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IFM: Series Monza race two report

VAN DER DRIFT CLAIMS FINAL 2008 VICTORY JD Motorsport's Chris van der Drift claimed his sixth win of the season today in the final round of the 2008 Formula Master season in Monza. The newly-crowned Formula Master winner started the race in ...

Published: Oct 5, 2008, 4:12 PM

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VAN DER DRIFT CLAIMS FINAL 2008 VICTORY

JD Motorsport's Chris van der Drift claimed his sixth win of the season today in the final round of the 2008 Formula Master season in Monza.

The newly-crowned Formula Master winner started the race in seventh and climbed steadily through the field, reaching second place when the safety car was deployed following an incident between Cram Competition team-mates Arturo Llobell and Frankie Provenzano.

Using Josef Kral's slipstream at the restart, van der Drift overtook the Team JVA driver for the lead before racing to victory. Kral eventually finished third, having succumbed to Jenzer Motorsport's Fabio Leimer on lap 16. Finishing second, Leimer was also able to secure the runner-up position in the Series.

Euronova Racing's Yuhi Sekiguchi delivered a superb drive; finishing fourth despite starting the race in 21st place. The Japanese driver was already in P16 at the end of lap one and proceeded to overtake drivers lap after lap throughout the 18-lap race.

Trident Racing's Michael Ammermuller claimed fifth place in today's race. The German narrowly missed out on a point in yesterday's race which would have made him the only driver to score in every round this season.

Having started 19th, JD Motorsport's Sergey Afanasiev fought through the field to finish in sixth place, ahead of ISR's Tim Sandtler. Trident Racing's Dominik Wasem secured the last points-scoring position in eight place on his first weekend with the Series.

With the second Formula Master season now coming to an end, Chris van der Drift has secured the Drivers' title as well as a test prize with the Honda Racing F1 team. The New Zealander is also set to race in GP2 Asia.

Leimer is in second place and will test with the Trident Racing GP2 team. Ammermuller is third, having also won the Rookies Classification; the German is set to receive a test with WTCC team N.Technology as well as an Indy-Lights test in America.

JD Motorsport is this year's Team Classification winner, whilst van der Drift and Afanasiev are the Best Team-mates victors and will receive a test in America with the Grand-Am series.

Chris van der Drift, JD Motorsport - 2008 Formula Master Winner

"Yesterday was a really good day for us and we managed to get the championship in the bag, so today's race meant we could have a bit of fun and just make sure we finished. After the safety car, I managed to get into the front and make a gap from Kral and then went on to win the race, so I'm very happy. With eight or nine laps to go I knew I was catching Kral reasonably quickly, but the safety car definitely made it easier.

"It's amazing to get the chance to test a Formula 1 car; I have always wanted to and to get that opportunity by winning the Formula Master Series is fantastic. I really can't wait to until I can get in the car!"

Fabio Leimer, Jenzer Motorsport - 2008 Formula Master Runner-up

"It was a very nice race for me. I had a good start but had to break a lot in the first corner and lost some positions, but I managed to overtake the other drivers lap by lap.

"We have had six podiums over the season, and from the middle to the end of the year, it has been very good for us. It was important to finish second in the standings and win the GP2 test; I want to thank the team for doing such a good job."

Josef Kral, Team JVA

"I knew Chris [van der Drift] was a bit quicker than me during the race but I was concentrating on what I was going to do in the next lap. When he overtook me after the safety car I wanted to stay with him but he got away and Fabio [Leimer] overtook.

"My car was getting better and better towards the end of the race and I thought I could overtake but I didn't get the chance. I'm really pleased as the car has improved a lot towards the end of the season."

-credit: formulamaster.net

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