ADM Motorsport’s Norbert Siedler completed a superb rookie weekend by winning round eight of International Formula Master (IFM) today in Porto.
The Austrian started third following a sixth place finish in yesterday’s round and spent most of the race battling with IFM’s other newcomer Erik Janis (ISR) for the lead, closely followed by Kasper Andersen.
Andersen’s race was cut short however, when a Turn 6 incident with Johnny Cecotto Jr put both drivers out of the race on lap two, prompting the safety car to come out. Siedler used the restart to his advantage, overtaking Janis for the lead in the first corner.
Other casualties of Porto’s demanding street circuit included driver classification leader Jerome D’Ambrosio on the second lap and yesterday’s race winner Pablo Sanchez Lopez on lap one. IFM’s only lady driver Rahel Frey climbed up to fifth from a ninth place start but retired on the restart after loosing control of her car at Turn 6.
Second place went to Alan Racing’s Salvatore Gatto, IFM’s first-ever winner, closely followed by Promotorsport’s Marcello Puglisi. The Italian pair fought on-track for the latter part of the race with yesterday’s second place finisher Puglisi unable to pass Gatto.
Confirming his status as overtaking specialist, Chris van der Drift delivered a stunning performance, driving his Formula S2000 from 24th to a sixth place finish.
Norbert Siedler, ADM Motorsport
"The weekend went pretty well. I had a good start to the race and overtook Andersen when we made a mistake. I tested the car last week which helped but the whole weekend has been very good. It’s been one year since I have driven in single-seaters so this is a very good result.
IFM’s a really nice Series, I may be back at Anderstorp, I have to check with the team but I hope to be there for another good result."
Salvatore Gatto, Alan Racing
"I am very happy, today is a very very good race for me. With Puglisi, he put me under pressure but it was a good race as we did not touch!"
Marcello Puglisi, Promotorsport
"Here is a hard place to race so I made sure I did not crash and I waited really! I knew I was fast but it’s impossible to overtake here. I tried to pass Gatto a few times but in the end I prefer not to risk the car. The team has done a fantastic job since the last race and I hope I can have many more podiums like this."
International Formula Mater Porto round eight – Provisional result
1. Norbert Siedler (AUT), ADM Motorsport
2. Salvatore Gatto (ITA), Alan Racing
3. Marcello Puglisi (ITA), Promotorsport
4. Marco Bonanomi (ITA), Euronova Racing
5. Nick De Bruijn (NED), ISR
6. Chris van der Drift (NED), J.D. Motorsport
7. Luca Persiani (ITA), Scuderia Fama
8. Arturo Llobel (ESP), Cram Competition
IFM rounds nine and 10 will take place in Anderstorp, Sweden on 28 and 29 July 2007.
For more information please visit 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
