International Formula Master's young charges got their first taste of street racing today in the picturesque Pyrenees town of Pau as the Series' second race weekend began in France.
The IFM drivers enjoyed two 30-minute free practice sessions this morning around the French town despite the day's conditions being anything but easy. The first session was drenched by torrential rains with the second practice drying out as the cars took to the track.
In order to ensure an equal platform for all IFM drivers, it was decided prior to the qualifying session that the grid for round three of the Series would be split into two groups, with the quickest of each session sitting alongside each other on the front row, followed by their fellow qualifiers from each group.
ISR’s Maximilian Goetz made the best of the reduced traffic, claiming pole position with a time of 1:12.165 in the first qualifying.
The German took part in the first of the two 20-minute sessions with Cram Competition’s Jerome D’Ambrosio posting the second fastest time of the session in 1:12.554 and Juho Annala, driving for Jenzer Motorsport, claiming the third time with 1:12.779. French driver Pierre Ragues driving for Euronova Racing was fifth in that session.
Today’s second qualifying session saw Scuderia Fama’s Luca Persiani and Alan Racing’s Salvatore Gatto fight for pole with Persiani claiming the top spot on the very last lap. He set a time of 1:13.212, closely followed by Cram Competition’s Rodolfo Avila (1:13.299) with Gatto finally settling for third (1:13.487).
Conditions for tomorrow's race are expected to be dry but overcast.
Maximilian Goetz, ISR
"This is my third time in Pau now, I drove here with Formula 3 the two previous years so I know the circuit really well. The first free practice session was hard, it was everyone’s first time on rain tyres but the second session was great; I set fastest time. We changed the set-up between practice and qualifying which was a great thing to do because now I’m on pole!"
Luca Persiani, Scuderia Fama
"I’m very happy to be on the first row, we have worked a lot on the car since Valencia which shows in our performance. I didn’t push all morning because driving on a street circuit is all about taking things step by step. So I only pushed during qualifying but by then I knew what the car could do. We all know that a good qualifying for Pau is really important!"
Pierre Ragues, Euronova Racing
"The session went really well, it’s a very special track and great fun to be driving here in a powerful car like the Formula S2000. You approach one corner and already you are at the next one, it’s brilliant!"
International Formula Master Pau qualifying Combined top eight
1. Maximilian Goetz (GER), ISR
2. Luca Persiani (ITA), Scuderia Fama
3. Jerome D'Ambrosio (BEL), Cram Competition
4. Rodolfo Avila (MAC), Cram Competition
5. Juho Annala (FIN), Jenzer Motorosport
6. Salvatore Gatto (ITA), Alan Racing
7. Chris van der Drift (NED), J.D. Motorsport
8. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Alan Racing
*CLASSIFICATION CONFIRMED
Live coverage of IFM’s second race weekend will begin Saturday 2 June on Eurosport from 12.15 (local time) onwards followed by Sunday’s coverage starting from 14.00 (local time) on Eurosport 2 and Eurosport World.
Live streaming will also be available for both races 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 a chassis by Tatuus and a 2.0litre, 250hp engine tuned by Heini Mader Racing Components, 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 and powerful engine.
- RSM · also photo -
