IFM: Chris van der Drift Magny Cours test summary

Van der Drift dominates at Magny Cours

Nevers - Talented race driver Chris van der Drift dominated the International Formula Master official test at the Magny-Cours circuit of Nevers over the past two days, setting the fastest time of the 31 drivers testing. Without having ever seen the French circuit previously, the 22 year old clocked the fastest lap time of the test on the second day of testing with Italian raceteam JD Motorsport. Fellow competitors had no answer, including previous Red Bull F1 test driver Michael Ammermuller who fell short of the fastest time by 1.3 seconds.

Just as at the Portuguese circuit of Estoril, so was Magny-Cours an unknown circuit for Van der Drift. The runner-up in the 2007 International Formula Master championship began the first day by learning the circuit and working on improving the race-car set-up, concluding with a great top five finish overall. Small downpours on Day 2 of the test session prevented the circuit from drying completely, and initially it appeared a difficult task in attempting to exceed the first days fastest lap. However, in spite of these conditions and red flag periods, Van der Drift achieved just that in the afternoon session, setting a new time 8/10th better than the day before.

Chris van der Drift: "The car felt good straight away on the first day, but we spent some time working on the set-up and getting familiar with the track. We made a change on the car after the first days test and that really worked out great. We also made other improvements to the car during the second day and it all headed in the right direction, the car was really great. There are still two test days left on the programme, this time in Valencia a couple of days before the first raceweekend on 18 May. We will be looking over the data from the testing, but we are confident. As it now stands, it looks good for the season!"

International Formula Master is a support class to the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), entering it's second season. With a field of more than thirty drivers, improved electronics and a 250 hp Honda power plant, the cars circulate in times quicker than Formula 3. It promises to be an interesting and exciting race season. In addition the prize list has been expanded to include a F1 test with the Honda F1 team for the 2008 champion, as well as tests in GP2, Indy Lights, and WTCC.

Overall times - International Formula Master test -Circuit Magny-Cours, France:

1. Chris Van Der Drift (NL), JD Motorsport, 1:32.414
2. Fabio Leimer (SUI), Jenzer Motorsport, 1:32.548
3. Tim Sandtler (GER), ISR, 1:33.106
4. Sergey Afanasiev (RUS), JD Motorsport, 1.33:132
5. Arturo Llobell (ESP), Cram Competition, 1:33.139
6. Pablo Sanchez Lopez (MEX), Cram Competition, 1:33.300
7. Harald Schlegelmilch (LAT), Trident Racing, 1:33.447
8. Kasper Andersen (DEN), Trident Racing, 1:33.547
. Filip Salaquarda (CZE), ISR, 1:33.553
10. Fabrizio Crestani (ITA), Euronova Racing, 1:33.608

-credit: chrisvanderdrift.nl