International Formula Master
The International Formula Master , also Formula Super 2000 , was a junior racing series with monoposto vehicles held in Europe . The series was launched to compete with Formula 3 and was considered a junior series for the GP2 series . The first race took place on May 19, 2007 in Valencia . The last champion in the 2009 season was Swiss Fabio Leimer . Despite great plans for the future, the series was discontinued before the start of the 2010 International Formula Masters season .
Emergence
The series was founded by N.Technology, a former factory team of Alfa Romeo . The television channel Eurosport supported the series. It was held in the preliminary program of the European races of the World Touring Car Championship .
Racetracks
The racing series consisted of eight racing weekends, on each of which two races are held. The racetracks are each in a different European country. In 2009 the racing calendar was as follows: 16. – 17.05. Pau (France), May 30–31. Valencia (Spain), June 20-21. Brno (Czech Republic), July 18-19. Brands Hatch (GB), July 25–26. Hungaroring (Hungary), August 29–30. Spa (Belgium), September 5–6, Oschersleben (Germany), September 19–20. Imola (Italy).
Regulations
In the International Formula Masters, all teams drove the same car - the Formula 2000 from Tatuus . The chassis and body were made of carbon fiber. The engines came from Honda and had a capacity of 2000 cm³ with 250 hp. The brakes were supplied by Brembo and the tires by Yokohama . The electronics came from Magneti Marelli . The safety standards corresponded to the FIA regulations for Formula 3 from 2008.
Each race weekend began on Friday with two 45-minute training sessions and a 30-minute qualification, which is used to determine the starting grid for the first race. This was held on Saturday and went about 75 km. The second race on Sunday had a distance of around 100 km. The starting grid for this race was based on the result of the first race, with the first eight starting in reverse order.
The eight best drivers received points in both races. The teams only receive points for their two best cars.
| International Formula Master points system | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4th | 5. | 6th | 7th | 8th. |
| 10 | 8th | 6th | 5 | 4th | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Master of the International Formula Master
| year | Driver's championship winner | Winner of the team classification |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 |
 Jérôme D'Ambrosio
|
 Cram Competition
|
| 2008 |
 Chris van der Drift
|
JD Motorsport
|
| 2009 |
 Fabio Leimer
|
JD Motorsport
|
driver
The later Formula 1 drivers Vitali Petrow (2007), Jérôme D'Ambrosio (2007), Esteban Gutiérrez (2008) and Alexander Rossi (2009) previously drove in this series. With Rahel Frey (2007) there was also a lady at the start.