andersen, J.D. Motorsport
"First of all, I had a very good start which is very important. I was stuck behind Bonanomi but then he had a problem with the car and was easy to pass. It’s fantastic to win here, with family, friends and sponsors all here to see me!
I feel pretty good about starting P8 on tomorrow’s race; it was my aim since it means that I won today’s race!"
Jerome D’Ambrosio, Cram Competition
"I overtook van der Drift on the first corner and we were racing very close. He took quite a big risk at turn 2 so I chose to let him by; I knew I would be in a position to pass him again soon and it worked. I overtook Provenzano after that and the rest of the race was very good.
I got close to Kasper towards the end but didn’t have a chance to make anything of it before the chequered flag."
Pablo Sanchez Lopez, Alan Racing
"I had a good race today and it’s important to keep scoring points like this. I did some good overtaking moves which was good fun. I want to keep going in the same way and add to the classification points as much as possible For race two, I have to be careful because Jerome and Kasper are behind me and they are very fast! Otherwise, I think I can score some good points again which is the main thing."
John Village, team principal - Team JVA
"We have more of a chance if it’s wet tomorrow. Tor drove a very good race today but a lot depends on the conditions and how well the start goes so fingers crossed for tomorrow."
International Formula Master – Anderstorp Round nine provisional results
1. Kasper Andersen (DEN), J.D. Motorsport
2. Jerome D'Ambrosio (BEL), Cram Competition
3. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Alan Racing
4. Rodolfo Avila (MAC), Cram Competition
5. Pierre Ragues (FRA), Euronova Racing
6. Luca Persiani (ITA), Scuderia Fama
7. Rahel Frey (SUI), Jenzer Motorsport
8. Tor Graves, (UK), Team JVA
Lap-by-lap analysis
Lap1: Andersen passes van der Drift & Provenzano at the start
Terranova off-track and rejoins
Isohella off-track and rejoins
Lap 2: Sanchez Lopez passes Siedler
Van der Drift off at Turn 3, in mud and water – retired
De Bruijn up to seventh from ninth
Lap 3: D’Ambrosio and Sanchez overtake Provenzano
De Bruijn spins and rejoins
Lap 4: De Bruijn out at Turn 2 – retired
Provenzano falls out of top eight
Lap 5: Frey passes Persiani for eighth place
Lap 7: Siedler loses control on straight and runs wide at Turn 7 – retired
Lap 8: Terranova spins at Turn 7 - retired
Lap 10: Provenzano now 20th
Maulini off-track and rejoins in sector three
Lap 12: Andersen overtakes Bonanomi for lead
Lap 14: Bonanomi pits - retired
Andersen leads followed by D’Ambrosio and Sanchez Lopez
Lap 16: Persiani passes Frey for sixth place
Torre under pressure from Belluardo for eighth place
Lap 17: Ragues up in sixth after overtaking Persiani
D’Ambrosio closing in on Andersen
Caliendo misses Turn 1 and ends up in the gravel – retired
Lap 18: D’Ambrosio now only 0.435 seconds away from Andersen
Lap 19: Contact between Torre and Belluardo at Turn 7 – both retired
Chequered flag at 12:55 (CET).
Live coverage of IFM’s fifth race weekend continues with Sunday’s coverage on Eurosport 2 starting at 10.15 (CET).
Live streaming will be available on www.eurosport.com and 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 - also photos
