THREE NEW TEAMS AND EXTENDS EUROSPORT COVERAGE UNTIL 2012
Following two successful broadcasting seasons, Formula Master's agreement with Eurosport has been extended until 2012. Coverage still includes Race One on Saturdays and Race Two on Sundays.
The agreement was renewed over Christmas and signed by Eurosport President Laurent-Eric Lelay and Formula Master Organiser Mauro Sipsz. The Series' TV coverage on Eurosport is now scheduled as follows, for races partnering the FIA World Touring Car Championship:
R1 Pau (FRA) Live on Eurosport International from 12.00R2 Pau (FRA) Live on Eurosport International from 13.30R3 Valencia (ESP) Live on Eurosport 2 from 13.00R4 Valencia (ESP) Live on Eurosport International from 10.00R5 Brno (CZH) Live on Eurosport 2 from 14.00R6 Brno (CZH) Live on Eurosport International from 11.00R7 Brands Hatch (UK) Eurosport 2 from 17.00 (Delayed)R8 Brands Hatch (UK) Live on Eurosport International from 13.00R13 Oschersleben (GER) Live on Eurosport 2 from 14.00R14 Oschersleben (GER) Live on Eurosport International from 10.45R15 Imola (ITA) Live on Eurosport 2 from 14.00R16 Imola (ITA) Live on Eurosport International from 11.30
The Eurosport broadcasting of Formula Master events with the FIA Formula 1 World Championship will be communicated at a later date.
Prizes for the coming season are also being confirmed; testing sessions in the GP2 Series, the FIA World Touring Car Championship and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) are already established. Negotiations are underway to secure testing opportunities with the Indy Racing League and Indy Lights, giving Formula Master drivers the chance to test in the USA.
The Series is also close to announcing its 2009 agreement with an important sponsor set to grant the season's prize-money, which will match the sum awarded in the previous two seasons.
Three new teams will join Formula Master this season. Spanish team Campos Racing will enter with two cars as will British outfit Hitech Racing, whilst Germany's HBH Racing will run three cars. The Series' new additions join confirmed teams JD Motorsport, Trident Racing, Jenzer Motorsport, Iris Project, Cram Competition, ADM Motorsport, Team JVA, Euronova Racing, ISR and Pro Motorsport.
Adrian Campos, Campos Racing
"I'm very happy to announce this new campaign in Formula Master. The Series is one of the most important avenues for discovering potential newcomers for GP2 and Formula 1. Formula Master has established itself in the motorsport arena in only two years and the team behind the Series has turned Formula Master into the best opportunity for rookies to make their way to GP2 and Formula 1."
David Hayle, HiTech Racing
"We are really looking forward to competing in Formula Master; it has a great profile. It's going to be real challenge to race against some really good teams and drivers, but we will apply the HiTech work ethic and professionalism to ensure we compete at the front; we are definitely not coming just to make up the numbers."
Michael Brunn, HBH Racing
"We are convinced that Formula Master is the best Series to let drivers grow in a professional way to the highest ranks of motorsport. Racing together with Formula 1 and the WTCC is all a driver can ask. The extraordinary marketing of the Series has given us the opportunity to receive several requests from drivers coming from karting and junior formulae. We will also be the first German team to race in the Series and this makes us very proud."
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Formula Master General Manager
"I'm happy to welcome three new teams to Formula Master and I would also like to thank the teams that are returning to the Series for the third year running. We are talking to two other important teams, one French and one Italian, which are considering entering Formula Master. This will define whether Scuderia Famà, Alan Racing and Dutch outfit AR Motorsport take part. There is a lot of important news coming from the Series in the next few weeks. I'm sure this will help conclude ongoing negotiations between teams and drivers in the best possible way and lead to announcing the Series' protagonists as soon as possible."
