Jérôme D'Ambrosio scores first win

Close racing was the order of the day for International Formula Master’s (IFM) fleet of 30 racers today with Cram Competition’s Jerome D’Ambrosio taking the first win of the weekend.

The 21-year-old fought hard throughout the race, overtaking Pablo Sanchez Lopez for third at the start, before working his way up to first despite strong opposition from Chris van der Drift and Maximilian Goetz.

Currently leading the driver classification, D’Ambrosio has been a regular visitor to the IFM podium, scoring two third place finishes in Pau and a second place in Valencia, but a win had eluded him until now.

Pole-sitter Goetz finished the race in second place, having spent the last few laps defending his position from van der Drift. The Dutchman finished in third, less than half a second behind.

26 cars reached the finish line, completing the 13-laps race and highlighting the Formula S2000’s reliability. Alan Racing’s Salvatore Gatto will start tomorrow’s race in pole position thanks to IFM’s reverse grid regulation.

"I got a really good start but I don’t think Sanchez Lopez did which helped! It’s actually a very difficult circuit to overtake on but I studied the data to see where the drivers ahead of me might be weaker than me and it helped. I knew where I wanted to overtake and that move worked on van der Drift but not on Goetz so I had to find another place! Thankfully it worked and I’m really happy with the win. The whole team has worked so hard to get there; it’s great to get this reward!"

"I got away really well but I didn’t keep the same pace throughout the race which helped D’Ambrosio. I had to work hard to make sure van der Drift didn’t overtake me so I’m happy with the second place. I think we can do better, the team is working very hard but today second place is good."

"I always push hard and look for opportunities to pass so I was definitely looking to overtake Goetz. I was getting very close at some stages but he managed to keep the position. It was a good race though, I like this circuit and we’ll see for race two!"

1. Jerome D'Ambrosio (BEL), Cram Competition

2. Maximilian Goetz (GER), ISR

3. Chris van der Drift (NED), J.D. Motorsport

4. Alberto Costa (ITA), Euronova Racing

5. Rahel Frey (SUI), Jenzer Motorsport

6. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Alan Racing

7. Giuseppe Terranova (ITA), Alan Racing

8. Salvatore Gatto (ITA), Alan Racing

Eurosport’s live coverage of IFM’s third race weekend continues on Sunday, starting from 13.45 (local time) onwards.

Live streaming will also be available for tomorrow’s race 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 photo