INTERNATIONAL FORMULA MASTER DEAL EDGES CLOSER FOR EPTONBombardier Learjet-backed race ace David Epton has his sights firmly set on European competition in 2007 with a deal to drive in the brand new International Formula Master series edging ever closer.The exciting pan-European single-seater category, which will tour the continent as support to the FIA World Touring Car Championship, officially launched the 2.0-litre, 250bhp Tatuus-built ‘S2000’ car during the opening day of the Autosport International Show on Thursday at Birmingham’s NEC.Should the necessary backing from key sponsors Bombardier, Universal Weather & Aviation Inc and Jet-Air International Lebanon & Germany be secured over the coming weeks, David is confident he will line up for the first ever International Formula Master race at Valencia, Spain, in May with the highly regarded Jenzer Motorsport team.The Preston-based 25-year-old held further talks with his management team and Jenzer’s Andy Welch at the Autosport show prior to the weekend and hopes are high an agreement will soon be reached between the two parties to enable David to join the Swiss squad and progress his racing career onto the European stage.“International Formula Master really is a very attractive option for us”, said the 2005 Formula Palmer Audi Vice-Champion speaking at Autosport International, “We are most definitely looking to move up the ladder this year and while we have been considering the World Series by Renault, we’re seriously impressed by what Formula Master offers.“The promotion of the championship is superb, the S2000 car looks outstanding and with guaranteed live television coverage and a test in a GP2 car on offer for the top two drivers in the championship, it really is an exciting series.” Taking in street races at Pau, France, and Porto in Portugal, the International Formula Master series will comprise eight meetings in 2007 with two 45-minute races at each venue. Brands Hatch in Kent will host the championship in late September and the category will also visit Formula One circuits, Istanbul in Turkey and Monza in Italy.With a five-year commitment from Eurosport to broadcast every International Formula Master race live, the championship will also be beamed into 108 million homes across a total of 59 countries worldwide.David added: “Being a brand new series, it’s an opportunity to begin a championship on equal footing with everyone as you won’t be up against second or third year drivers in your first season. I’m confident if we can agree a deal with a great team like Jenzer, we stand every chance of enjoying a successful year in International Formula Master.”Epton thoroughly enjoys charity kart spectacularAway from the launch of the ‘S2000’ car, David was also in competitive action at the 2007 Autosport International Show on Friday as part of the BP102 Celebrity Kart Challenge which saw drivers from disciplines such as the FIA GT Championship and the DTM touring car series joining together to help raise money for a host of charities.

Racing in aid of Whizz-Kidz, the national charity which provides customised mobility equipment for disabled youngsters, the televised event saw a total of 15 teams taking part in the 75-minute endurance race which is led by the Racing4Charity.com organisation of ex-Formula One driver David Brabham.Joining David in the Formula Renault UK themed FRUKing Quick entry were his Scorpio Motorsport team-mate from last year, Will Bratt (Adderbury, Oxon), and fellow Formula Renault driver Matt Shawyer (Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire).In addition, the five-strong team also featured ‘public’ driver Ian Carter (Bournemouth) and celebrity participant Rick Parfitt Jnr (Kingston-upon-Thames), son of the legendary co-founder of rock titans Status Quo and a successful singer/songwriter in his own right.Opening lap chaos resulted in FRUKing Quick being forced to fight-back from the tail of the field through no fault of the team’s making, but a terrific performance from all five drivers saw them end the race a creditable ninth overall, just five laps down on the event winners Ich Liebe DTM after an incredible 230 laps of exciting action.“The kart race was great fun, I really did enjoy it. Had it not been for the problems on the first lap I think we’d have definitely been in with a chance of challenging for a top three finish, we were back up to as high as sixth place at one stage”, commented David.“We all drove well but the main aim of the day was to raise as much as possible for charity and have a superb time in the process. The Celebrity Kart Challenge is a terrific event and I’d be delighted to take part in the race again at next year’s Autosport show.”Coverage of the BP 102 Celebrity Kart Challenge will be shown on digital satellite and cable channel ITV Men & Motors this Spring.