After months of anticipation and hard-work, International Formula Master (IFM) will make its racing debut on 19 May at Valencia as part of the FIA World Touring Car Championship race weekend.
The Series has already gathered an impressive following and fans of IFM are not alone in eagerly waiting for the fleet of Formula S2000 to take to the track. IFM’s young drivers have been expecting this moment for months, ever since the Series’ single-seater was launched in January at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Both Iris Project’s Oliver Campos Hull and Valencia-born Arturo Llobel who drives for Cram Competition, are looking forward to making their IFM debut in front of their home crowd, despite the added pressure of racing in front of a local audience.
Nerves will be lessened however, thanks to the two-day official testing session preceding IFM’s first race weekend. The test will take place on 15 and 16 May at Valencia and will feature IFM’s 14 teams.
Valencia marks the start of IFM’s 2007 season which will see the Series’ 33 confirmed entries race at all European rounds on the FIA WTCC Calendar.
Arturo Llobel (ESP), Cram Competition
“I can’t wait for Valencia, testing has gone well so far with the team so I really want to see how we do in races. Starting the season with a home round is pretty special, it’s going be very busy for me with family and sponsors coming but I don’t think it will add any pressure, I treat it in the same way as any other race…I might change my opinion at the weekend though!”
Oliver Campos Hull (ESP), Iris Project
“This is going to be the first race for everyone so I think it’s going to be special for everyone whether it is their home round or not. I think having the test beforehand helps, everyone can see how fast the other drivers are but this way we get a chance to improve before the race.”
Live coverage of IFM’s inaugural race weekend will begin on Saturday 19 May from 12.10 (local time) onwards followed by Sunday’s coverage starting from 13.45 (local time).
