Formula Master’s (FM) Italian fans were rewarded with a home win in the Series’ final race (round 16), which saw Monza-resident Marcello Puglisi take his first win of the season at the historical circuit.
Driving for Promotorsport, the Italian delivered a superb on-track performance, maximising a safety car re-start to take the lead and keeping champion Jérôme D’Ambrosio at bay until the chequered flag.
Starting from eighth position thanks to the Series’ reverse grid from yesterday’s round 15, Cram Competition’s D’Ambrosio pushed relentlessly as he climbed his way through the field to a second place finish.
Both J.D. Motorsport’s Chris van der Drift and Puglisi came under pressure from the Cram Competition driver during the later part of the 18-lap race with van der Drift unable to keep the champion at bay and eventually finishing third.
Daniil Move had been leading the race from the start, after overtaking both Rahel Frey (Jenzer Motorsport) and Massimo Torre (Scuderia Famà). The Alan Racing driver lost out to Puglisi however, following a safety car period caused by J.D. Motorsport’s Kasper Andersen sending Torre’s team-mate Luca Persiani into a spin after the Danish driver lost control under breaking on lap eight.
Move still claimed his best season finish with a fourth place whilst Promotorsport’s Salvatore Gatto clinched fifth despite an intense fight with Alan Racing’s Pablo Sanchez Lopez.
Front-row starters Rahel Frey and Massimo Torre fought hard amongst the field despite a difficult start with Torre adding a sixth-place finish to his season-tally whilst Frey’s race was cut short following an on-track incident with ADM Motorsport’s Norbert Siedler on lap five.
Promotorsport’s Mattia Pavoni added to his team’s celebrations with his first points-scoring finish of the season, a seventh place, whilst J.D. Motorsport’s Claudio Cantelli Jr took eighth.
Cantelli Jr was demoted to tenth position for cutting the chicane and making up two places. This promoted Ombra Racing’s Dominick Muermans, gifting the Dutchman his first Formula Master point. Today's winner, Marcello Puglisi celebrating with his teamMarcello Puglisi, Promotorsport
“This is such a good way for me to end the season. It’s always hard to be at the top and you have to fight to stay there. D’Ambrosio was very fast, especially under braking but I was able to keep him behind. Maybe he gave up at the end!
“After the first safety car, Move was in front and I had to stay behind him because I lost a lot of time, but then the second safety car helped and I took his place. I wanted to do my best for the team and for the people that support me and this is a very good finish to my season.”
Jérôme D’Ambrosio, Cram Competition
“It was a very good race. I knew we were strong here but Marcello was faster than me in Parabolica and I couldn’t get him. It was a very clean race with Chris and Marcello; I had a lot of fun racing today. Twice on the podium for this weekend is a great result for the team and for myself and a great way to close the season.
“The next thing for me is the GP2 test and of course, any driver would look forward to driving a GP2 car. It’s the next fastest thing after Formula 1 and I’m preparing hard for it. The season might be over for Formula Master but it could be a new beginning with GP2 and I want to be good!”
Chris van der Drift, J.D. Motorsport
“It’s good to round off the season like this and to secure runner-up in the classification. I had a bit of an advantage coming here so I made sure to finish in the points and when Pablo (Sanchez Lopez) had to pit for a new nose cone, I knew I had it.
“I had to watch out for him when he rejoined the race though. He was one lap down but still racing close to me! Taking second place in the team classification is great too, we had a bit of bad luck this year so it’s a good result considering.”
