IFM: Earl Bamber Imola preview

SECOND FORMULA MASTER DRIVE FOR BAMBER THIS WEEKEND True to their word Italy's ADM Motorsport team has offered young New Zealand racing driver Earl Bamber a drive in the main European Formula Master championship round at Imola this ...

SECOND FORMULA MASTER DRIVE FOR BAMBER THIS WEEKEND

True to their word Italy's ADM Motorsport team has offered young New Zealand racing driver Earl Bamber a drive in the main European Formula Master championship round at Imola this weekend.

Originally, Wanganui young gun Bamber was offered a test, and - if that test went well - a drive in last weekend's Italian Formula Master championship at Mugello.

With the penultimate round of the 2008 European Formula Master championship also in Italy this weekend there was always the chance that the offer could be extended.

But only if the 18-year-old Kiwi acquitted himself well at Mugello.

He did - qualifying third fastest and crossing the finish line fourth in both races - so the offer was indeed extended.

Bamber, naturally is very happy that it has been though is under no illusions about just how hard it is going to be this weekend.

"It's fantastic that I'm doing it and for that I'd like to say a sincere thank you to ADM Motorsport and again to Peter Thompson and Gianfranco Bielle from Qi-Meritus who have helped make it possible. But it's definitely a big ask heading into a championship series with just one round to go, particularly this one where the points are still so close."

Coincidentally the championship is being led by another young Kiwi driver, Chris van der Drift. Like Bamber, van der Drift got his career start in karts here before - in his case - heading to Europe and moving up the single-seater ladder.

Having won five races so far this season van der Drift has a 13 point lead over German driver Michael Ammermuller who in turn is 17 points ahead of third placed Swiss driver Fabio Leimer.

Like Mugello, the circuit Bamber raced on last weekend, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola (until 2006 the home of the San Marino Grand Prix) is one of Italy's most famous motor racing venues.

At 4.933 km it is also (like Ferrari test track Mugello) one of the longest and most challenging.

Bamber heads to the track today for practice and qualifying tomorrow (Friday) and two races over the weekend, the first on Saturday at 12.20pm, the second on Sunday at 2.10pm.